Early folklore from Sumer (modern-day Iraq), tells of Gilgamesh who terrorised the people of his kingdom, Uruk. Having heard their cries for help, the gods were spurred to create a counterforce to Gilgamesh, Enkindu. However, Enkidu was unable to defeat the mighty Gilgamesh, so instead, joined forces with him.
The two set off to conquer the ultimate trophy: a very special forest that happened to be the realm of the gods. In both pre-biblical and biblical times, cedar trees were celebrated as symbols of strength, fertility, and abundance. Knowing this, Enkidu and Gilgamesh set their sights on the gods’ Cedar Forest, declaring themselves kings after defeating the protector of the forest, Humbaba.
Before Humbaba’s demise he cursed the two warriors, wishing them a short life of misery and ill-health. This came to be. (1)
