Hi folks! This week I’d like you to share your reactions to either the fight with Humbaba or Ishtar’s meeting with Gilgamesh. What moment or detail stands out to you? What’s this story telling us about Sumer and what it means not to be a god?

Try to interpret as well as describe your reactions. Add a new idea to the discussion, or a new angle on what’s being talked about. The Epic exists to tell us what’s important to the people of Sumer, and it’s up to us to unpack its imagery and intent.

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I found it interesting how Ishtar reacted so aggressively to Gilgamesh's rejection. She seems like the typical archetype of a capricious god who doesn't like it when things are denied to him, seeking to kill Gilgamesh and destroy his people with the bull of heaven.

I'm also curious about what happened to the corpse of the whole of heaven and what Enkidu dreamed about. I wonder if it was something good or bad and how it related to Gilgamesh.

It shows the relationship between the gods and humans and how there is not really a good one. It is a relationship that the humans are at their mercy with the gods.

The interactions with Humbaba and Ishtar showcase that the favor of the gods is flimsy and unpredictable, but at the same time shows that the gods are not friends with the humans and the humans are at the mercy of the gods. When Gilgamesh killed the cedar forest guardian Humbaba the gods were angry and were not going to let the deed go unpunished, the goddess of death then attempted to seduce Gilgamesh to try to kill him. When Humbaba died this showed that the gods were not to be seen as allies because they would wreak havoc for pleasure. Gilgamesh then refuses to marry Ishtar because once the goddess grows tired of her lover's shes kills them. Gilgamesh may not worry about upsetting a goddess but still worries for his life because he may be part god but he is still mortal.

The encounter with Humbaba tells us that the defeat of the Guardian of the Cedar Forest can have consequences for the gods. Gilgamesh defeats Humbaba and kills him, which can lead to serious consequences for Gilgamesh. The killing of Humbaba angered the gods, and so the Goddess of death, Ishtar, was sent to seduce Gilgamesh into marrying him or else she would take his life, but Gilgamesh refused to give in to her. This is how the encounter with Ishtar shows that gods never let any deed from the mortal go unpunished, so the gods try to make it impossible for the mortals to refuse their power. Ishtar, angered by Gilgamesh's rejection, decides to send the bull of heaven to destroy the kingdom of Uruk, but Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill it. This shows how mortals who can still achieve great victories are still limited by the power of the gods, and the encounters with Humbaba and Ishtar show how no mortal can escape death or the divine punishments of the gods.

Based on this weeks readings, a detail I found interesting was that Gilgamesh hesitated to kill Humbaba but did not hesitate to reject Ishtar. I found this interesting because Humbaba was the guardian of the forest and Ishtar was a goddess. From my perspective, I would fear the goddess more than the protector since a goddess would be more powerful than a protector. Ishtar was known for showing no mercy on her lovers once she was tired of them. Knowing this, Gilgamesh rejected her and it seems like he was okay with dealing with the consequences of rejecting a goddess. Ishtar sent the bull of heaven to wreak havoc on Uruk. Enkidu and Gilgamesh were able to deal with the bull. It took encouragement from Enkidu for Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba. Humbaba would overpower Gilgamesh if he wore all seven garments, but he was only wearing one when he fought with Gilgamesh. It made me wonder why Gilgamesh hesitated more with Humbaba instead of Ishtar?

I think the author was showing the readers the even thought Gilgamesh is two parts god, he still has a part of him that is human. To be human is to be mortal and to be mortal is to die. A reality that Gilgamesh is not ready to face.

On being mortal, the encounter Gilgamesh has with Ishtar is supposed to display the life of the unforgiving gods and goddesses, who create chaos as they please with no sympathy, while Humbaba juxtaposes the mortality of the gods and dies for Gilgamesh and Enkidu's pursuit in glory. On one hand, Ishtar threatens Gilgamesh's life and is not punished for it (aside from the hurt feelings of rejection from Gilgamesh), on the other hand Humbaba threatens Gilgamesh's life and is killed. What stood out to me was seeing Gilgamesh's hesitation to kill Humbaba, yet Enkidu encourages Gilgamesh to go through with the deed anyway- and he does. Why this stands out to me is because Enkidu himself, is not a god. So why is it that Gilgamesh, who is a demigod, has more sympathy for Humbaba than Enkidu? Maybe the author is trying to communicate some underlying tensions between their friendship.

In the fight with Humbaba, Gilgamesh and Enkidu try to prove their strength by defeating a powerful guardian of the Cedar Forest. Although they succeed, killing Humbaba has consequences, showing that even great victories can lead to punishment from the gods. This highlights how humans no matter how strong cannot escape death or the power of the gods. The meeting with Ishtar further explores the limits of mortality. When Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar's proposal, he points out the tragic fates of her past lovers, showing how the gods can be cruel and unpredictable. Ishtar gets angry and sends the Bull of Heaven to destroy Uruk, but Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill it. This event shows that, even though they are heroes, humans are still at the mercy of the gods. Both encounters show that humans can achieve greatness but are still limited by their mortality. No matter how powerful they become, they cannot escape the fact that they are subject to death and divine will.

In Tablet 6 of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the goddess Ishtar becomes angry when Gilgamesh rejects her love. She offers him power and riches, but he refuses because he knows how she has treated her past lovers badly. This rejection fills Ishtar with rage, and she goes to her father, Anu, demanding that he punish Gilgamesh by sending the Bull of Heaven to destroy him. At first, Anu hesitates, reminding her that she has caused trouble before, but he eventually gives in to her demands.

This is interesting because both Anu and Gilgamesh expect Ishtar to react with anger. Gilgamesh already knows how she treats men who love her, so he is not surprised when she lashes out. Anu, her own father, also expects her to be reckless and emotional, yet he still gives her what she wants. This suggests that in this story, women—especially powerful ones—are seen as dangerous when rejected, acting out of strong emotions rather than reason.

More broadly, this could reflect how ancient societies viewed women, especially those with power. It paints a picture of a woman as unpredictable, vengeful, and driven by passion. However, it also shows that her power is real—Ishtar’s anger leads to serious consequences, proving that even the strongest men must deal with the wrath of a woman scorned.

A new idea to consider is that this story reflects how unpredictable life was for the Sumerians. Just like the gods could bring blessings or destruction, the real world was full of things people could not control—floods, war, and famine. Even kings, like Gilgamesh, had to struggle against forces greater than themselves. This shows that being human means fighting against uncertainty, knowing that even great heroes cannot escape their fate. It reminds us that Sumerians valued strength and courage, but also understood that mortality makes humans different from gods, and that struggle is what defines them.

I found Tablet 6 to be the more interesting read. What stood out to me was the depiction of Ishtar in the tablet. She is shown as a powerful goddess who uses her power for her own personal gain while expecting everything to go right by her. I think this depiction is deliberate by the author. I believe the goddess Ishtar stands for temptations that humans face with Gilgamesh showing the message to refuse these temptations in order to become a better person and live a better life. It's interesting that despite the people of Sumer fearing their gods, they still make stories painting them in a negative light. I then wonder why is it that the people of Sumar exactly fear their gods? I understand that they do not understand the natural forces around them which have been explained through gods, but why do Sumerians see the wilderness as inherently bad compared to another civilization like Egypt who saw their gods as benevolent because of the natural gifts.

What caught my attention was the part where Gilgamesh rejected Ishtar's marriage proposal. It is very surprising and very unexpected because it is an act that I did not expect since we are usually used to seeing how the gods get their way, but this time it did not turn out that way, and he was very defiant against a goddess. In addition, the story shows us how Gilgamesh has a lot of confidence in himself and that he is not afraid of his actions as in this case he is not afraid of a deity.

And I think that the author is trying to communicate to us about the importance of integrity, since Gilgamesh's rejection of Ishtar shows us how Gilgamesh is valuing his own integrity.

One thing I would like to know is, if Gilgamesh was able to reject a deity, what else would he be capable of doing?

One thing that stood out to me the most was something we discussed in class, the unpredictability of the gods. Ishtar’s rage really highlights how fickle they are, switching sides or taking drastic actions seemingly out of nowhere. What I found especially fascinating was how easily Anu gave in to Ishtar. At first, he hesitated, probably knowing the destruction that would come from unleashing the Bull of Heaven, but all it took was one threat from Ishtar, and he immediately gave in. It really shows how unstable divine power can be and how the gods don’t always act rationally.

I also really liked the friendship and bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The way they work together to take down the Bull of Heaven really shows their strength as a team. Their dynamic is really interesting, and I’m curious to see how the story unfolds, especially for Enkidu.

What stood out to me about Tablet 6: Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven, is when Lady Ishtar the beautiful goddess was tempting Gilgamesh into marrying her. She was promising to give him everything, anything a man could ever dream of, she was offering him a lifestyle fit for a King and a God. It seemed like it was the deal of a lifetime however, Gilgamesh turned down her offers due to her having reputation of punishing and forever cursing her past lovers. As soon as Lady Ishtar heard those words come out of Gilgamesh's mouth, she was furious and refused to take no as an answer. Traditionally men do the pursuing and chasing when it comes to woman, so to see a woman, let alone a beautiful goddess, pursue and chase after a man she loves will forever be mind blowing to me because it's so rare. Lady Ishtar being fueled by her rage and hatred towards Gilgamesh's rejection, caused her to call upon her father Anu to send down the Bull of Heaven to murder Gilgamesh. However, her plan to kill Gilgamesh fails, leaving her with nothing but humiliation and her rage. Another important thing to mention in Tablet 6 is Enkidu's loyalty towards Gilgamesh. He stood by his side when he needed help killing the Bull of Heaven, this act of kindness displayed their strength, endurance and compassion for each other, which ultimately lead them to their victory. Their not just friends their brothers. To sum up everything that has been stated so far, I believe the author was trying to tell us that, "Not everything that shines turns out to be gold", "A woman's past matters" and finally, "Woman typically don't handle rejection lightly unlike men." I would definitely love to find out more about this story and how it ends for Gilgamesh and his good pal Enkidu.

One really interesting part that stood out to me while reading was when Ishtar asked Gilgamesh to marry her but he told her everything bad that happened with her past relationships, and Gilgamesh refused the marriage, and because of that Ishtar sent the bull of heaven to get back at him. This is interesting because Gilgamesh is someone who is strong and almost everyone is scared of him but a God is more powerful and not scared of him which is probably a humbling moment for Gilgamesh, because in the Sumerian belief that humans can stand up to the Gods but they can’t completely escape their control or anger.

Reading through tablet 5 and 6 I notice that with Humbaba, Gilgamesh had hesitated to combat against him which is different for him because normally he would fight him right away. as said in the tablet terror fell on Gilgamesh and may the stiffness leave your arms, the tremors your legs showing that Gilgamesh needed the motivation from Enkidu to combat Humbaba which is different because Gilgamesh is a man that never back down from gaining power. I wonder why Gilgamesh hesitated and was being a coward in front of Humbaba. this shows that even gods got weaknesses. in tablet 6 Ishtar use the bull of heaven to try to kill Gilgamesh because he declined her because of her past. her being a goddess, she not used to being told no so to protect her ego she tries to kill Gilgamesh showing that she do not take no for an answer which is true for a lot of the gods. these encounters shows that even gods and goddesses has weaknesses that can be used against them, Gilgamesh fear to combat Humbaba and Ishtar refusal to take no for an answer

One of the sections that truly impressed me within Tablet 6 was when Ishtar, having been spurned by Gilgamesh, is angered and requests that her father, Anu, release the Bull of Heaven to punish him. Most impressive was the speed with which Ishtar's affection for Gilgamesh turned into rage. Her reaction seemed to be over the top, ranging from offering to marry him to demanding his annihilation, demonstrating that the Mesopotamian mythological gods were both all-powerful and volatile in their emotions.

Furthermore, I think the author is trying to say the dangers of hubris and the cost of defying the gods. Gilgamesh's dismissal of Ishtar is cruel and insulting, but instead of merely accepting it, she uses her goddess prerogatives and lashes back. This also helps to build the theme of the limitations of man—despite Gilgamesh's strength, he still has to respond to the gods. However, his authority in vanquishing the Bull of Heaven with the help of Enkidu validates his heroic prowess and defiance against divine authority.

What impressed me in Tablet 6 was Ishtar's stubborn insistence on scolding Gilgamesh for spurning her. In disregard of his own warnings about her past lovers and the destinies she bestowed upon them, she refused to accept no. This role-reversal—a woman chasing a man—surprised me and added to the tension about the encounter. Enraged by his disobedience, she called upon her father, Anu, to send the Bull of Heaven to kill him. Her plan, however, failed, and she was left humiliated and angry.

Another standout was Enkidu's unwavering loyalty to Gilgamesh. He stood by his friend's side, helping him kill the Bull of Heaven, reasserting their strong bond and mutual strength. Their victory not only showed their courage but also indicated their defiance of the gods, a dangerous strategy that would reap consequences later. The tablet ends with Gilgamesh bragging and strong in his victory, basking in the glory of their victory unaware of the additional trials that would be in store for them.

The section that impressed me in Tablet 5 was when Gilgamesh and Enkidu, after all the preparations, actually fight Humbaba, the monster who guards the Cedar Forest. What impressed me most was when Humbaba pleads for mercy when the two heroes get the better of him. He offers them rewards, such as the wealth of the forest and to be their servant, showing how desperate he is. Nevertheless, Gilgamesh decides to kill him, and Enkidu urges him to act quickly. The moment when Humbaba's plea shifts from arrogance to fear helps highlight the harsh realities of their quest and the price of what they are doing.

I think that the author is trying to say about the complexity of heroism, power, and morality. The slaying of Humbaba despite his pleading for mercy shows how ambition and desire for power and fame may be prioritized over other values such as pity. It also shows the message that even the strongest and most invincible of beings have their frailties, and these may be exploited by others who are ambitious.

What stood out to me in Tablet 6 was how Ishtar was trying so hard to punish Gilgámesh for saying no to her. He told her again and again look at your past lovers and how you ruined them. She wouldn’t take no for an answer which is weird because usually the man chases the women, not the other way around. Then she got the bull of heaven to kill him. She got disappointed because it didn’t work. Another part that stood out to me was how Enkidu had Gilgamesh’s back. He helped him kill the bull. The tablet ended with Gilgámesh feeling powerful and mighty. A question I have is, will Gilgámesh and Enkídu stay friends Or will they get into another fight?

From the scene Enkidu is cursed by Humbaba that Enkidu will never get older than Gilgamesh in the tablet 5, which might imply the death of Enkidu later. Moreover, the author would depict a scene that is the loss of Gilgamesh's friend which its an important point for Gilgamesh to grow as a person and a king. Meanwhile, the book expresses each scenes directly, for example, there is a scene that Enkidu pulled Humbaba's lungs, which is intense and effective to imagine the scene at the same time.

There were two parts of the reading that stood out to me. The first part was when Gilgamesh was hesitating to kill Humbaba because Humbaba was pleading for his life and Enkidu encouraged him to kill Humbaba. It strikes me as odd that Gilgamesh would hesitate to kill Humbaba. Gilgamesh is supposed to be a strong and brave king yet he hesitates to claim his honor by slaying Humbaba. Enkidu even goes as far as to say if Humababa is spared they will be unborn almost like saying they'd be disgraced. I believe this part of the epic was to show how strong and powerful Enkidu and Gilgamesh were. I believe it represents what ancient Sumer viewed as the ultimate man.

The second part of the reading that stood out to me was after Humbaba was slayed Enkidu and Gilgamesh start pillaging the forest and Enkidu says "my friend we have reduced the forest to a wasteland how shall we answer Enlil in Nippur?" Does Enkidu regret what they have done? Enkidu was the one encouraging Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba and only after they cleared the forest does he regret his actions. Later in the reading we learn Gilgamesh took the Cedar from the forest to make a door for the temple of Enlil. I wonder if this is his way of repenting after what they did to the forest. Their religion is super important to them which is demonstrated by Gilgamesh taking the best things for Enlil and Enkidu asking about how will they answer for what they have done. This also shows their relationship to each other, men who do battle tend to become close and that is important for comrades to support each other in battle. During a time where your army has to be strong in order to survive you need the soldiers to like each other and I believe that is what Gilgamesh and Enkidu represent in this reading.

In Gilgamesh, Tablet 6, I was struck by how quickly Ishtar’s anger flares up when Gilgamesh refuses her marriage proposal. She escalates this personal rejection into a vengeful act, sending the Bull of Heaven to punish him. What stood out was how Ishtar, despite being a goddess, reacts emotionally in a very human way—jealous and hurt, yet powerful.

I think the author is showing that gods, while powerful, are still subject to human emotions, making them unpredictable and dangerous. This makes me curious about the larger role of gods in the epic—how do they shape the story and what does this tell us about fate and human agency?