ABSTRACT
The Epic of Gilgamesh involves the tragic love story of the heroic protagonist and his companion, Enkidu. This chapter provides a brief overview of women in Mesopotamia, and considers the themes of love and family as they relate to the Epic’s eponymous hero. Love was a powerful force in ancient Mesopotamia: emotional ties bonded together households and communities, and formed a significant element in everyday life. The study of women in ancient Mesopotamia is a field which promises to provide unprecedented insights into the early civilisations of the Ancient Near East. The society of Mesopotamia was patriarchal, meaning that there was an unbalanced distribution of power and status between men and women. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the Sumerian poem of the Death of Gilgamess, Ninsun plays a pivotal role in the progression of the narrative. Maternal love is presented in many forms throughout the Epic of Gilgamesh.
