Shamhats

Shamhats is a term that may refer to the plural form of Shamhat, a figure in ancient Mesopotamian literature. In most scholarly texts, Shamhat is the name of a temple prostitute in the city of Uruk who plays a pivotal role in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The name Shamhat appears in Akkadian sources; the precise etymology is uncertain, but the figure is commonly associated with seduction and the initiation of civilization for Enkidu, the wild man created by the gods.

In the narrative, Shamhat encounters Enkidu in the wilderness, tames his feral nature through companionship, food, and contact with urban life, and thereby introduces him to human society, social norms, and the city of Uruk. This episode has been interpreted by scholars as a literary device that frames civilization as a transformation mediated by sexuality and ritual hospitality, while also raising questions about gender and power in ancient myth.

In modern usage, Shamhats is rarely employed as a stand-alone concept in primary texts; it is sometimes used in scholarly discussion to refer to multiple figures fulfilling the "civilizing" role or to discuss the function of Shamhat more generally. The term also appears in adaptations, translations, or fictional works that draw on Mesopotamian themes, where Shamhats may be used as a proper name or as a stylistic nod to the original figure.

See also: Shamhat; Epic of Gilgamesh; Mesopotamian religion.