Mythology, Religion & Legend — Power Ranking TOP 100
I wrote a book ranking the most powerful gods, monsters, and heroes from world mythology, religion, and legend! The ranking is heavily influenced by my own perspective, but every placement is grounded in the actual lore and episodes from each mythology, so I think it makes for a satisfying read.
In this post, I’d like to introduce some of the characters featured in the ranking. There are many more beyond the ones mentioned here, so if you’re interested in mythology, religion, or legend, I think you’ll enjoy it!
Rank 92: Gilgamesh (Mesopotamian Mythology / Sumerian Mythology)
Overview
Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, celebrated in the myths of Mesopotamia — particularly the traditions of Sumer and Akkad. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written over two thousand years ago, is considered one of the oldest pieces of literature in the world, and as its protagonist, Gilgamesh is sometimes called “the world’s oldest hero.”
The mythological feats that demonstrate Gilgamesh’s strength include slaying two great enemies: “Humbaba” and “Gugalanna.”
Gugalanna in particular was a supremely powerful beast dispatched by the supreme god Anu — shaking the earth with every footstep and swallowing the people of Uruk by the hundreds.
It is believed that Gilgamesh could not have defeated either enemy alone (especially Gugalanna), but together with his best friend Enkidu he succeeded in defeating these mighty foes.
At the end, after his best friend Enkidu died first, Gilgamesh was gripped by fear of death and set out on a quest for immortality — but ultimately never achieved it.
Why This Ranking
Though called a demigod, his divine fraction is two-thirds, which means his physical stats are essentially at a divine level.
Specifically, during his expedition to slay Humbaba, his weapons and armor reportedly weighed over 300 kg; and in the battle against Gugalanna, he used a bow and axe exceeding 200 kg each — suggesting he possessed tremendous physical strength.
Moreover, having defeated monsters that are simply beyond any ordinary hero confirms that Gilgamesh’s power is at the apex of the heroic tier and can rival the gods.
On the other hand, his abilities are essentially limited to superhuman physical capabilities; his equipment, while likely of high quality, carries no particularly extraordinary legend. And without immortality, he would be completely outmatched by gods of superior power. For these reasons, I evaluated him at this position in the ranking.
