Women Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1228 Words

Women in The Epic Of Gilgamesh and Mesopotamian Society In the Epic of Gilgamesh, gender plays a very significant role, because while women were not the most powerful gods nor the strongest or wisest of all humans, they still had tremendous influence over others around them, and even today, over those who study and learn about the women of the time of Mesopotamia. Though the main characters of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, are male, women did not necessarily play a minor role. Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, the roles of women are mixed. Women are represented as harlots (Shamhat), as wise (Ninsun), and as gods (Ishtar). There is a substantial amount of gods which are represented as women and it could represent a society with multiple†¦show more content†¦Ishtar, the goddess, is a powerful woman as if to recognize the power of women as they give life to men through their love as well as their ability to destroy men. The name goddess normally would represent a majestic an d noble woman of power. Ishtar however, is portrayed as the complete opposite in The Epic of Gilgamesh. She is portrayed as one who uses the characteristics of a prostitute to lure in the man that she wants, which at the time is Enkidu. Ishtar is told â€Å"make your breasts bare, have no shame. Let him see you naked, let him possess your body† (Sandars, 3), â€Å"she was not ashamed to take him, she made herself naked and welcomed his eagerness† (Sandars, 4). The story talked about how Ishtar would go for the men she wants and would throw them away after she gets what she wants. This is rather the opposite of how women during the times of this story were. Women were used by men and not the other way. The creators of this epic portrayed Ishtar this way to show the power of women being able to seduce men to have their way. Ishtar is portrayed as selfish and evil as she used similar characteristics to lure in the man she wants when she was trying to get Gilgamesh to marr y her. â€Å"Come to me Gilgamesh,† she says, â€Å"make me your bridegroom; grant me seed of your body† (Sandars, 25). She tells him she will give him anything he can possibly imagine if he would only