Gilgameš and Huwawa

Author: Traditional Sumerian

Time Period: 2499 BCE–1000 BCE

Country or Culture: Mesopotamia; Iraq

Genre: Myth

Overview

In 1853, the Assyrian archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam was conducting fieldwork at the site of the ancient city of Nimrud in an area now part of Iraq. It was in this excavation that Rassam found the first copies of The Epic of Gilgamesh (ca. 2000 BCE). Although Rassam could not decipher the tablet or place the myth, he immediately understood its potential importance. While twenty more years passed before a translation of the epic was published, scholars around the world soon came to recognize its significance. Although literally unheard of for thousands of years, The Epic of Gilgamesh was the oldest piece of surviving literature in the world, coming likewise from the oldest human civilization. Through the twentieth century, further fragments of the myth were discovered, and academics began to understand the development of a myth that was foundational to human culture.

One of the core stories of The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of Gilgameš (Gilgamesh) and Huwawa. In this myth, Gilgameš is the warrior king of the city of Uruk (or Erech), a role he inherits from his father, a king, and his mother, a goddess. Gilgameš works to advance the city, building strong walls to protect it from outside invaders. When the story of Gilgameš and Huwawa begins, the king decides that he will travel into the distant cedar forests where the giant Huwawa lives, taking with him his constant companion and beloved ally, Enkidu, to complete the quest. The journey is inspired by Gilgameš’s need to establish a legacy, knowing that his renown will last beyond his mortal death. It is also, however, a quest for the cedar resources of the forest, which were unavailable in the region of Uruk yet were valuable to the development and growth of the city. While he and Enkidu eventually complete their quest, gathering the cedar and slaughtering Huwawa through a mixture of deception and brute strength, they are ultimately chastised by the god Enlil for not instead welcoming Huwawa into their civilization.

Gilgameš and Huwawa is an important story in both the development of the character of Gilgameš and in the study of Sumerian civilization. Gilgameš is a figure who constantly struggles with the reality of human mortality. While he will try to achieve immortality following the death of his beloved Enkidu later in the myth, at the point of the story of Gilgameš and Huwawa, he has accepted that death is inevitable. In response, the king turns to civilization and to community—to his reliance on Enkidu and to the ongoing culture of Uruk—to form a meaning and a legacy that can transcend death. Gilgameš never truly finds peace in his crisis of mortality, but the myth of Gilgameš and Huwawa affirms that human civilization offers some solace, even when the humans themselves struggle through their own flaws and failings.

Summary

Gilgameš, the king of the Sumerian city of Uruk and a demigod, decides one day that he should head into the distant cedar mountains. The mountains are protected by a monstrous beast named Huwawa, but they also contain valuable lumber, which is difficult to obtain in the Mesopotamian region. Gilgameš knows that even though he cannot live beyond death, he can establish a legacy of fame by entering the cedar forest.

Gilgameš’s companion and dear friend, Enkidu, agrees to travel with his master into these mountains, but he reminds Gilgameš that anything having to do with the cedar forest is the business of the sun god, Utu. Because of this, Gilgameš first makes a sacrifice of a young goat to Utu. The god responds, asking why Gilgameš would take on such a task when he is already a noble person. Gilgameš answers that even though he is the king of a city, he constantly sees there the death and disease that are inherent to humanity. He realizes that he too will one day die—that not even a human with a goddess as his mother can overcome death. However, he can travel into the mountains to establish his bravery and legend, and if he reaches a place beyond where his story will be remembered, he can establish there the glory of the gods instead.

“Look, Enkidu, two people together will not perish! A grappling-pole does not sink! No one can cut through a three-ply cloth! Water cannot wash someone away from a wall! Fire in a reed house cannot be extinguished! You help me, and I will help you—what can anyone do against us then?”

Utu is moved by Gilgameš’s plea, and in response, he gives Gilgameš seven warriors, all of whom have magical gifts and know the different routes of the earth. With these warriors to guide him, Gilgameš also heads to his city, where he demands that any man without a wife or a mother should join him on the quest. Quickly, fifty men volunteer their services as well. The small army assembled, Gilgameš travels with the guidance of Utu’s warriors, passing through the valleys of the mountains. He crosses seven mountain ranges filled with cedar in this way before finally, after the seventh mountain range, coming across the cedar forest he seeks.

Gilgameš and his army begin to cut down the cedar forest, making piles out of the logs. Deep within the forest, hidden in his lair, Huwawa senses the presence of the men, and their actions make him tremble. As Huwawa’s terrible aura reaches across the mountain, Gilgameš and his men all grow weary and finally collapse in sleep. As night approaches, Enkidu awakes and tries desperately to rouse anyone else. He sees the sun passing and knows that the protection of Utu will soon fade, and he feels the terrible presence of Huwawa. When at last Gilgameš wakes up, however, he scolds Enkidu for treating him like a child who would return home frightened rather than complete his quest.

Enkidu and Gilgameš argue, with Enkidu insisting that Huwawa is a beast to be feared and Gilgameš insisting that if the two friends stay loyal in battle, they will succeed. Before they can conclude their argument, however, Huwawa appears before them, his eyes filled with the look of death. Gilgameš is so frightened he can barely move. Huwawa addresses him, declaring that Gilgameš is a noble and glorious person and that he should have nothing to fear. Gilgameš touches the ground at Huwawa’s feet and lies, saying that he has come only to find where in the mountains Huwawa lives. He even offers his older sister to be Huwawa’s wife. When Huwawa accepts this offer, he gives up a little bit of his terrible aura to Gilgameš, and Gilgameš’s men begin to cut down the cedar again.

Gilgameš continues in this way, offering his little sister to be Huwawa’s concubine and again receiving some of the monster’s aura. He offers him many gifts, including the food of the gods, the mountains, and even precious gems. As Huwawa takes these gifts and slowly gives up his aura, the cedars are likewise cleared away. At last, Gilgameš walks up to Huwawa gently, pretending to offer the monster a kiss out of respect but instead attacking him at the last minute. Huwawa bears his teeth, but Gilgameš manages to conquer him, capturing the monster in a net. Huwawa begs mercy from Gilgameš and from Utu, and for a moment, Gilgameš’s heart softens; he orders Enkidu to free Huwawa. Enkidu, however, insists this is a horrible idea, and when Huwawa argues with Enkidu as well, Enkidu quickly cuts the monster’s throat, putting the head inside a bag.

Enkidu and Gilgameš take the head of Huwawa to Enlil, the god of the storm. Enlil, however, only scolds them, saying that Huwawa should have been treated with respect and dined with the king and his friends. In retaliation, Enlil uses his power to take the auras of Huwawa away from Gilgameš. He quickly divides those auras, giving them to the rivers, the forests, the lions, and other natural wonders and deities.

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