"The Epic of Gilgamesh" an collection of old Sumerian poems, is filled with the dramatic interactions of gods and men, rulers and peasants, humans and beasts, and men and women. When reading this epic and looking closely at the relationships therein, a clear message surfaces; women represent a civility in that society, making the entire region of Sumeria dependent upon it's women. .
Both the setting and plot play crucial roles in understanding the central pillar of female power; each time being the base - the foundation - of each character's success. Such a prospect reveals much information about Gilgamesh, the setting of the poems. This element of female-power completely changes the setting and story from one of the strength and courage of tough men to one of the hidden power that women exert from the background. Working from the shadows, the female characters in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" create a story which shows the role of female dominance in the creation of a civilized and powerful Sumeria. .
One of the early appearances of a woman is the scene with the Harlot. In this scene, Enkidu is presented with a woman and after seven days and seven nights together, Enkidu is completely changed, becoming civilized and abandoning his days roaming with the wild animals. After this encounter with a woman, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu, "When I look at you, you have become like a God (Gilgamesh 67). Thus, simply through the power of the harlot, a woman, Enkidu is transformed from a wild human to a near-God. The origin of the harlot is also essential in understanding the role of women in this society. The harlot is not a guilty or blameworthy person, as she may be seen in modern-day culture. In the Epic, the harlot comes from the temple, which further increases the feeling of divinity and allows for the understanding of women as representative of civility. Not only does the woman in this example civilize Enkidu, but also she is able to help make her society stronger by making Enkidu involved with Gilgamesh, showing the fact women are truly the backbone of this society.
