LUGULBANDA

[Mesopotamian] A hero of two Sumerian poems, third on the post-diluvian King-List, and ruler of Uruk for 1200 years. He is occasionally referred to by Gilgamesh as his semi-divine 'father'. In the poem Lugulbanda and Enmerkar he is the liegeman and champion of the latter. He crosses great mountains and the river Kur before he brings Enmerkar relief from his enemies. In Lugulbanda and Mount Hurrum he is left for dead by his companions on another mountain journey, this time to Aratta (in the Persian highlands). He sacrifices to the Sun God and gains his protection and continues his wanderings through the wilderness, sustaining himself on wild animals and uncultivated plants. He is mentioned as the consort of Ninsun.