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 93: Enkidu (Mesopotamian Mythology / Sumerian Mythology)
Overview
Enkidu is one of the defining heroes of Mesopotamian mythology and is famous as the inseparable best friend of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk.
He was originally created by the gods — formed from clay — as a being of equal power to Gilgamesh, sent to check the tyrannical king.
When he first met Gilgamesh, they fought fiercely but neither could gain the upper hand, and as a result the two recognized each other as best friends.
Afterwards, he and Gilgamesh fought and defeated supernatural beings far beyond the reach of ordinary humans — the monster Humbaba and the divine beast Gugalanna.
However, as punishment for killing the divine beast Gugalanna and for their irreverent behavior toward the gods during that battle, Enkidu was cursed by the gods and died in agony.
This gave rise to the legend that “whoever kills Gugalanna must pay with their life.”
Why This Ranking
Enkidu was created directly by the gods, though he himself is human. When he and Gilgamesh first fought, they were completely evenly matched.
Gilgamesh and Gugalanna will also appear in the ranking later, but since both of them possess high specs, Enkidu’s evaluation naturally rises to a comparable level.
In particular, Gugalanna was a mighty monster that could cause earthquakes and chasms simply by walking — yet Enkidu seized it by the horns and held it still while Gilgamesh struck the killing blow. This confirms that Enkidu’s physical strength transcends the human realm.
For these reasons, I placed him at this position in the ranking.
