King Of Heroes
Lore
How much do you really know about Gilgamesh? I mean really, besides his egomaniacal personality, that screams, get on your knees mortal. Gilgamesh is based off the lore from the Epic Of Gilgamesh. I’m going to skip his Grand Order appearance. His dad was Ulgabanda, an his mom was the Goddess Rimat-Ninsun. His mom would later help Gilgamesh in his adventures, explaining the meaning behind his dreams. Gilgamesh birth was to signal the end of the Age of The Gods, an rise of Humans. His path was to dispose of the Gods, an loath humanity.
History
Epic of Gilgamesh
First thing first, Gilgamesh was a historical king of the Sumerian City, Uruk. During the Epic of Gilgamesh, he would become known as a diety. There are as a now, 5 well known legends of his exploits. Gilgamesh, a demigod, befriends Enkidu, who would eventually go on adventures with him. He battles Enkidu when they first met, an realizing he met his equal, Gilgamesh uses his Gate Of Babylon, for the first time. He hated the idea, but he would eventually turn to enjoy the idea of using his treasures in such a way. Around here, is when it start to split from his Fate Counterpart. Enkidu was created to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance by the Gods. After befriending the King, Enkidu would defy his very creation an side with Gilgamesh. Enkidu saw no wrong with Gilgamesh, only that he didn’t bow to the Gods, although he profusely admired them. Ishtar, The Queen of Heaven, fell deeply in love with Gilgamesh, an wants nothing more than to marry an have children with. He formly mocks, an rejects her invitation, calling her an unfaithful witch who corrupt men. She would than beg her father Anu to send Humbaba, the Bull Of Heaven, to spite them. This Beast would cause 7 years of starvation an destruction, which contradicts Ishtar authority, as the God of Fertility. Enkidu using the Chain Of Heaven, would allow them to destroy the beast. Ishtar being Ishtar, begged the Gods to put them to death. Shamesh, the Sun God of Justice, would plee with the Gods to spare both Gilgamesh, an Enkidu after the Bull destruction, which Ishtar demanded they pay. After of which Enkidu would later die due to an unknown illness. In Fate lore, he was returned to clay in Gilgamesh arms. This would be the first an only time he cried, in which he states, “Enkidu on this day, you are my one an only friend. Not for all of Eternity shall this change. This would send Gilgamesh, on a long adventure to obtain Godly Immortality. Enkidu death greatly affects him, making him terrified of his own mortality, so he visits the Sage of Utnapishtim, formly knowns as Ea. Unfortunately Gilgamesh fails every trial, an failed to obtain immortality.
Fate Lore
Nasuverse lore compared to his actual lore has many similarities, but is ultimately vastly different, in many ways. I’m assuming to make his story more interesting, appealing, an able to build more off of it. One of the oldest poems speak of Enkidu going to the underworld for Gilgamesh. Type Moon takes a different approach.
Immortality
Gilgamesh quest for immortality in the Fate Lore is one of my favorite backstories. That could become it’s own series, along with King Arthur Round Table, Jeanne D’Arc, and Elizabeth Bathory history. (She’s shoved down our throats in the game, as that annoying dragon idol who won’t go away, so I did a little digging on her, an I’ve been obsessed since. It’s not the best, but it’s a reason why she appears as much as she does.) Back on topic, Gilgamesh from here diverge off route from his Epic Counterpart. After seeing the death of Enkidu, who he viewed as his equal, his view on his own mortality hit him hard. Til than his only motive was obtain all of the world’s riches, have sex with every women he can get his hands on, an watch over humanity. So he sought out the Herb of Immortality.
Underworld
He sought out Ereshkigal, to find the sage Ziusudra, a widely known immortal sage. This adventure would lasted for as many years he had already lived, thus he called it the greatest farce of his life. He would wander around for decades begging not to die. He loathe the idea of death, he loathed himself for forsaking his role, an most of all he loathed the Gods. Once he finally reached the underworld, he met Utnapishtim, who he describes as a waste of a immortality. Utnapishtim became a God, to gain longevity, becoming a halve plant in the process. Gilgamesh rejected the idea of becoming an immortal only to forsake his human desires. Gilgamesh told Utnapishtim, that there’s no point in immortality with no appeition. As Gilgamesh decided to leave so he finish his vault of treasures, Utnapishtim who was now full of doubt, decided to tell Gilgamesh a secret. This secret would be a way for him to obtain immortality without the God’s Mercy. Which would be the root of a herb that grew deep within the underworld. Instead of consuming this herb an becoming a plant, he would instead Jarred the herb, an used it to decorate his vault. Once he returned from the underworld he believed he could overthrow death itself, an finally avenge his only friend. Once he returned, before he could go back to his Kingdom of Uruk, he decided to rest at a Spring, in which Grand Order claims it to be “The Fountain of Youth.” It was at this moment Gilgamesh was truely happy to have been born. Finally obtaining immortality he could finally say he was free from his humanity, an declared himself Omnipotent.
Gilgamesh Death
At the moment he declared himself omnipotent, this would be his fatal undoing. A simple serpent that had a empty belly, followed the strong scene of the herb, an snatched it away from a bathing Gilgamesh. Once he realized what happened it was to late, the snake stole his supposedly immortality, an gained the ability to shed it’s skin. Instead of being medicine for immortality, it ended up being youth restoration instead. This would send Gilgamesh into a frenzied laughter, since the pride he just took in his accomplishments was all for naught. He would live as a human, an die as a human. He would finally return to Uruk, an rule as a quiet King, completing his vault of treasures. Well almost complete, he returned to the Deep Underworld, to obtain another herb just to finally complete his collection. He became humanities first an ancient hero, an first story to ever be created. The skin of the snake who stole his immortality would later become fossilized, being an immortal existence that Tohsaka Tokiomi, would use as a catalyst to summon Gilgamesh as Archer in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Holy Grail
Fate Routes
Fate/Zero
Gilgamesh has a great disdain for the modern society, during the Forth Grail War, deeming everyone as to weak for his ruling. Gilgamesh had no wish per say, but he would rather exterminate humanity than see them touch his treasures. He decides to use the Grail to exterminate a great portion of humanity, an only leave a fraction alive, who he deems as worthy for him to rule over. He deemed Ishkander as worthy of him ruling over, an offered him a cup of the Grail if he would bow before him. He also became obsessed with Artoria (Saber) an declared she becomes his wife, an possession. In response he has no interest in Saber Alter, because he believes she lost sight of herself. When he witnesses Excalibur for the first time, he was reminded of Enkidu, an began to cry. Kirei, Tohsaka disciple disclose that Tokiomi, would use a Command Seal, to force Gilgamesh to commit suicide to obtain to the grail. He concludes they should form a new contract. Gilgamesh would soon let Kirei murder his former master. Gilgamesh would go on to defeat Rider, an than Saber, while now under Kirei. Kiritsuga would than force Saber to destroy the Grail with a Command Seal. With Gilgamesh being directly under it, he gets drenched in it’s after effects, which gives him a flesh body again. Now that he has a physical body, he believes it’s time to remake humanity into his perfect image. He would continue to serve under Kirei for 10 years, until the next war. Gilgamesh would use energy from Orphans from the great fire to sustain himself, after which he uses temporary youth from his vault to blend in with humanity for the time being.
Fate/Stay Night
Gilgamesh suddenly appears as an antagonist in this route, he appeared on top of a highrise, looking only at Saber, while Caster, and Shirou all stare at him confusingly. He than reminds her of his marriage proposal, after he immediately kills Caster. Rin, & Iilya, becomes confuse with his mere existence, an attacks him without remorse. Of course they failed, an laughed as he left, claiming Shirou residence was to shabby of a household. By now Gilgamesh personality greatly changed, an he wants is Saber hand in marriage. The author of the series, describes Gilgamesh change as a transformation, from self proclaimed arrogant king, to a horny teen. In spite of this, Gilgamesh only sees her as an unobtainable flower. Once he finally acquired her affection, he would immediately grow bored of her. Being he only loves her as she rejects him, a treasure he can chase for eternity. Can you imagine having a Overpowered Stalker, that can crush dimensions. Gilgamesh would soon ambush Shirou, and Saber, an strike down Shirou. Claiming he only haven’t killed him because Saber would disappear. He starts to basically beg Saber to be his, an leave Shirou to join him an Kirei, explaining he had excess to mana for her to use. Gilgamesh decides at this point, that he would reincarnate Saber the same way he was. Fate/Stay Night route, ends with Saber, and Gilgamesh trading the final blow between each other. Not really my favorite route, considering Gilgamesh was chasing Saber until the bitter end, saying Goodbye with a Smile on his face.
Unlimited Blade Works
I’m gonna try my best not sound pretty biased, but this was absolutely my favorite route. This would be mainly because Gilgamesh was more of an antagonist in this route. He was given to Shinji after his Rider servant was killed, soon after he kills Ilya and Berserker, ripping her heart out. In this route instead of Ilya being used for the Grail, Rin was to be used instead. Because of this Archer, who Gilgamesh refers to as his Fake, kidnaps Rin. Once Shinji failed to acquire Rin to use as the Grail core, he planned to use Shinji instead, with Ilya heart. Once the grail began to enact Gilgamesh wish to end humanity Rin, Saber, and Shirou appeared for one final showdown. In the Climactic Battle between Shirou and Gilgamesh, Shirou overwhelmed him inside his Unlimited Bladeworks. Becoming desperate after he killed Shinji, so he couldn’t replenish his mana, he went as far as to even use the Chain Of Heaven. Oblivious, Archer fired an arrow at Gilgamesh, which ended up killing him, ending this route.
Heaven’s Feel
Gilgamesh role in this route was severally minor, compared to his other appearances, even his Prisma route. Gilgamesh main, an last appearance was him appearing before Sakura Matou. He planned to dispose of Sakura, who have been infected by Angra Mainyu, became Dark Sakura, an Avenger, an master of the Grail. Unfortunately even after impaling her with The Gate Of Babylon, she was able to regenerate. She immediately devoured him with her shadow’s, although his ego makes him immune to mental pollution. He was instantly digested, an turned into mana for her. The King of Heroes turned into a full course meal, must’ve tasted heavenly.
Fate/Hollow
Gilgamesh spent the majority of his time in this route in his childlike form. In this form Gilgamesh personality does a complete 180°. He even states that if his childhood self could realize what he was to turn into in the future, he would stop his growth altogether to remain a child forever. As a child Gilgamesh wasn’t what the Gods expected, even when they created Enkidu. This would confuse Enkidu also, torn as to why the Gods would want to kill someone so beloved. As he grew older, his personality twisted also, with him becoming the very person the Gods despised. He avoided contact with previous Masters or Servants. It wasn’t until the Fuyuki Eclipse, that he returned back into his adult form, to slay the endless hordes of Shadow Wolf Beast. This would give Angra Mainyu a opportunity to make his way to Heaven’s Feel. So if your wondering, than yes, this incident is what started the Heavens Feel route. Which takes place 6 Months after the events of Fate/Stay Night. Fate/Hollow is the combination of all the routes in 1 story, as everyone is stuck in a never ending loop. Fun fact, Rin, who was in London, appears in this story with a Kaleidostick. You know them Magical Girl Wands, that appears in Fate/Kaleid Liner.
Carnival Phantasm
If your tired of the endless fighting, deaths, an obvious plot twist, than I highly recommend you start Carnival Phantasm. Who doesn’t love a good parody. In this series Gilgamesh appears as a “friend nobody likes” or really even wants to be around. His appearance is that of a non stop rule breaker, who in the very first episode used his Noble Phantasm to kill Lancer. (Who dies endlessly in this series, he’s like Kenny off South Park.) Gilgamesh runs into Saber Alter in this series, although in the original Routes he has no interest in her, saying she lost her dignity. Here he develops a school boy crush on her, after a verbal backlash he received after taunting Saber. “The original Saber”
Relationships
- Artoria Pendragon
Gilgamesh has a one sided love for Saber, while she view him as nothing more than her nemesis.
- Altera
Altera decided not to kill Gilgamesh’s father before he was born. She was later killed by Excalibur. Thanks to this, he decided to aid her in her battle for the Moon Cell. (FATE/EXTELLA)
- Emiya
To Gilgamesh, Emiya is no more than a faker pretending to be him.
- Ozymandias
Although Gilgamesh personality prevents from him getting along with anyone. He apparently gets along with Ozymandias as much as he did with Enkidu.
- Kirei Kotomine
After getting to know Kirei he decided to betray his original master, an form a contract with him. He found Kirei to more interesting, an found him to be a keen spirit, who both didn’t desire a wish. Their both hopelessly sadistic.
- Ishtar
Gilgamesh hates Ishtar’s very being, as such if he were to ever see again, he would more than likely erase the planet itself. Ishtar being the reason why Enkidu died after he refused her marriage. He believed Ishtar merging with Rin Tohsaka to an improvement on her personality.
- Enkidu
To Gilgamesh, Enkidu was his one an only friend, who he would never replace, even as a servant. Enkidu’s death, is what ultimately spurred Gilgamesh on his great Journey.
- Cú Chulainn
This duo has never gotten along, an never will. Gilgamesh see’s him as a dog whose only worth is his lance. Even after Fate/Stay Night, they continued to bicker during Fate/Hollow.
