Gilgamesh, the epic of
Gilgamesh, the epic ofThe Epic of Gilgamesh
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has to travel many journeys and face many hardships. As the story progresses, it is found that the major goal of his life is to obtain immortality. Gilgamesh was created two-thirds God and one-third man, with a perfect body and great courage. After facing his hardships and returning to the city of Uruk, he placed his story upon tablets for all to know.
Gilgamesh, who is the King of the city of Uruk, was wise to the fact that the Gods created man and that mankind would eventually expire. Gilgamesh is quoted in saying "only the Gods live forever with the glorious Shamash, but as for men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind."(p.71) In this time period, kings were noted as Gilgamesh was the ultimate man. There was none could match his strength or courage until Endiku was created. Endiku, who was the brother of Gilgamesh, was raised in the wild and came upon Gilgamesh in Uruk. They became great friends and cared for each other deeply. This also notes the man part of Gilgamesh, as Gods usually carry no feeling. Gilgamesh and Enkidu conquered many battles together. Gilgamesh makes great reference to these conquests when he says "My friend, my younger brother who seized and killed the Bull of Heaven, and overthrew Humbaba in the cedar forest, my friend who was very dear to me, and who endured dangers beside me".(p.101) After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh begins to fear his fate of dying and journeys to find everlasting life. As Gilgamesh will soon find out, man cannot have everlasting life. The Gods decided to create mankind, but mankind allowed the clamour of their existence to enable the Gods to sleep. The God Enlil then went to the council of the Gods and said "the uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel."(p.108) This is when the Gods decided that the Gods would control mankind's destiny and the Gods would exterminate mankind. Only one man, Utnapishtim, lived through the great flood that would kill all men. This was accomplished because the God Ea came to him in a dream and told him he must "tear down your house and build a boat, abandon possessions and look for life, despise worldly goods and save your soul alive. Tear down your house, I say and build a boat...then...
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