Adventures and Tragedy
The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu leads to an epic adventure when they decide to journey to the Forest of Cedar to slay the monster Humbaba. Although Enkidu is reluctant (he knows the dangers better than anyone), they proceed with their quest. After defeating Humbaba and cutting off his head, they return to Uruk triumphant—but with a terrible curse placed upon Enkidu.
Back in Uruk, the goddess Ishtar becomes interested in Gilgamesh, but he rejects her advances. Furious at this rejection, Ishtar asks her father, the sky-god Anu, to send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the sacred bull, the gods decree that someone must pay for this offense—and Enkidu is chosen to die.
This devastating news reveals the rigid social structure of their world. The gods stand at the top of society with absolute authority, while even heroic mortals must submit to divine judgment. Gilgamesh, despite his partial divinity and power, cannot save his friend from the gods' decree.
Think about it: The Epic of Gilgamesh explores timeless human concerns like friendship, mortality, and the search for meaning. How do these same themes appear in stories we tell today?