Sacred prostitute (harīmtu) Shamhat is a Mesopotamian legend. She's a central character in part of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Shamhat is instrumental in taming the wild man Enkidu, essentially harmonizing the forces of chaos with those of order through lovemaking.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
Gilgamesh (Sumerian: Bilgames) is a legendary king of Uruk in Mesopotamia c. 2900 - 2700 BCE. His deeds are recorded in the 2nd millennium BCE as the Epic of Gilgamesh. His father is Lugalbanda, a prior Uruk king. His mother is wise cow goddess Ninsun.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Gilgamesh is a bad king. Young, arrogant and cruel, he imposes high taxes and harsh punishment upon the people. He hoards his wealth and gives no gifts, laughs at the gods and bullies the priests. His subjects plead the deities for deliverance from his tyranny.
See also:
After investigating the issue the gods agree Gilgamesh needs to learn humility and respect. They form the wild man Enkidu as a rival or 'double' of Gilgamesh. He's created fully grown of water and clay. His strength equals that of the king.
In the Epic, Enkidu "knows neither people nor land.” He's often portrayed with hind legs, ears and tail of a bull, similar to the Bull-Men or Kusarikku conquered by hero god Ninurta. Enkidu wears a multi-horned helmet, usual headwear for principal Sumerian figures.
See also:
Described as the "luscious one", Shamhat is a temple prostitute or harīmtu (harimtu). She agrees to soothe the savage nature of Enkidu through sacred lovemaking. At a drinking pool in the hills, where the wild man has been seen, she waits for him.
In nature religion a pool and its environs are sacred spaces. Pools and water are associated with magic, portals or dimensional crossover, healing, calm and insight.
See also:
From the Epic of Gilgamesh:
When next he comes down to drink at the wells she will be there, stripped naked; and when he sees her beckoning him he will embrace her, and then the wild beasts will reject him.
And now the wild creatures had all fled away; Enkidu was grown weak, for wisdom was in him, and the thoughts of man were in his heart.
See also:
Enkidu appears at the pool, naked and hairy. He's never seen a human woman who doesn't run away at the sight of him. He smells of rancid sweat but, indicated by his bull-man form he's strong and lusty.
When Shamhat plies her charms he falls into her arms. For fourteen days and nights he finds comfort in her singular skills, her softness and sweet scent. They converse about civilization and the gods. In her embrace he becomes a man, and wild creature no more.
See also:
Together they swim in the pool and he is cleansed of the smell and soils of the wild. She gives him clothes to wear, and he marvels at their warmth against his skin. She cuts away his wild mass of hair and shaves his birds-nest beard.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
When Enkidu sees himself in the mirror of pool he's at first frightened, then pleased. Shamhat massages his body with fragrant oils. Enkidu has never felt so good. Perhaps there's more to life than running around naked in the woods.
See also:
Shamhat suggests he come to Uruk and live at the court of the King. Enkidu is greatly flattered but his heart is yet wild. Torn, he races off into the mountains to be with his animal friends.
To his chagrin the animals no longer recognize him. They fear his new looks and smells and run away. Broken-hearted, Enkidu realizes he has changed, and cannot return to his wild ways. He must now take the next step to civilization.
See also:
Rejecting his life in the hills, Enkidu follows Shamhat to Uruk, where Gilgamesh is king. Enkidu and Gilgamesh battle, and after some adversity finally admit they are equals in power.
From that moment, Gilgamesh and Enkidu become great friends. They drink and feast together and undertake a number of adventures, including that of the great Cedar Forest and the giant Humbaba.
See also:
In the Epic, Shamhat is later mentioned when Enkidu is dying. He blames her for bringing him into civilization, a new world of experiences leading to his death. He curses her to life as an outcast.
The Sun god Shamash reminds Enkidu that Shamhat satisfies him wholly before introducing him to Gilgamesh. Enkidu relents and blesses her, saying all men will desire her and offer her gifts of jewels.
See also:
The Old Babylonian word for prostitute karkid translates to harimtu in Akkadian. In both senses the prostitute is listed as a functionary, or "a person who performs official functions or duties". This is illustrated in certain rites of kingship.
See also: