The story begins with the introduction of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, two-
thirds god and one-third human, blessed by the gods with strength, courageand beauty, and the strongest and greatest king who everlexisted.At the request of a trapper, Gilgamesh sends a temple prostitute,Shamhat, to seduce and tame Enkidu and, after six days and seven nights with the harlot, he is no longer just a wild beast who lives with animals.In time, they begin to see each other as brothers and become inseparable.Years later, bored with the peaceful life in Uruk and wanting to make an everlasting name for himself, Gilgamesh proposes to travel to the sacred Cedar Forest to cut some great trees and kill the guardian, the demon Humbaba.Enkidu objects to the plan as the Cedar Forest is the sacred realm of the gods and not meant for mortals, but neither Enkidu not the council of elders of Uruk can convince Gilgamesh not to go. Gilgamesh's mother also complains about the quest, but eventually gives in and asks the sun-god Shamash for his support.The newly-civilized Enkidu leaves the wilderness with his consort (wife) for the city of Uruk, where he learns to help the local shepherds and trappers in their work.Gilgamesh offers the monster his own sisters as wives and concubines in order to distract it into giving away his seven layers of armour, and finally, with the help of the winds sent by the sun-god Shamash, Humbaba is defeated.One day, when Gilgamesh himself comes to a wedding party to sleep with the bride, as is his custom, he finds his way blocked by the mighty Enkidu, who opposes Gilgamesh's ego, his treatment of women and the detamation of the sacred bonds of mariage.The goddess of creation, Aruru, creates a mighty wild-man named Enkidu, a rival in strength to Gilgamesh.