EnkiWP (エンキ, Enki?), also known as Ea (エア?), is the Great God of Earth and Water of the Mesopotamian and Babylonian myths.[1]
Profile[]
Background[]
Enki is once said to have administration over the Sea of Dawn (黎明の海, Reimei no Umi?)—an Ocean of Void (無の海, Mu no Umi?) that lies below the Underworld of Ereshkigal, where Tiamat and Abzu manifested from.[2]
When Ishtar was trapped in the Underworld, Enki was the one to get her out.[3]
Appearance[]
The gods of Mesopotamia all have blond hair.[4]
Personality[]
Role[]
Fate/stay night[]
The Sword of Rupture Ea is named after Ea.[5]
Fate/Prototype[]
The Sword of the End Enki is named after Enki.
Abilities[]
Ea is believed to be the quasi-deification of the power of the planet which turned, smashed, and stabilized the surface of the earth when it was still covered in gas and seas of magma, during the primordial stage of the earth. Many gods began building nations after the primordial earth was stabilized into a world where living creatures could live, but Ea is a god who performed the act of building the planet before that.[6]
References[]
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material III: World Material - The Servants of the Fifth Holy Grail War: Gilgamesh, p.024-025 [T] Gilgamesh
Class: Archer
Master: Kotomine Kirei
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Sex: Male
Height: 182cm
Weight: 68kg
Armament: Armour
STR: B
CON: C
AGI: C
MGI: B
LCK: A
Noble Phantasm: EX
Legend
The great king depicted in mankind’s oldest epic – “The Epic of Gilgamesh”. He was an actual king who ruled Uruk, the capital city of ancient Mesopotamia during the Sumer Dynasty 5000 years ago.
A despot who possesses high divinity with 2/3 being God and 1/3 being human, and believed he was invincible. However, answering the call of people who were oppressed by Gilgamesh’s tyrannical policies, Enkidu, a man created by the goddess Aruru, was released to fight against Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu met and battled as enemies, but soon they began to recognise each other and rule the nation together. Gilgamesh gradually began to change after finding a friend who he considered to be an equal, and Uruk became unprecedentedly prosperous. Gilgamesh, as the greatest king, eventually acquired all the treasure on the earth.
The goddess Ishtar wooed Gilgamesh, but was rejected bluntly. As a result, Ishtar unleashed the Bull of Heaven in a fit of rage, wrecking havoc on earth. After her failure, Ishtar complained before the Gods and caused the weakening and eventual death of Enkidu, who could not resist the will of the Gods that created him. The death of Enkidu significantly impacted Gilgamesh, and as a result he set out for the underworld in order to acquire the potion of immortality. However, the potion was drunk by a snake, and Gilgamesh died in despair.
Tactics
Gilgamesh battles by shooting the originals of all Noble Phantasms like bullets via Gate of Babylon. The tactic yields excellent destructive power to magic energy efficiency. Since every Noble Phantasm is a bullet, the real magical energy used is merely the activation cost of Gate of Babylon. Because he possesses the originals of all Noble Phantasms, he can assault the weakness of any Servants. As a result, Gilgamesh has the advantage over most of the Servants in combat.
Because he has absolute self-confidence, he is able to calmly show himself before his opponents. However, depending on mood, he is also fine with scoring kills by raining Noble Phantasms behind the enemies’ back. The will of the king cannot be simply gauged by the concept of tactic.
Class Abilities
Magic Resistance: E
Magic resistance gained through the class ability of Archer. However, since Gilgamesh did not have any abilities that can resist magecraft, it remains at the minimum level of E. Its effect is merely light damage mitigation against sorcery rather than full neutralisation. The cause of his low Magic Resistance is probably related to his Master, Kotomine Kirei’s lack of magical energy. In reality, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh’s Magic Resistance was elevated to C with Tohsaka Tokiomi as his Master.
Although his Magic Resistance is low, Gilgamesh is able to neutralise most sorceries due to having many items that defend against sorcery, such as the golden armour. The defensive powers of these items are quite high, as Rin’s sorcery was completely repelled.
If magi attempt to use large-scale sorceries and act as “mongrels” that impede the king, Gilgamesh will simply unleash a raging wave of Noble Phantasms and completely crush them without giving them the time to cast spells. (Translator’s Note: Gate of Babylon and Sword Spam are now officially categorised as a form of Magic Resistance.)
Independent Action: A+
With an Independent Action rank that sets him completely apart from the rest, Gilgamesh is able to operate without a Master. With a rank of A+ that exceeds even A, the support of a Master is unnecessary even while unleashing a large amount of magical power. It is an ability that bends the rules and allows for the continued materialisation of Servants even after the conclusion of the Holy Grail War. After being summoned as Archer during the Fourth Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh remained materialised for 10 years until the Fifth.
Since the Fourth Holy Grail War, the ability to freely operate without regard for the Master remained unchanged. However, the ability to remain materialised after the Holy Grail War was not gained until he was showered by the content of the Holy Grail. At the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Gilgamesh was absorbed for a while after being showered by the black mud spilled from the broken vessel of the Holy Grail. However, Gilgamesh could not even be digested by the mud that was filled with “All the World’s Evil – Angra Mainyu”. On the contrary, he was given a flesh body and regurgitated back into the present world. As a result, Gilgamesh was completely incarnated and continued to survive as an existence with a physical body. Also worth mentioning is that, thanks to the changed shape and personality granted by the potion of youth, the super egotistical Gilgamesh was able to live in the human society for 10 years without much trouble.
Personal Skills
Golden Rule: A
Being fated a life that is filled with riches. Gilgamesh lives the life of a nabob and has no money troubles. In the legend, he claimed all the world’s treasure as his own. The originals of Noble Phantasms preserved in his treasury were collected during this period. Although this ability seems unrelated to battle, it plays a great role in arming Gilgamesh.
Upon seeing Gilgamesh’s golden figure, Rin half-jealously called him “Gin-Pika” (Gold-glitter).
Charisma: A+
Often praised as the greatest king, Gilgamesh’s ability to command and lead great armies is excellent. Charisma is a rare talent, and a B rank is sufficient to lead a nation, but Gilgamesh has a rank of A+. At this level, it is not a matter of popularity or skill, but closer to something like sorcery or curse. An army led by Gilgamesh will have a tremendous increase in abilities.
An egotistical Gilgamesh radiating with self-confidence will sure boost the morale of his army to an extremely high level.
Divinity: B (A+)
Due to being 2/3 God, Gilgamesh possesses the highest level of divinity among the many Heroic Spirits. His level exceeds even Herakles, who is the son of Zeus and ascended to the Pantheon after death. However, Gilgamesh despises the Gods because they killed his friend Enkidu, unleashed the Bull of Heaven onto the earth, and caused him much trouble. As a result, his Divinity decreased.
He is the half-man-half-God King of Heroes born from the union of King of Uruk, Lugalbanda, and goddess Rimat-Ninsun. (Translator’s Note: Wait what? Half and half?)
Noble Phantasms
The Star of Genesis which Separates the Heaven and Earth – Enuma Elish
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-World
Range: 1~99
Maximum Targets: 1000 Persons
The sword that cuts and divides the World, with output matching or even exceeds Artoria’s Excalibur. Its power will further increase given the support of Noble Phantasms within Gate of Babylon. More correctly speaking, “Sword of Rupture – Ea” is the Noble Phantasm, “Enuma Elish” is the state under which Sword of Rupture – Ea unleashes its maximum output. By generating wind pressure strata, the attack crushes the enemies by simulating spatial rends. In addition, the names “Sword of Rupture – Ea” and “Enuma Elish” are all given by Gilgamesh. They are thought to be references to the Great God Ea (Enki) of the Mesopotamian and Babylonian myths, and the Genesis Epic of the Babylonian myth, Enuma Elish.
The most powerful sword that cannot be duplicated by Unlimited Blade Work. Gilgamesh calls it “something that knows the hellish planet before genesis”.
The three cylindrical blades spin in different directions, generating air pressure strata. Its power will not be neutralised even when colliding with Excalibur.
Gate of Babylon
Rank: E~A++
Type: Anti-Personnel
Range: -
A key-like sword that connects to the “Golden Capital”. The spatial connection with the treasury allows for easy access to the items within. The rank changes to E~A++ because Gilgamesh put all the originals of Noble Phantasms into the treasury. In other words, E~A++ reflects the rank of the items in the treasury. If the treasury does not contain a wealth of valuables, then it will not be a useful Noble Phantasm.
The favourite Noble Phantasm within the Gate of Babylon is the chain which has captured the Bull of Heaven – Enkidu. It is an anti-deity Noble Phantasm that increases in strength as the target’s Divinity increases. It was able to completely seal Herakles. - ↑
[] Fate/Grand Order, 7th Singularity, Chapter 14 - the Sea of Dawn Gudako:
1: My Lord, what precisely is the Abyss (深淵, Shinen?)?
2: Is there actually something further down than the Underworld?
Gilgamesh:
There is. The World of Mesopotamia comprises of Heaven and Earth. That which here lies below the Earth known as the Underworld -- and deeper still there rests the Abyss.
The Abyss is an Ocean of Void (無の海, Mu no Umi?). It is from those dark waters that the God Apsu and the Goddess Tiamat manifested, crafting the World of Mesopotamia.
If it must be described, it is the Sea of Dawn (黎明の海, Reimei no Umi?), which existed before the creation of life.
Being that the God Enki has at present vacated his posting as the Administrator of the Abyss, were one to plunge into it now, there would be no returning.
Mashu:
It's the place where Lord Gilgamesh sought the Herb of Immortality (不老不死の霊草, Furou-Fushi no Reisou?), isn't it?ぐだ子:
1: 王、深淵とは?
2: 冥界のさらに下があるのですか?
ギルガメッシュ:
あるぞ。メソポタミア世界は天と地、地の下のここ冥界、そしてさらなる深淵と繋がっている。
深淵とは無の海だ。その暗い海よりアプスー神とティアマト神は現れ、メソポタミアの世界を作った。
言うなれば生命が生まれる前の、黎明の海よ。
深淵を管理するエンキ神も消えた今、落ちれば今度こそ帰っては来られまい。
マシュ:
ギルガメッシュ王が不老不死の霊草を求めた地、ですね。 - ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Merry Christmas in the Underworld - Section 6
- ↑ fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia - Section 7: The Tablet of Destinies
- ↑
[] Fate/complete material II: Character material - Weapons: Ea, p.133 User: Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh’s favored Noble Phantasm, the Sword of Rupture Ea. Of all his countless Noble Phantasms, this is one of the few that he trusts implicitly.
The blade is divided into three parts, all of which rotate individually. Honestly, calling it a sword at all is a bit of a farce. When it goes into overload, gaseous energy shoots out of the seams between the segments.
The space-cutting technique fired from this overloaded state is called “Enuma Elish”, and boasts destructive power on the same level as Excalibur.
The name “Ea” is taken from one of the gods appearing in Babylonian mythology, of which the legend of Gilgamesh is a part, and the name “Enuma Elish” comes from the Babylonian creation myth.エア
使用者:ギルガメッシュ
ギルガメッシュが愛用する宝具、乖離剣エア。数多くの宝具を所蔵する彼が、特に信頼している宝具のひとつ である。
刀身が3つに分離していて、それぞれの部分が個別に回転するという、剣と呼ぶには異様な外見を持つ。さら にオーバーロード時には、隙間からガス状のエネルギーが大量に噴き出してくる。
この剣のオーバーロード状態から放たれる空間切断技"天地乖離す開闢の星(エヌマ·エリシュ)"は、エク スカリバーと同程度の破壊力を誇る。
ちなみに"エア"は、ギルガメッシュの伝説が語られるバビロニア神話に登場する神のひとりであり、"エヌ マ·エリシュ"はバビロニア神話における創世記の名前である。 - ↑
[] Fate/EXTRA CCC - Gilgamesh Matrix Class: None
Name: Gilgamesh
Master: [PC]
Noble Phantasm: Enuma Elish (The Star of Creation That Split Heaven and Earth)
Keyword: King of Heroes, friend
Strength: B, Endurance: C, Agility: C, Magic: A, Luck: A
Divinity: B (A+), Golden Rule: A, Collector: EXKeywords Enuma Elish (The Star of Creation That Split Heaven and Earth)
Gilgamesh's final Noble Phantasm which reveals creation--the beginning of everything.
The severing of space which comes from the Sword of Rupture, Ea, the sword crowned with the name of a god from Mesopotamian mythology.
The god, Ea, is believed to be the quasi-deification of the power of the planet which turned, smashed, and stabilized the surface of the earth when it was still covered in gas and seas of magma, during the primordial stage of the earth.
Many gods began building nations after the the primordial earth was stabilized into a world where living creatures could live, but Ea is a god who performed the act of building of planet before that.
Gilgamesh's sword, which is crowned with Ea's name, changes space itself by agitating space-time through the rotation of three layers of giant power fields.
It's true power is not something to be used against a single living creature but against the world. Even among the many Noble Phantasms possessed by Servants, it is one considered to be at the top, the sword "which tore apart the world."
King of Heroes
Another name for Gilgamesh. It does not mean a king who is a hero but is used with the implication that he is the king over heroes.
The story of Gilgamesh, is who mankind's oldest hero, is copied within the mythologies of all the countries of the world. The origin of all myths, the model on which heroes are based...calling him such would not be an exaggeration.
More or less, the heroes of various myths are derived from Gilgamesh's legend. As such, Gilgamesh possesses the prototypes of the Noble Phantasms that heroes carry... the original treasures from before every legend was arranged. Though it may be a paradox, unless the original, Gilgamesh, possesses it, it cannot be handed down as the Noble Phantasm possessed by the later heroes who were derived from him.
When humanity was still small. Within the treasury of the king, who governed his kingdom and lived in as much luxury as he desired, was collected every single treasure in the world.
Inside that treasury, there is the treasured swords that saved later heroes, and there is preserved the cursed swords that stole the lives of heroes.
The reason that Gilgamesh is called the King of Heroes is here. Noble Phantasms are primarily one to a any single hero. Not only does he possess an approximately infinite amount of them, he also owns the "legends" that other heroes are wake against, as if it were natural. It should be impossible for an average hero to cross swords with him.
As a Heroic Spirit, he is an absolute warrior in battles against Heroic Spirits. While there are several heroes who hold the title of king, such as the King of Knights and the King of Conquerors, but in regards to being crowned with the title "King of All Heroes," in all of heaven and earth, he is the only one.
Friend
As he became a young man, Gilgamesh's violent disposition only grew. Of course the people of Uruk, but even the gods who dispatched him, were greatly perplexed by his violence.
"Gilgamesh is not fulfilling his original role." "That insolent creature needs someone to admonish him."
Having come to that conclusion, the gods sent a single life to the surface. Its name was Enkidu. It was a person made by a god and given her blood, the same as Gilgamesh.
It had neither a sex nor a fixed form. Enkidu, being made from clay by a god, was "Uruk's greatest weapon," able to change its shape at will. According to the god which was its mother's will, Enkidu confronted Gilgamesh before the temple of Uruk. With their exchanging of blows like a storm, their battle occurred within the city.
After that fierce fighting, they both collapsed to the ground without consideration for where, praised each other's valor, and became peerless friends.
Gilgamesh, who had been without equal, for the first time found someone he could call "a friend."
After that, while his vainglorious attitude did not change, Gilgamesh, remonstrated by Enkidu, softened his tyranny.
Gilgamesh, who had acquired someone who understood him in Enkidu, defeated the guardian of the forest and beast of the gods, Humbaba, and, as the most excellent king on the earth, took possession of every single treasure.
At this time, the dazzlingly powerful Gilgamesh was an existence that not even the gods could avert their eyes from.
A goddess fell in LOVE with this Gilgamesh. It was the goddess of fertility Ishtar. She proposed to Gilgamesh, but he quickly refused. Because he knew that how whimsical and cruel a witch who rendered men useless Ishtar was.
Ishtar, enraged by Gilgamesh's insults, as her revenge, clung to her father, the god Anu, in tears and released the greatest of divine beasts, "the Bull of Heaven," onto the earth.
"The Bull of Heaven" is a disaster of extreme magnitude clad in storms. When it appeared, a seven-year famine and destruction occurred on earth. In other words, the downfall of Uruk.
Against this divine beast which none could match, Gilgamesh and Enkidu worked together to stand against it and repelled it splendidly. Once again, the goddess lost face. Naturally, Isthar's rage had not lessened, and she requested death for either of the two of them from the gods. Because for one with a human body to kill the beast of the gods was a sin.
Ishtar's wish was granted, and one of the two, Enkidu, who was created by the gods, unable to defy that decree, slowly weakened and died.
...The sole person who understood the king, Enkidu. Just how large a shadow his loss cast over Gilgamesh is told in his lifetime afterward.
Enkidu is an autonomous weapon created from the clay of the gods. In SE.RA.PH. terms, he is close to an AI. As a result of being complete from birth, he neither grows nor evolves. He could take various forms as needed, but it is said his usual appearance was that of a 16-year-old person who could be seen as a girl or a boy with long hair which faintly shines a light-green color.01 - 『天地乖離す開闢の星』
開闢―――すべての始まりを示す、ギルガメッシュの最終宝具。
メソポタミア神話における神の名を冠した剣、乖離剣エアによる空間切断。
エア神はまだ地球が原始状態だった頃、マグマの海とガスとに覆われた地表を回し、砕き、
安定させた星の力が擬神化したものとされる。
多くの神は原始地球が安定し生命が住まう世界となった後で国造りを始めるが、
エアはその以前、星造りを行った一神とされる。
エアの名を冠したギルガメッシュの剣は、三層の巨大な力場を回転させる事で時空流を起こし、
空間そのものを変動させる。
その真の威力は一個の生命相手に用いるものではなく、世界を相手に用いるものだ。
サーヴァントたちが持つ数ある宝具の中でも頂点の一つとされる、“世界を切り裂いた”剣である。
02 - 英雄王
ギルガメッシュの異名。
英雄の王、という意味ではなく、英雄たちの王、という意味合いで用いられる。
人類最古の英雄であるギルガメッシュの物語は、世界各国の神話に模倣された。
あらゆる神話の原典、英雄たちのモデル……と言っても過言ではないだろう。
大なり小なり、様々な神話の英雄たちはギルガメッシュ伝説から派生したものだ。
であるなら、ギルガメッシュは英雄たちが持つ宝具の原型……各神話ごとにアレンジされる前の、
大本の宝を所持している事になる。
逆説ではあるが、原典であるギルガメッシュが持っていなければ、発展系であるその後の英雄たちの手に
宝具は伝わらないからである。
まだ人類が少なかった頃。王国を治め、贅沢を欲しいままにした王の蔵には
世界中のありとあらゆる財宝が集められた。
その蔵には後の英雄たちを助けた宝剣の原典があり、英雄たちの命を奪った魔剣の原典も貯蔵されている。
ギルガメッシュが英雄王と呼ばれる由縁はここにある。
宝具とは本来、ひとりの英雄にひとつのもの。
それをほぼ無限に所持しているばかりか、彼は英雄たちが苦手とする“伝説”さえ当然のように所持しているのだ。
並の英霊に太刀打ちできる筈がない。
英霊にして、対英霊戦における絶対強者。
騎士たちの王、征服する王、と王の称号を持つ英雄は数あれど、“全ての英雄たちの王”の名をいただくのは
天地においてこの男だけである。
03 - 友人
青年になったギルガメッシュの暴力性は増すばかりだった。
ウルクの民はもちろん、彼を遣わせた神々でさえ、ギルガメッシュの横暴さに困り果てていた。
“ギルガメッシュは本来の役割を果たせていない”
“あの不埒者を戒めるモノが必要だ―――”
そう結論した神々は、ひとつの生命を地上に送りこんだ。
名をエルキドゥ。
ギルガメッシュと同じく、神の血を与えられた神造の人である。
ソレには性別はなく、また定まったカタチもない。
神に作られた粘土であるエルキドゥは自在に姿を変える“ウルク最強の兵器”だった。
エルキドゥは母である神に従い、ウルクの神殿の前でギルガメッシュと対峙した。
両者は嵐のように刃を交え、戦いは都市中におよんだ。
激闘の末、両者はどちらともなく地に倒れ、相手の武勇を褒め称え、無二の友人となった。
対等の存在がいなかったギルガメッシュにとって、はじめて“友”と呼べるものが出来たのである。
以後、ギルガメッシュはその独尊ぶりは変わらずとも、エルキドゥに諫められ圧政を軟化させた。
エルキドゥという理解者を得たギルガメッシュは森の番人、神の獣フンババを下し、
地上で最も優れた王としてあらゆる財を手中に収める。
この時、ギルガメッシュは眩しく強大で、神々でさえ目を逸らせない存在だった。
そのギルガメッシュに、一人の女神が恋をした。
豊穣の女神イシュタルである。
彼女はギルガメッシュに求婚するが、ギルガメッシュはこれをあっさりと跳ね除ける。
イシュタルがどれほど移り気で残忍で、男を駄目にする魔女かを知っていたが故だった。
イシュタルはギルガメッシュに侮辱されたと激怒し、報復として父であるアヌ神に泣きつき、
最強の神獣“天の牡牛”を地上に放ってしまった。
“天の牡牛”は嵐をまとう超高層の災害である。
これが現れた時、地上には七年間の飢饉と破壊が訪れる。
即ち、ウルクの滅亡である。
この、敵う者のいない神の獣にギルガメッシュとエルキドゥは協力して立ち向かい、見事撃退する。
女神の面目は再度丸つぶれにされたのだ。
イシュタルの怒りは当然収まらず、彼女は両名どちらかの死を神々に求めた。
人の身で神の獣を殺した事が罪だからである。
イシュタルの願いは聞き届けられ、両名のうち一人、神に作られたエルキドゥは
その命に逆らう事が出来ずゆっくりと衰弱死した。
……王のただ一人の理解者、エルキドゥ。
彼を失った事がギルガメッシュにどれほどの影を落としたのかは、後の彼の生涯が語っている。
エルキドゥは神の粘土で作られた自律型兵器だ。
SE.RA.PHで言うのならAIに近い。
生まれた時から完成していたため、成長も進化もしない。
必要に応じて様々な姿に変化したが、基本は緑色に淡く輝く髪を長く伸ばした、
少女とも少年とも取れぬ十六歳ほどのヒト型だったという。Skills 01 - Divinity [B (A+)]
A judgement regarding whether or not one's body possess the property of being divine.
Though he possesses the greatest rank of divine spirit aptitude, Gilgamesh himself hates the gods, so the rank has gone down.
02 - Golden Rule [A]
Not the bodily golden ratio, but one's destiny in regard to how much money follows one around in life.
At rank A, it's possible to call it a soul of gold. With this Goldy attitude, even while living like a multimillionaire, he won't have any money troubles during his life.
03 - Collector [EX]
The ability to acquire items of higher quality. It's the good luck of frequently obtaining even rare items, but because it only applies to Gilgamesh himself, it does not bless the Master.
Gilgamesh is a collector of treasure. "I collected all the treasures of the earth," is Gilgamesh's favorite phrase, but that is not a metaphor. He collected and stored away a sample of all the technology that was developed during his age and sealed them.
That which Gilgamesh stored, rather than being treasure, is "the origin of the intelligence of mankind" itself. If it does not exist in Gilgamesh's treasury, then it is "something produced by a new breed of humanity, according a completely new concept," "something made from the technology of the culture born from the intelligent life from another heavenly body," one of the two.
For that reason, of course he has airplanes and submarines. The desires of the people from before Christ are not different, and it would not do for the crafts of ancient times when magic was in good health to be inferior to the crafts of the modern age. People generally realize the "tools of hope" that they dream of, and each time that occurs, it ended with them being confiscated by the king's hand.
The offensive skill Gilgamesh uses, "Gate of Babylon," shoots the treasure he collected like this like arrows. The gate to the golden capital opens, and his treasures are shot out from his treasure cellar.
This is a digression, but after the Noble Phantasms that are shot out are used, regardless of how far it has gone, it turns to Gilgamesh's treasure cellar. "Hah. I possess a Noble Phantasm which excels at the task of retrieval," says the person himself.01 - 神性 [B(A+)]
その体に神性属性があるかないかの判定。
最大の神霊適正を持つのだが、ギルガメッシュ本人が神を嫌っているのでランクダウンしている。
02 - 黄金律 [A]
身体の黄金比ではなく、人生において金銭がどれほどついて回るかの宿命。
ランクAともなれば黄金の魂と言える。
大富豪でもやっていける金ピカぶりで、一生金銭には困らない。
03 - コレクター [EX]
より品質の良いアイテムを取得する才能。
レアアイテムすら頻繁に手に入れる幸運だが、ギルガメッシュ本人にしか適用されない為、
マスターに恩恵はない。
ギルガメッシュは財宝のコレクターでもある。
“地上の宝はすべて集めた”がギルガメッシュの口癖だが、それは比喩でも何でもない。
彼は彼の時代において発生した、あらゆる技術の雛形を集め、納め、これを封印した。
ギルガメッシュが貯蔵したものは財宝というより、“人類の知恵の原典”そのものである。
英雄王の蔵にないものがあるとすれば、それは“新人類が生み出す、まったく新しい概念によるもの”
“他天体の知的生命体による文明技術によるもの”のどちらかとなる。
なので飛行機も潜水艦も当然完備。
西暦以前であれ人の欲望は変わらず、また、魔力が健在だった頃の古代の技術は
近代の技術に劣ってはいなかった。
人が夢見る“希望の道具”はたいてい実現し、その都度、王の手によって接収されていた訳だ。
ギルガメッシュが用いる攻撃スキル、『ゲートオブバビロン』はこうして集めた財宝を
矢として射出するもの。
黄金の都に通じる扉を開き、彼の宝物庫から財宝を撃ちだしているのである。
余談ではあるが、撃ち出された宝具は使用後、ほどなくしてギルガメッシュの宝物庫に戻っていく。
「フッ。回収用の優れた宝具があるのだ」
とは本人の弁。Setting Source
The demigod king who ruled over the Sumerian city-state of Uruk in the time before Christ. Not just a legend but also a real person, the king written of in mankind's oldest epic, "The Epic of Gilgamesh."
Possessing great divinity as two-thirds god and one-third human, without anyone to match him in this world, he was perfected as a transcendent being who attained everything in the world.
In his childhood, he was adored by the people as the ideal ruler, but as he grew, possible due to being treated as almighty, his consideration for the people waned, and he came to rule Uruk with absolute power.
However, simply being oppressive does not make one a tyrant, he made Uruk prosper properly, found a friend he could speak with, and in personally subjugating the phenomena that would harm the people, that heroic quality cannot be doubted.
He is the heroic figure who defeated the bull so large it was cloaked in the heavens and rendered the civilization of this fortified Sumerian city unshakeable.
The following is historical fact, which differs from "The Epic of Gilgamesh." According to a fragment of an inscription found in an archaeological excavation of the historical ruins of this Sumerian city, Uruk was a city-state that existed on the shore of Persian south of Mesopotamia, and he was the fifth king of that city's first dynasty. It obtained assets through ocean trade and subjugated the region of southern Mesopotamia. He was victorious in the fight against Aga, king of the Kish who controlled the north made strong the city-states of Sumer. However, as a result the reckless deforestation of the woods due to the building of ships, their agricultural land was destroyed.
For that reason, Gilgamesh, seeking the giant tree, the Lebanon Cedar, launched an expedition all the way to far-away Phoenicia (modern day Lebanon), fought against the people of woods, called Humbaba, gained victory against them, and brought that massive tree back with him.
Source
According to "The Epic of Gilgamesh," it seems that Gilgamesh, after the loss of Enkidu, fell into depression, his previous vigor gone.
The fact that Enkidu, whose strength had not been inferior to Gilgamesh's own, could die, was the shock that Gilgamesh received.
Gilgamesh, who was tormented over anxiety of death, finally set off on a trip to the realm of the death in search of perpetual youth and eternal life.
It was said that there lived a sage who had lived since placing a large amount of animals upon an ark before the coming of a deluge that assailed the earth.
This sage was said to be the only one of the earth escape from death and live until the present. Seeking him, Gilgamesh set across wilderness alone.
At the end of that long journey and many hardships, Gilgamesh finally managed to reach the realm of the dead. There, he met the sage, Utnapishtim, spoke with him, and in the end, Gilgamesh attained the spirit herb of perpetual youth and eternal life.
Gilgamesh came to rise above the "death" that had taken even Enkidu.
His heart's desire fulfilled, during his triumphant return to Uruk, Gilgamesh stopped by a spring. He cleansed himself; it seems he wanted to test the fruits of his labor while in perfect condition.
However. While he was bathing, unexpectedly, a snake with an empty stomach sniffed out the smell of the spirit herb of perpetual youth and eternal life.
By the time he noticed, it was too late. Panicked, Gilgamesh emerged from the spring, all that remained there was the skin that snake had shed.
Having lost the spirit herb of perpetual youth and eternal life in this way, Gilgamesh was irritated for a long interval, but afterwards, he made his way back to his own castle, Uruk.
While the Gilgamesh after this was severe, he ruled his state quietly, entrusted to to the next king, and went to his eternal rest.
Without telling anyone of the whereabouts of the spirit herb of perpetual youth and eternal life.
Mankind's oldest king of heroes, Gilgamesh. Discord with the gods, the journey for the perpetual youth and eternal life, a deluge which covered the world. In that epic is the basis of every legend.
The truth of his epic poem, which has many uncertain points concerning fine details exists on the other side of the veil of romance placed upon it by the present day.
This is another digression, but the snake is reborn with a new body every time it sheds its skin because it stole and ate Gilgamesh's spirit herb... is what is said. It seems that the way the snake goes about its life appeared to the ancient people as a kind of perpetual youth and eternal life that was not available to humans.01 - 出典
紀元前、シュメールの都市国家ウルクを治めていた半神半人の王。
伝説だけではなく実在したとされる、人類最古の叙事詩『ギルガメシュ叙事詩』に記された王。
三分の二が神、三分の一が人という高い神格を持ち、この世で彼に敵う存在はなく、
この世の全てを手に入れた超越者として完成されていた。
幼年期は理想の統治者として人々を心酔させたが、万能のおごりからか成長すると共に民を省みなくなり、
ウルクを絶対的な力で支配した。
しかし横暴なだけで暴君という訳でもなく、ウルクを正しく繁栄させ、語り合える友を見いだし、
民の害となる魔物たちを自ら討伐するなど、その英雄性には疑いようがない。
天を覆うほどの巨大な牡牛さえ倒し、シュメールの城塞都市文明を確固たる物にした傑物でもある。
◆
以下は『叙事詩』とは違い、史実のもの。
シュメール都市の遺跡より出土した碑文の欠片によると、ウルクはメソポタミア南方ペルシア沿岸に存在した都市国家であり、
彼はその第1王朝第5番目の王とされる。
海洋貿易により財力を得、メソポタミア南方地域を征服。
北方を制したキシュの王アカとの戦いに勝利し、シュメール都市国家群を堅固なものとした。
だが船建築の材料として森林を乱伐した結果、農地を荒廃させてしまう。
そのため、ギルガメシュは巨木のレバノン杉を求め遠くフェニキア(現在のレバノン)にまで遠征し、
フンババと呼ばれる森の民と戦いこれに勝利を収め、大量の木を持ち帰ったとされる。
02 - 出典
『叙事詩』によると、エルキドゥを失った後のギルガメッシュは暗く落ちこみ、かつての勢いは無くなったとされる。
自分に勝るとも劣らない力を持つエルキドゥですら死ぬ、という事実にギルガメッシュは衝撃を受けた。
“死”の不安に苛まれたギルガメッシュは、ついには不老不死を求めて冥界へと旅立つ事になった。
そこにはかつて、地上を襲った大津波を前に多くの動物たちを箱船に乗せて生き延びた老人がいるという。
地上でただひとり死から逃れ、また、今も生き続けるという賢人。
彼を求めて、ギルガメッシュは単身で荒野に旅立った。
長い旅路、数多の苦難の末、ギルガメッシュはついに冥界に辿り着く。
そこでナピュシテムという老人と出会い、語り、彼はついに不老不死の霊草を手に入れた。
エルキドゥを奪った“死”すら、ギルガメッシュは超越する事になったのだ。
◆
念願叶い、ウルクに凱旋する途中、ギルガメッシュは泉に立ち寄った。
身を清め、己が成果を万全の状態で試そうとしたのだろう。
しかし。
その水浴びをしている最中、たまたま腹を空かせていた蛇が不老不死の霊草の匂いをかぎつけた。
気がついた時にはすべてが手遅れ。
あわてて泉から出るギルガメッシュだが、そこには脱皮した蛇の抜け殻だけが残されていた。
こうして不老不死の霊草を失い、ギルガメッシュは長く焦燥したあと、己が居城であるウルクへの帰路についた。
その後のギルガメッシュは苛烈さこそあるものの穏やかに国を治め、次の王に都市を委ねて永眠した。
不老不死の霊草の在処を、誰にも話さないままで。
◆
人類最古の英雄王、ギルガメッシュ。
神との確執、不老不死を求める旅、世界を覆う大洪水。
その叙事詩にはあらゆる神話の原形がある。
こまかなところで疑問点の多い彼の叙事詩の真相は、いま以て浪漫のベールの向こう側にある。
また余談だが、蛇が脱皮する度に新しい体に生まれ変わるのはギルガメッシュの霊草をかすめ飲んだから……とも言われている。
古代人は蛇の在り方に、人間にはない不老不死を見たという事だろう。