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How Is Gilgamesh Being Two Thirds Divine

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How might being “two-thirds divine” affect Gilgamesh other than physically?

Being god-like has proven useful many times throughout the epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is able to defeat horrible monsters and travel great distances faster than the average human, so being divine definitely has its perks. However, these “perks” affect Gilgamesh in ways that are not so physical. Even when terrorizing his own kingdom, Gilgamesh is admired and adored. At the start of Book One, Gilgamesh is called “beloved by his soldiers- / . . . / protector of the people, / raging flood that destroys all defenses” (71). The opening praises Gilgamesh in one breath then damns him for his deeds in the next.
Though his citizens do not appreciate their leader’s actions, they admire his strength and beauty. This can be seen when Gilgamesh continually chooses brawn over brains. When Gilgamesh is on his quest for eternal life, he plans to engage in battle with Utnapishtim saying, “I imagined that you would look like a …show more content…

Throughout the book, Gilgamesh refers to only himself, even when he could also refer to Enkidu or other characters. At the start of his journey he states that “[he is] the man who killed Humbaba / in the Cedar Forest, [he is] the man / who triumphed over the Bull of Heaven.” (166), even though one could argue that Enkidu played a role in these battles as well. Once Gilgamesh is sent home, unable to achieve his goal of immortality, he becomes less self absorbed and acknowledges the beauty of Uruk without claiming it. Gilgamesh introduces his city to Urshanabi saying, “This is / the wall of Uruk, which no city on earth can equal.” (198). Gilgamesh could have claimed ownership of Uruk, yet did not. After failing to achieve immortality, Gilgamesh learns that maybe his strength is not everything and being two-thirds divine will not grant him everything he

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