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Gilgamesh's close observation of rigor mortis and the slow decomposition of Enkidu's body provides the hero with the impetus for his quest for eternal life, and his visit to Utnapishtim. In a vivid line repeated in the epic, Gilgamesh only allows his friend to be buried after a maggot falls out of the corpse's nose. Gilgamesh mourns over the body of Enkidu for several desperate days. He retracts his curse on Shamhat, however, after Shamash scolds him, reminding him that it was Shamhat who taught him the pleasures of civilization, and ultimately, brought him to Gilgamesh. Near death, he has visions of a gloomy afterlife, and curses the trapper and Shamhat for civilizing him. Enkidu then is overcome by a severe illness. The gods pass judgment that Enkidu had no justification for fighting the Bull of Heaven and was interfering with their will.

Shamash argues to the other gods to spare both of them, but could only save Gilgamesh. Ishtar demands that the pair pay for the bull's destruction. Afterwards, he again assists Gilgamesh in slaying Gugalanna the Bull of Heaven, which the gods have sent to kill Gilgamesh as a reprisal for spurning the goddess Ishtar's affections while enumerating the misfortunes that befell her former lovers. 1 Enkidu later in the Epic of GilgameshĮnkidu assists Gilgamesh in defeating and killing Humbaba, the guardian monster of the Cedar Forest.Older sources sometimes transliterate his name as Enkimdu, Eabani, or Enkita. The deep, tragic loss of Enkidu profoundly inspires in Gilgamesh a quest to escape death by obtaining godly immortality. Enkidu then becomes the king's constant companion and deeply beloved friend, accompanying him on adventures until he is stricken ill. Enkidu embodies the wild or natural world, and though equal to Gilgamesh in strength and bearing, acts in some ways as an antithesis to the cultured, urban-bred warrior-king. Thereafter a series of interactions with humans and human ways bring him closer to civilization, culminating in a wrestling match with Gilgamesh, king of Uruk.

In the story he is a wild man, raised by animals and ignorant of human society until he is bedded by Shamhat.

Enkidu was formed from clay and saliva by Aruru, the goddess of creation, to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance. Enkidu ( 𒂗 𒆠𒆕 EN.KI.DU 3 " Enki's creation") is a central figure in the Ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh.