According to the Sumerian king list, Gilgamesh was the fifth king of Uruk (Early Dynastic II, first dynasty of Uruk), the son of Lugalbanda. Legend has it that his mother was Ninsun, a goddess.

He was succeeded by his son Ur-Nungal, said to have ruled for 30 years. He built a temple to Ninlil in Nippur, and possibly the walls of Uruk.

Despite the lack of direct evidence, most scholars do not object to consideration of Gilgamesh as a historical figure, particularly after inscriptions were found confirming the historical existence of other figures associated with him: kings Enmebaragesi and Aga of Kish. If Gilgamesh was a historical king, he probably reigned in about the 26th century BC. Some of the earliest Sumerian texts spell his name as Bilgamesh.

In most texts, Gilgamesh is written with the determinative for divine beings (DINGIR), but there is no evidence for a contemporary cult, and the Sumerian Gilgamesh myths suggest the deification was a later development (unlike the case of the Akkadian god-kings). Historical or not, Gilgamesh became a legendary protagonist in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh in popular culture

Sumerian Gilgamesh has inspired several works in modern popular culture:

• Gilgamesh the King by Robert Silverberg.
• Gilgamesh is a summon in the Final Fantasy game series, as well as a recurring boss in Final Fantasy V, along with his comrade Enkidu (spelled Enkidou). The demon Hunbaba, who Gilgamesh battles, also appears in the later game Final Fantasy VI.
• The hero of Namco's Tower of Druaga and its sequels is also named Gilgamesh.
• "Gilgamesh" is also a character in TV series Xena: Warrior Princess.
• An anime show by the same name, aired in 2003.
• "Gilgamesh" is a Japanese rock band.
• In the Marvel Comics universe, a character known as the Forgotten One (comics) claimed to have been the historical Gilgamesh.
• Gilgamesh, an opera by Serbian composer Rudolf Brucci based on the Epic.
• Gilgamesh is also a character in the game Fate/stay night, produced by TYPE-MOON.
• Darmok, an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation is inspired by the tale of Gilgamesh.
• Gilgamesh, by the film director Roger Christian (Pre-production).
• The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Beginnings to A.D. 100, Volume A, Second Edition pp. 10-12.
• In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje contains themes from "The Epic of Gilgamesh".
• In Highlander: The Series, Gilgamesh was rumored to be the first immortal ever recorded by a "watcher", and would be the sole reason behind the formation of the watcher organization.
• In Namco's Tales of Symphonia, a title Zelos Wilder can earn.
• "Gilgamesh" is a character in David Gemmel's Sipstrassi Stones series of books.
• "Gilgamesh Wulfenbach" is a character in Phil Foglio's series of Girl Genius comics.
• "Gilgamesh" is one of the answers in John Locke's crossword in the Lost episode Collision
• "Gilgamesh" is an Argentinean comic book series by Robin Wood.
• "Gilgamesh" is commonly used as a character in the Final Fantasy series.

See also

• Epic of Gilgamesh
• Chaldean mythologybg:Гилгамеш