GILGAMESH QUESTION?!!!??!?

Even though I think the question is rather silly, I would have to say "a". This is because the idea that the ancient city states of Mesopotamia had patron gods goes some way towards explaining the phenomenon of polytheism. It seems that the greater the political power of particular cities, the higher their patron god/s were elevated in the overall pantheon of Mesopotamia. Thus Assur was the patron god of Assyria and replaces Marduk as the supreme god in the Assyrian version of Enuma Elish. Marduk's position as creator and victor in the primeval battle and head of the gods in the Babylonian version of the story represents a political claim to supremacy by the city of Babylon.

Incidentally, Anu was not "the" patron god of Uruk - the city had two patron gods, Anu and Ishtar.

Toni101, you answer is a helpful one except for one point. The epic of Gilgamesh does not conclude with the hero's death. It actually finishes on a positive note as Gilgamesh stands admiring the city of Uruk and it's temples. The introduction of the epic tells us that although Gilgamesh did not obtain immortality, he acquired something more valuable - wisdom. At the end of his long wanderings he finally obtained peace through realizing his proper place in the divine scheme as ruler of Uruk and protector of his people.

I don't think that choosing just one of the answers would be most helpful in understanding Sumerian religious beliefs.

Gilgamesh, described as being two-thirds god and one-third man, or a demigod. One version of the epic states: “In Uruk he built walls, a great rampart, and the temple of blessed Eanna for the god of the firmament Anu, and for Ishtar the goddess of love . . . , our lady of love and war.” However, Gilgamesh was not exactly a pleasant creature to have around. The inhabitants of Uruk complained to the gods: “His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble.”

What action did the gods take in response to the people’s protest? The goddess Aruru created Enkidu to be the human rival of Gilgamesh. However, instead of being enemies, they became close friends. In the course of the epic, Enkidu died. Shattered, Gilgamesh cried: “When I die, shall I not be like Enkidu? Woe has entered my belly. Fearing death, I roam over the steppe.” He wanted the secret of immortality and set out to find Utnapishtim, the deluge survivor who had been given immortality with the gods.

Gilgamesh eventually finds Utnapishtim, who tells him the story of the flood. As found in Epic tablet XI, known as the Flood Tablet, Utnapishtim recounts instructions given to him concerning the flood: “Tear down (this) house, build a ship! Give up possessions, seek thou life. . . . Aboard the ship take thou the seed of all living things.” Does this not sound somewhat similar to the Bible’s reference to Noah and the Flood? But Utnapishtim cannot bestow immortality upon Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, disappointed, returns home to Uruk. The account concludes with his death. The overall message of the epic is the sadness and frustration of death and the hereafter. Those ancient people did not find the God of truth and hope. However, the epic’s link to the Bible’s simple account of the pre-Flood era is quite evident.