World at War  /  Conflicts  /  Mesopotamian Myth
Wars of the First Cities

Gilgamesh & the Cedar Forest

2700 BC Cedar Forest Status: ended Casualties: Humbaba; later Enkidu, by decree of the gods

Gilgamesh, restless, set out with Enkidu to slay Humbaba and cut the cedars of the gods. Shamash sent thirteen winds to pin the giant down. Humbaba begged for his life; Enkidu urged the killing-blow. For this and the slaying of the Bull of Heaven the gods condemned Enkidu to die. Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablets IV–VI.

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Belligerents

  • Gilgamesh & Enkidu
  • Humbaba, guardian of the forest

Casualties

Humbaba; later Enkidu, by decree of the gods

From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.