d his final struggle with death and immortality. Although he emerges victorious in his struggles with men and gods, he cannot defeat death, although it seems that his valiant life is meant to be a sort of immortality in the minds of others.
The major characters of the story are the hero-king Gilgamesh (two-thirds a god and one-third a man), his enemy and then friend Enkidu, Humbaba the Terrible, Ishtar, and Utanapishtim. Although there are minor characters, these four comprise the heart of the story. Gilgamesh first does battle with Enkidu, but due to the bonds formed first in combat and than as allies, the hero bonds with Enkidu as with no other. Together they slay both Humbaba the Terrible and then the Bull of Heaven when the latter is sent down by Ishtar to destroy the city after the hero rejects her love. When the gods in turn afflict Enkidu with a fatal illness as punishment, the hero stays by his friend's side unto death. The experience causes Gilgamesh to try to find immortality, bringing him to Utanapishtim. Despite his desire
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