11. Gilgamesh: Sumerian King Turned Epic Hero
The legend of Gilgamesh began with a real Sumerian king who ruled the city of Uruk around 2700 BCE. Archaeological discoveries—including ancient king lists—suggest Gilgamesh’s existence, though shrouded in myth. His remarkable reign inspired The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of humanity’s oldest surviving literary works. As the World History Encyclopedia explains, Gilgamesh’s story bridges the worlds of recorded history and mythic adventure.
