Question

Describe the woman who causes Enkidu's transformation what might her role indicate about early Mesopotamian cultures beliefs about the process of becoming civilized or the role of women in society?

Answer 1

The woman who promotes the transformation in Enkidu is called Samate. She is a prostitute, beautiful and extremely sensual. She seduces Enkidu and makes him fulfill all his desires, thus bringing him closer to the characteristics that a civilized man must possess.

This says a lot about the vision of women and the process of civilization that the first cultures of Mesopotania had. This shows that the woman was seen as a being full of whims and manipulations that had the ability to shape the man and make him reach levels that he could not achieve alone. It also reveals that one of the characteristics of civilization was that men had the possession of a woman and established a relationship with her that would spur her wild side, but that would lead her to rationality.