Gilgamesh: From Legendary King to Pacifist Gardener

Overview

Gilgamesh arrives in City of the Plague God as the world’s oldest living hero, but readers encounter him not as a warrior but as a seven-foot-tall gardener who has renounced violence. Sarwat Chadda reimagines the Mesopotamian demigod as a pacifist who faked his death, consumed part of the Flower of Immortality, and has spent millennia tending plants instead of slaying monsters. His presence forces the young protagonist Sikander Aziz to confront what it truly means to be a hero.

Plot Role

Gilgamesh first appears in Chapter Twenty-Two, hidden inside a glass ziggurat in Central Park. He refuses to fight Nergal, but he provides the heroes with the Flower of Immortality—the key to curing the plague. Later, in Chapter Thirty-Three, he distills the flower into a cure and, though he still refuses to wield a weapon, slams his shovel into the earth to unleash a shockwave that scatters demons. His role is that of a reluctant mentor and a symbol of redeemed strength.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Gilgamesh is driven by a profound desire for peace and atonement. He says, “I gave up madness,” referring to his former life of constant warfare. His decision to become a pacifist stems from centuries of witnessing endless conflict in the Middle East. He believes that “the quickest way to start a fight is to show up,” so he stays hidden. Yet his actions show he has not abandoned responsibility: he bakes, grows herbs, and distills the flower to save lives. His compassion is evident when he listens to Sikander’s story about his brother Mo and offers not just cookies but empathy.

Interpretation: Chadda uses Gilgamesh to critique the glorification of violence. His pacifism is not cowardice but a conscious moral choice born from experience. The novel suggests that true heroism lies in creation, not destruction.

Chronological Arc

Gilgamesh’s arc in the novel unfolds in three stages:

1. Hidden Gardener (Chapters 22-23): Introduced as a giant who smells of soil and refuses to fight. He reveals he faked his death and ate the Flower of Immortality, then fed the rest to a snake. He now lives in a greenhouse he calls his “little patch.”

2. Reluctant Helper (Chapters 24-34): After Sikander retrieves the flower from Kurnugi, Gilgamesh agrees to distill it. He still will not fight, but he uses his shovel to create a hurricane that scatters Nergal’s legions. His plants become weapons—Venus flytraps that devour demons.

3. Final Stand (Chapters 37-40): Although he does not confront Nergal directly, his storm provides cover for Sikander and Belet. His distillation plan ultimately reaches the city water supply, enabling the plague’s defeat. His legacy—the truth about the flower—empowers the next generation.

Relationships

• Enkidu: Mentioned only in memory. Gilgamesh says “I lost someone dear to me” and that Enkidu loved nature. His gardening is a tribute to that friendship. This relationship echoes the novel’s broader theme of family and brotherhood.

• Ishtar: The goddess helped Gilgamesh go into hiding. In exchange, he gave her his ring, which Sikander and Belet later use to find him. Their pact shows a mutual respect between former adversaries (Gilgamesh once killed Ishtar’s Bull of Heaven).

• Sikander Aziz: Gilgamesh treats Sik with kindness, calling him “son of restaurant owners” and listening to his story. He serves as a foil: the boy is eager to fight, while the old king has laid down arms. Their interactions explore heroism and sacrifice.

• Belet: She initially despises Gilgamesh for his refusal to fight, calling him a coward. He does not rise to her bait, demonstrating his commitment to non-violence. Her anger reflects her own grief over Ishtar’s death.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Interpretation: Chadda suggests that the greatest victories are not won by individual combat. Gilgamesh’s choice to “plow, seed, and grow” instead of kill ultimately proves more effective than any sword.

Theme and Symbol Connections

• Mortality and Immortality: Gilgamesh’s consumption of the Flower makes him immortal, but he treats it as a burden. He says, “True riches come from the soil,” implying that eternal life is pointless without purpose.

• Plague and Decay: As a gardener, Gilgamesh represents life and growth against Nergal’s decay. His greenhouse is a sanctuary where plants thrive despite the surrounding blight.

• Identity and Heritage: Gilgamesh embodies the ancient Mesopotamian heritage that Sikander is learning to embrace. The cuneiform on the container at Gravesend Dock reads “Gilgamesh lied,” linking his personal history to the larger conflict.

• The Shovel: A symbol of transformation. The legendary Abubu, the Sky Cutter, has been reforged into a gardening tool. It proves that weapons can be repurposed for creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did Gilgamesh fake his death?

Gilgamesh faked his death so that humanity would not learn the secret of immortality. He believed the “wrong sort of people” would abuse it, and he wanted to live quietly as a gardener. He told his scribes a snake stole the flower, but in truth he ate part of it and gave the rest to a snake.

2. Did Gilgamesh really become a pacifist?

Yes. In the novel, he explicitly says, “I put down my weapons a long time ago” and refuses to fight even when Belet insults him. He uses his shovel only to dig, not to harm—though he does slam it into the earth to create a shockwave that scatters demons. The text shows he still has power but chooses not to use it offensively.

3. How did Gilgamesh know about the Flower of Immortality?

He discovered it in a cave at the bottom of the ocean, as told in the Epic of Gilgamesh. He ate part of it and survived for millennia. Later, the flower’s essence passed through a snake and eventually into a new plant that Mo’s brother, Sikander, accidentally ingested. Gilgamesh recognizes the flower when Sik brings it back from Kurnugi.

4. Why does Nergal hate Gilgamesh?

Nergal discovered that Gilgamesh lied about the snake stealing the flower. The truth—that Gilgamesh ate it and then fed the rest to a snake—infuriated Nergal because it meant the secret of immortality was hidden from him. The walls of the shipping container are covered with the cuneiform phrase “Gilgamesh lied,” showing Nergal’s obsessive grudge.

5. Does Gilgamesh fight Nergal in the final battle?

No. Gilgamesh does not directly engage Nergal. Instead, he distills the flower into the water supply and creates a hurricane with his shovel that weakens Nergal’s forces. The plague god is ultimately defeated when Sikander disperses the cure into the raincloud, causing Nergal’s immortality to be cured like a disease. Gilgamesh’s role is that of a support system rather than a frontline warrior.