Majid Rana
Gilgamesh is the protagonist of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem. In the story, Gilgamesh travels to the Cedar Forest with his companion, Enkidu. To reach the Cedar Forest, they cross the seven mountains and begin chopping down trees. They are confronted by Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, whom they slay. After this, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, where he rejects the advances of the goddess Ishtar. In retaliation, she sends the Bull of Heaven to attack him. Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven and offer its heart to Shamash.
In the second half of the epic, Gilgamesh, distressed by Enkidu's death, embarks on a long and perilous journey to discover the secret of eternal life. He eventually meets Utnapishtim, the only human survivor of the Great Flood, who tells him that Life, which you look for, you will never find. For when the gods created man, they let death be his share, and life withheld in their own hands.
In popular culture, Gilgamesh's Island is a secret location in the video game Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gilgamesh's location | Gilgamesh Island |
| How to reach Gilgamesh Island | By sailing the Tiny Bronco northeast after reaching Chapter 13 or 12 and finding all six Protorelics |
| What to do once you reach Gilgamesh Island | Temper the six Protorelics by travelling to three nearby shrines and defeating the Summons associated with them |
| How to unlock the ability to traverse the seas | Progress to Chapter 12 where the Tiny Bronco will lose its wings and become a sea-faring vessel |
| How to unlock Gilgamesh | Collect all of the Protorelics scattered across the six different regions |
| What to do once Gilgamesh is unlocked | Defeat the six Combat Simulator Summons in a trio of three-on-two battles and then beat Gilgamesh in one final epic showdown |
What You'll Learn
Gilgamesh travels to the Cedar Forest
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian poem detailing the exploits of the hero Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. In the epic, Gilgamesh travels to the Cedar Forest with his companion Enkidu.
In the first half of the story, Gilgamesh and Enkidu journey to the Cedar Forest to slay its guardian, Humbaba. Humbaba is described as a monstrous demi-god, with the head of a lion, the ears of a bull, and the body of a man. Humbaba's roar is so powerful that it can knock a man down, and his breath is death. Despite this terrifying depiction, Gilgamesh is determined to kill Humbaba and cut down the sacred cedar trees. Enkidu tries to dissuade him, and the council of elders warn against the journey. However, Gilgamesh is not deterred and seeks the support and protection of the sun-god Shamash for their adventure.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out on their journey to the Cedar Forest, camping on a mountain every few days and performing a dream ritual. Gilgamesh has five terrifying dreams about falling mountains, thunderstorms, wild bulls, and a thunderbird that breathes fire. Enkidu interprets these dreams as good omens and reassures Gilgamesh that the frightening images do not represent Humbaba. As they approach the cedar mountain, they hear Humbaba's bellowing and must encourage each other to be brave.
When they enter the Cedar Forest, Humbaba insults and threatens them. He vows to disembowel Gilgamesh and feed his flesh to the birds. Gilgamesh is afraid, but Enkidu encourages him, and the battle begins. The mountains quake with the tumult, and the sky turns black. Shamash sends thirteen winds to bind Humbaba, and he is captured. Humbaba pleads for his life, but Enkidu argues that Gilgamesh should kill Humbaba to establish his reputation forever. Humbaba curses them both, and Gilgamesh strikes him with a blow to the neck, killing him.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu cut down many cedars, including a gigantic tree that Enkidu plans to fashion into a door for the temple of Enlil. They build a raft and return home along the Euphrates River with the giant tree and, possibly, Humbaba's head.
The journey to the Cedar Forest is a significant episode in the Epic of Gilgamesh, showcasing Gilgamesh's bravery, determination, and friendship with Enkidu. It sets the stage for the rest of the epic, as their slaying of Humbaba and the sacred cedar trees leads to consequences and further adventures for the heroes.
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He and Enkidu kill Humbaba
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian tale that begins with five Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. The first half of the story introduces Gilgamesh and Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people of Uruk. After Enkidu becomes civilised, he travels to Uruk and challenges Gilgamesh to a test of strength. Although Gilgamesh wins, the two become friends.
Together, they embark on a six-day journey to the legendary Cedar Forest, where they plan to slay its guardian, Humbaba. Humbaba is described as a monster or demon, and his death at the hands of Gilgamesh and Enkidu is considered a central episode in the epic.
As they approach the cedar mountain, Gilgamesh and Enkidu hear Humbaba bellowing and must encourage each other not to be afraid. Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, insults and threatens them. He vows to disembowel Gilgamesh and feed his flesh to the birds. Despite Gilgamesh's fear, he and Enkidu begin their battle with some words of encouragement from Enkidu. The mountains quake with the tumult and the sky turns black.
Shamash, the sun god, sends 13 winds to bind Humbaba, and he is captured. Humbaba pleads for his life, and Gilgamesh pities him. Humbaba offers to make Gilgamesh king of the forest, cut the trees for him, and become his slave. However, Enkidu argues that Gilgamesh should kill Humbaba to establish his reputation forever. Humbaba curses them both, and Gilgamesh kills him with a blow to the neck.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu cut down many cedars, including a gigantic tree that Enkidu plans to fashion into a door for Enlil's temple. They build a raft and return home along the Euphrates with the giant tree and possibly Humbaba's head.
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They kill the Bull of Heaven
The Bull of Heaven is a mythical beast from ancient Mesopotamian mythology. The story of the Bull of Heaven is known from two different versions: one recorded in an earlier Sumerian poem and a later episode in the Standard Babylonian (a literary dialect of Akkadian) Epic of Gilgamesh.
In the Sumerian poem, the Bull is sent to attack Gilgamesh by the goddess Inanna for reasons that are unclear. In the Akkadian account, the goddess Ishtar, the East Semitic equivalent of Inanna, attempts to seduce Gilgamesh. When Gilgamesh rejects her sexual advances, Ishtar is enraged and demands the Bull of Heaven from her father Anu so that she can avenge herself. Anu initially objects, arguing that the Bull of Heaven is so destructive that releasing it would result in seven years of famine. Ishtar, however, has stored up enough grain for seven years and eventually, Anu reluctantly agrees to give her the Bull.
Ishtar unleashes the Bull of Heaven on the world, causing mass destruction. The Bull's first breath blows a hole in the ground so large that one hundred men fall into it, and its second breath creates an even larger hole that traps two hundred more. Despite the Bull's immense size and ferocity, Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu work together to slay the beast. Enkidu pulls the Bull's tail while Gilgamesh thrusts his sword into its neck, killing it. They then offer the Bull's heart to the sun god Shamash.
After defeating the Bull, Enkidu and Gilgamesh insult Ishtar by hurling one of the Bull's thighs at her. This action, combined with the killing of the Bull, leads the gods to condemn Enkidu to death. Enkidu falls ill and dies within ten days, leaving Gilgamesh alone and afraid for his own mortality. This marks a turning point in the epic, as Gilgamesh's fear of death drives the remainder of the story.
The slaying of the Bull of Heaven may have held astronomical significance for the ancient Mesopotamians, as the Bull was identified with the constellation Taurus. The myth also appears to have influenced later stories from the ancient Near East, including the Iliad and the Odyssey.
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Gilgamesh meets Utnapishtim
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the titular character Gilgamesh travels to an island to meet Utnapishtim, a legendary king and survivor of a great flood. Utnapishtim is the only man to escape death, as he preserved human and animal life in a boat he built, for which he and his wife were deified by the god Enlil. Gilgamesh, distraught over the death of his friend Enkidu, seeks the secret of immortality from Utnapishtim. However, Utnapishtim counsels Gilgamesh to abandon his quest, as it is futile and diminishes life's joys.
Utnapishtim recounts how he was tasked by the god Enki (also known as Ea) to build a giant ship called the "Preserver of Life" in preparation for a flood that would wipe out all life. He was instructed to bring his family, relatives, craftsmen, baby animals, and grains onto the ship. After twelve days on the water, Utnapishtim sent out a dove, a swallow, and finally a raven to find land. Upon seeing that the waters had receded, he set all the animals free and made a sacrifice to the gods.
Utnapishtim and his wife were granted immortality and a place among the heavenly gods. Despite his own immortality, Utnapishtim discourages Gilgamesh's desperate quest for eternal life. He tells Gilgamesh about a plant that can restore his youth, but the hero fails to return with it to his city. Instead, a serpent steals the plant, and Gilgamesh returns home empty-handed, having abandoned his pursuit of immortality.
The story of Utnapishtim's flood has drawn comparisons to the biblical story of Noah's Ark, with Utnapishtim being analogous to Noah. Utnapishtim is also known by various names in different traditions, including Ziusudra in Sumerian versions and Atra-hasis in early Akkadian sources.
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He learns the secret of eternal life
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero Gilgamesh embarks on a quest to discover the secret of eternal life. This quest leads him on a journey to a distant island, where he encounters the immortal figure Utnapishtim and learns the story of the Great Flood. Through his conversations with Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh gains insight into the nature of life and death and the possibility of achieving immortality.
After his failed attempt to defeat the monster Humbaba and acquire eternal life through fame and glory, Gilgamesh is directed by the goddess Ishtar to seek out Utnapishtim, the only human to have been granted immortality by the gods. Gilgamesh must journey to the ends of the earth to find him, and so he travels across the Sea of Death to an island paradise where Utnapishtim resides.
On the island, Gilgamesh is offered hospitality by Utnapishtim and his wife, who take pity on the weary king. Gilgamesh explains his quest for eternal life, and Utnapishtim shares with him the story of the Great Flood, which he survived by building a giant ship and preserving all life forms. However, Utnapishtim also reveals that the secret of eternal life is not something that can be easily attained.
Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that there is only one person in history who has been granted eternal life by the gods, and that is himself. He explains that he and his wife were granted immortality after surviving the Great Flood and sacrificing to the gods. Gilgamesh is disappointed to hear that achieving eternal life is not within his grasp. Nevertheless, he persists in his quest and asks Utnapishtim for a test to prove his worthiness.
Utnapishtim presents Gilgamesh with a challenge: he must stay awake for six days and seven nights without sleeping. Gilgamesh agrees, but fails the test as he falls asleep as soon as he sits down. Utnapishtim's wife feels sorry for Gilgamesh and suggests another test. She tells Gilgamesh to find the "plant of life" that grows at the bottom of the sea. Gilgamesh successfully retrieves the plant and plans to take it back to Uruk to test it on an elderly man. However, before he can do so, a serpent steals the plant, shedding its skin and returning to youth, thus revealing the plant's power to restore youth.
Through his encounters with Utnapishtim and the serpent, Gilgamesh learns that eternal life is not meant for mortals. He realizes that the secret of life lies not in defying death but in embracing it and making the most of the life that is given. Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with a newfound appreciation for life and a determination to be a just and wise king.
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Frequently asked questions
To unlock Gilgamesh Island, you must collect all of the Protorelics from the six different regions. Once you've collected them, a new Phenomenon Intel will appear leading you to Gilgamesh Island.
You can reach Gilgamesh Island by sailing the Tiny Bronco northeast after reaching Chapter 12 or 13 and finding all six Protorelics. A cutscene will play, showing the island rising from the ocean. You then need to head through the watery cave until you arrive at the Gilgamesh Island dock.
Before you can fight Gilgamesh, you must collect all of the Summon Materias from the Combat Simulator. These are required to unlock three extra fights that you'll need to beat before being able to challenge Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh is weak against Fire attacks, so players should consider pairing an orb of Fire Materia with an orb of Elemental Materia in their primary attacker's weapon to inflict extra damage. He is also weak against a variety of debuffs, including Poison and Debrave.
