There is one strong connection between Genesis and The Epic of Gilgamesh that seems to be ironic in both the stories. In the Epic, Enkidu was sent to earth because the people of Uruk were very troubled by the deeds of their king, Gilgamesh. ” You made him, O Aruru, now create his equal; let it be as like him has his own reflection, his second self, stormy heart for stormy heart. Let them contend together and leave Uruk in quiet.” Enkidu was sent to stop Gilgamesh from continuing his bad deeds on the people. The Gods created Enkidu from the clay, after the people of Uruk complained about their problem. But when Enkidu meets Gilgamesh, he becomes friend with Gilgamesh. They become like brothers and soul mates. And Enkidu also gives Gilgamesh a hand in conquering the cedar forest and killing the beast. But after the battle, Enkidu dies. ” It was by your command they killed the Bull of Heaven, and killed Humbaba, and must Enkidu die although innocent.” It is a symbol that he did not do what he was asked to by the gods, the sole reason for his creation was not accomplished so he had to die of sickness.
In the genesis, the god creates Adam and Eve. They are placed in the Garden of Eden where they are asked not to eat the apples from the tree of knowledge. But they eat from the tree, so the god does not like what he sees and banish them both from the Garden of Eden. “What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and i did eat.” (3:59).The god also curses them with all the sorrow and pain in the rest of the life and even among after they multiply and form many of their own kind. “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (3:59).
It is sort of a similar punishment in both the texts, Enkidu gets killed and Adam and Eve thrown away from the Garden of Eden to live in sorrow and pain.
