Which sun god helped Gilgamesh on his quest?

The sun god Shamash helped Gilgamesh on his quest.

Shamash, known as Utu in Sumerian tradition, is the Mesopotamian sun god and Gilgamesh’s divine patron. In the epic, he supports Gilgamesh and Enkidu during their expedition to the Cedar Forest, where they seek to defeat the monster Humbaba and win lasting fame.

Different versions of the story describe Shamash’s assistance in different ways. In an Old Babylonian version, Gilgamesh prays directly to Shamash before setting out, and the god grants favorable signs or guidance. In the Standard Babylonian edition, Gilgamesh’s mother, Ninsun, appeals to Shamash, who provides help during the battle by sending powerful winds that hinder Humbaba.

Shamash is not merely a battle deity. As a solar god, he is also associated with justice, judgment, and truth. In one older passage, he warns Gilgamesh that the search for eternal life is futile. The name Shamash is therefore the Akkadian form most appropriate for this question, while Utu is his Sumerian counterpart.