Legend of the giant, protect the cedars, he came to us from time immemorial.It originated in Mesopotamia between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris.The ancient inhabitants of these places - the Sumerians - still have not uncovered before scientists all their secrets, despite the fact that left a lot of cultural and historical monuments.One of them - the legend of Gilgamesh, which mentions an evil giant who guarded the cedar forest.
Legend of the Forest keeper
ancient Sumerians believed that the amazing pine forests in the mountains of Lebanon to guard the giant Humbaba.The god Enlil assigned him to this important matter.Since then, and he stood guard at the post of pine forest, not allowing them to mere mortals.
image of the giant Humbaba in the mythology of Mesopotamia
According to the ancient Sumerians, the evil giant who guarded the cedar forest, had a rather frightening look.Seeing the intruder forest tranquility, encroached on the tree, Humbaba raced to his powerful lion's legs.His body shimmers in the sun shiny pinkish scales.Overhead towered menacing and powerful horns.A huge and angry giant who guarded the cedar forest, published heartbreaking angry roars discourage any desire to mere mortals to cut valuable mountain cedar.
terrible battle
Won giant Humbaba two heroes - Gilgamesh and Enkidu.Their names occupy a worthy place in the epics of Mesopotamia.The legends of the exploits of these soldiers survived to the present day.One of the ancient legends says that once Gilgamesh and Enkidu Humbaba threw a challenge and an evil giant who guarded the cedar forest, received him.He caught sight of the enemy from a distance and went to meet them from the wilderness of the forest thicket.
His angry roar shook everything around, heavy footsteps could be heard to the ends of the earth.But it is not afraid of the heroes.They took up arms, ready to meet the enemy.
At this time, a voice came from heaven, Shamash, the sun-god.He encouraged the soldiers and sent them to the aid of the eight winds.Even the terrible roar of the giant verse of this mighty voice.Humbaba appeared before the seven soldiers in the cloak of sunlight.The scales on its body shone ... The first struck Gilgamesh.In his hand was a battle ax in the other - the sword.He was struck in the back of a giant.Enkidu arrived in time to help a friend, and eight wind caught Humbaba from all sides, causing him to hit the ground.At first Gilgamesh wanted to spare the defeat of the enemy, but his friend decided to pursue the case.So it was defeated an evil giant who guarded the cedar forest.Since people are not afraid to go into the woods on the slopes of the Lebanese mountains, there to gather nuts and to extract valuable timber.
