Gilgamesh?

It is quite hard to recognize what exactly is depicted on this very weathered terracotta. There have been several theories set forth. Possibly it depicts a scene from the famous epic of Gilgamesh. The figure in the upper part of the terracotta might be Gilgamesh himself, the hero of the story, depicted holding weapons and flanked by cedar trees.

The cedar trees relate to an episode from his epic, where Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu set out to the mystical cedar forest in order to restore a temple with its logs. Upon their arrival, the forest is loud with bird chatter and the buzzing of insects, the shadows of the leaves play on the ground, and fragrant sap drips down from the cedar trunks. This wonder of nature is guarded by a monster named Humbaba (or Huwawa). Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay him and retrieve the wood.

Furthermore, the story is famous for Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality after Enkidu dies. After meeting several colorful characters including a man who has survived the deluge, he discovers that immortality is unobtainable and that people are remembered by their actions in life. After 4000 years, we’re still talking about him!