Ninsun

1.) Ninsun first appears in the text on page 83 in Book 1
2.) Ninsun is a goddess and the mother of Gilgamesh. She knows everything and is always right there with a smart answer to assist Gilgamesh on his journeys. She knows not to upset the Gods and instead she prays to them whenever there is trouble. "'Lord of heaven, you have granted my son beauty, strength and courage-why have you burdened him with a restless heart'" (99).She dresses in beautiful robes and bathes in the finest soaps because she is a God and she is beautiful.
3.) Ninsun could be compared with Ishtar who is also a goddess, though they do not have fitting personalities. Ninsun is gentle, kind, giving and very smart, "The mother of Gilgamesh, Lady Ninsun, the wise, the all-knowing" (83). Ishtar is some what giving as well (she keeps the priestesses in her temple for all men to enjoy), but mostly she's greedy. She wants to have and destroy as many lives as possible. "' Come here Gilgamesh,' Ishtar said, 'marry me, give me your luscious fruits, be my husband, be my sweet man'" (130).
4.) I would argue that Ninsun is definitely a hero. She helps Gilgamesh on his journeys. She prays to the Gods for strength. She helps interpret Gilgamesh's dreams. And though the story doesn't go into much detail about Ninsun's intelligence, I'm sure she uses it for good purposes and for other lost souls, not just Giglamesh. And let's face it, anyone who can be the mother of the most intolerable man in Uruk has to be a hero.