1. CHARACTERS: PEOPLE Gilgamesh Enkidu Shamhat King of Uruk
Father = Lugalbanda
Mother = goddess Ninsun
Enkidu
Companion and friend of Gilgamesh
Shamhat
The temple prostitute who seduces Enkidu
EN-key-doo

2. CHARACTERS: PEOPLE Utnapishtim Utnapishtim’s Wife
King and priest of Shurrupak
Name translates to “He Who Saw Life”
Was picked by the god Ea to survive the flood with his family and the animals
He and his wife were granted eternal life by the gods
Utnapishtim’s Wife
Unnamed woman in the story
Softens her husband towards Gilgamesh and persuades him to share the secret of a magic plant
oo t-nuh-pish-tim

3. CHARACTERS: PEOPLE Urshanabi The Hunter
The guardian of the mysterious “stone things”
Pilots the ferryboat to and from where Utnapishtim lives
Loses this privilege when he helps Gilgamesh
The Hunter
Also called “the stalker”
Discovers Enkidu at a watering place in the wilderness and plots to tame him

4. CHARACTERS: DEITIES (GODS) and DEMONS
Anu
The father of the gods and the god of the firmament  (the heavens or the sky)
Aruru
A goddess of creation who fashioned Enkidu from clay and her spit Ea
The god of fresh water, crafts, and wisdom, a patron of humankind.
Lives in Apsu, the primal waters below the earth

5. CHARACTERS: DEITIES (GODS) and DEMONS
Humbaba
A fearsome demon who guards the cedar forest which is forbidden to mortals
Wears seven garments that paralyze anyone who would withstand him with fear
His mouth is fire
He roars like a flood
He breathes death
Scorpion Man
Guardian of the twin-peaked mountain called Mashu
Upper part of his body is human
Lower part ends in a scorpion tail

6. CHARACTERS: DEITIES (GODS) and DEMONS
Siduri
The goddess of wine-making and brewing
A veiled tavern-keeper who comforts Gilgamesh and helps him on his way to Utnapishtim
Tammuz
The god of vegetation and fertility
Also called “The Shepherd”
Born a mortal, he is the husband of Ishtar
Ishtar
The goddess of love and fertility as well as war
Impulsive and unpredictable
The patroness of Uruk, where she has a temple

7. CHARACTERS: DEITIES (GODS) and DEMONS
Enlil
The god of earth, wind, and air
Not at all fond of humankind
Ereshkigal
Terrifying Queen of the Underworld
Lugulbanda
Third King of Uruk after the flood
Father of Gilgamesh
Ninsun
A minor goddess noted for her wisdom
Mother of Gilgamesh

8. THEMES AND SYMBOLS
THEMES – fundamental and universal ideas explored in a literary work
Love is a motivating force
Death is inevitable
The gods are dangerous
Success often leads to downfall
SYMBOLS – objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts
Religious symbols
Doorways, portals, gateways