In the epic of Gilgamesh, God Shamash is the Sun God. I think it is intresting to note that in Hebrew the word "Shemesh" means sun- very close similarity. Additionally, there is a custom in Judaism that during the festival of Hanukah, you light candles. The head candle is called the "shamash," which is used to provide fire(light) to all the other candles. This is quite similar to the God Shamash- which is also supposed to provide guidance, in the form of light, to others such as Gilgamesh-
When doing some research on Shamash, the sun god, I found that he is most commonly represented as a figure of justice in Sumerian mythology. In the epic of Gilgamesh, Shamash was responsible for leading Gilgamesh into fighting the monster, Humbaba. Humbaba was living in the "Land of the Living" which belonged to Shamash. Humbaba is therefore hated by Shamash and described as "evil." To me, Humbaba seemed to represent a dark and evil obstacle that Gilgamesh had to overcome. The "seven terrors" that were given to Humbaba also reminded me of the "seven deadly sins." Seven sins were also mentioned in the Bible once. Humbaba's mouth was also named as "death itself" in the story. Therefore, I feel that Shamash was helping Gilgamesh by shedding light into the darkness, that was evil. He provided protection for Gilgamesh and gave him justice over the monster.
Considering that these Ancient gods in this epic were representations of characteristics of human personality, Shamash seemed to be sort of like a macho, father-figure. Shamash guides and protects Gilgamesh to help him fulfill his prophecy as a promise to Gilgamesh's mother Ninsun. Shamash gets a lot of trouble from the other gods for doing what he did, but I suppose that keeping his word to a priestess was more important than maintaining a good reputation among the rest of the gods. Its not as if they could possibly harm him since Shamash is immortal.
Shamash, the god of justice, appeared to be very unjust to Humbaba by taking Gilgamesh’s and Enkidu’s sides against him. Shamash is a god that has very similar human attributes. As a god, he should know that Gilgamesh and Enkidu are abusing their powers, and breaking the laws by killing Humbaba. Yet, not just he didn’t stop them from killing Humbaba, but he actually supported them in their forest journey.
On the other hand, I feel like he didn’t stay with Gilgamesh to the end by abandoning his desire for an infinite life. He could imagine a creature as powerful as Gilgamesh can misuse his powers against humans and probably gods if he was immortal. One of the most well-known attributes of gods is that unlike humans, they are immortal. If the third part of Gilgamesh would have been a god, he would completely become a god and therefore immortal. In that case, God Shamash and others couldn’t differentiate between Gilgamesh and themselves. Thus, God Shamash was very wise to destined Gilgamesh to live as a king but to die as a human.
One of Shamash's duties as the God of justice is, in my opinion, to keep life between mortals and Gods at a balance. Being the God of justice it is in his own mind that he decides what is just, or fair; that being said he acted fairly in regards to Gilgamesh in both of his adventures. Shamash assisted Gilgamesh in his battle against Humbaba because he understood Gilgamesh's human ambition, his desire to be immortal not through flesh but through history. Likewise, he applied his principles of fairness when he offered to Gilgamesh words of discouragement on his search for eternal life, because Gilgamesh is a mortal, and so the inevitability of death was a matter of fate; to cross fate would be to defy a natural law, which would in result upset the Gods' arrogance.
Ishtar, the goddess of love wants to marry Gilgamesh. She had previously many lovers that she hurt and was cruel to them. Either she “struck and broke his wing”, “struck and turn him into a wolf” or “He was changed to a blind mole”. She also sent the Bull of Heaven to destroy Gilgamesh that refused being with her. However, the god of justice and equity; Shamash was watching over Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was able to kill the Bull of Heaven. Even though, Ishtar was a sister of the god Shamash, he did not take her side but he punished her. I think that Shamash gave the justice to Ishtar for her brutal behavior.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Shammash is the sun god. His role is to bring everything wrong and injust to light. When Enkidu started to curse the Trapper and the harlot, Shammash called him out. He asked, "Enkidu, why are you cursing the woman, the mistress who taught you to eat bread fit for gods and drink wine of kings?" After realizing that he angered Shammash he took back what he said and replied to the harlot, "the mouth which cursed you shall bless you".
Shamash called "The Sun God" plays an important role in the epic of Gilgamesh. As I read, he was a god that his first and more important mission was justice. In the other hand, talking in a direct relation with Gilgamesh and Enkidu, he always was there to offer them support and protection at every point that they needed it during their hard times.
The Encyclopedia says: "Shamash was responsible for maintaining the order of the universe. Nothing could hide from his bright light, which banished darkness and revealed lies. The defender of the poor and the weak, he was the enemy of evil". So besides being the Sun God, he was also responsible for justice and order. As god of the sun, Shamash moved across the sky during the day, and according to some legends, he moved through the underworld during the night.
In the epic of Gilgamesh, God Shamash is the Sun God. I think it is intresting to note that in Hebrew the word "Shemesh" means sun- very close similarity. Additionally, there is a custom in Judaism that during the festival of Hanukah, you light candles. The head candle is called the "shamash," which is used to provide fire(light) to all the other candles. This is quite similar to the God Shamash- which is also supposed to provide guidance, in the form of light, to others such as Gilgamesh-
ReplyDeleteShamash is the sun of the god. He lead Gilgamesh through out the forest journey
ReplyDeleteWhen doing some research on Shamash, the sun god, I found that he is most commonly represented as a figure of justice in Sumerian mythology. In the epic of Gilgamesh, Shamash was responsible for leading Gilgamesh into fighting the monster, Humbaba. Humbaba was living in the "Land of the Living" which belonged to Shamash. Humbaba is therefore hated by Shamash and described as "evil." To me, Humbaba seemed to represent a dark and evil obstacle that Gilgamesh had to overcome. The "seven terrors" that were given to Humbaba also reminded me of the "seven deadly sins." Seven sins were also mentioned in the Bible once. Humbaba's mouth was also named as "death itself" in the story. Therefore, I feel that Shamash was helping Gilgamesh by shedding light into the darkness, that was evil. He provided protection for Gilgamesh and gave him justice over the monster.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that these Ancient gods in this epic were representations of characteristics of human personality, Shamash seemed to be sort of like a macho, father-figure. Shamash guides and protects Gilgamesh to help him fulfill his prophecy as a promise to Gilgamesh's mother Ninsun. Shamash gets a lot of trouble from the other gods for doing what he did, but I suppose that keeping his word to a priestess was more important than maintaining a good reputation among the rest of the gods. Its not as if they could possibly harm him since Shamash is immortal.
ReplyDeleteShamash, the god of justice, appeared to be very unjust to Humbaba by taking Gilgamesh’s and Enkidu’s sides against him. Shamash is a god that has very similar human attributes. As a god, he should know that Gilgamesh and Enkidu are abusing their powers, and breaking the laws by killing Humbaba. Yet, not just he didn’t stop them from killing Humbaba, but he actually supported them in their forest journey.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I feel like he didn’t stay with Gilgamesh to the end by abandoning his desire for an infinite life. He could imagine a creature as powerful as Gilgamesh can misuse his powers against humans and probably gods if he was immortal. One of the most well-known attributes of gods is that unlike humans, they are immortal. If the third part of Gilgamesh would have been a god, he would completely become a god and therefore immortal. In that case, God Shamash and others couldn’t differentiate between Gilgamesh and themselves. Thus, God Shamash was very wise to destined Gilgamesh to live as a king but to die as a human.
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ReplyDeleteOne of Shamash's duties as the God of justice is, in my opinion, to keep life between mortals and Gods at a balance. Being the God of justice it is in his own mind that he decides what is just, or fair; that being said he acted fairly in regards to Gilgamesh in both of his adventures. Shamash assisted Gilgamesh in his battle against Humbaba because he understood Gilgamesh's human ambition, his desire to be immortal not through flesh but through history. Likewise, he applied his principles of fairness when he offered to Gilgamesh words of discouragement on his search for eternal life, because Gilgamesh is a mortal, and so the inevitability of death was a matter of fate; to cross fate would be to defy a natural law, which would in result upset the Gods' arrogance.
ReplyDeleteIshtar, the goddess of love wants to marry Gilgamesh. She had previously many lovers that she hurt and was cruel to them. Either she “struck and broke his wing”, “struck and turn him into a wolf” or “He was changed to a blind mole”. She also sent the Bull of Heaven to destroy Gilgamesh that refused being with her. However, the god of justice and equity; Shamash was watching over Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was able to kill the Bull of Heaven. Even though, Ishtar was a sister of the god Shamash, he did not take her side but he punished her. I think that Shamash gave the justice to Ishtar for her brutal behavior.
ReplyDeleteIn the Epic of Gilgamesh, Shammash is the sun god. His role is to bring everything wrong and injust to light. When Enkidu started to curse the Trapper and the harlot, Shammash called him out. He asked, "Enkidu, why are you cursing the woman, the mistress who taught you to eat bread fit for gods and drink wine of kings?" After realizing that he angered Shammash he took back what he said and replied to the harlot, "the mouth which cursed you shall bless you".
ReplyDeleteShamash called "The Sun God" plays an important role in the epic of Gilgamesh.
ReplyDeleteAs I read, he was a god that his first and more important mission was justice. In the other hand, talking in a direct relation with Gilgamesh and Enkidu, he always was there to offer them support and protection at every point that they needed it during their hard times.
The Encyclopedia says: "Shamash was responsible for maintaining the order of the universe. Nothing could hide from his bright light, which banished darkness and revealed lies. The defender of the poor and the weak, he was the enemy of evil". So besides being the Sun God, he was also responsible for justice and order. As god of the sun, Shamash moved across the sky during the day, and according to some legends, he moved through the underworld during the night.
ReplyDelete