Gilgamesh and Ishtar and The Death of Enkidu The Search For Everlasting Life
Gilgamesh and Ishtar and The Death of Enkidu The Search For Everlasting Life
Gilgamesh and Ishtar and The Death of Enkidu The Search For Everlasting Life
Enkidu became sick and in his sickness he cursed the city walls of Uruk and the harlot who braught him there. Shamash however spoke to him from heaven telling him to not curse the harlot because if it was not for her he would never have known Gilgamesh. Enkidu then withdrew his curse. Enkidu had another dream, wherein a sombre-faced man-bird transformed his arms into wings and took him to the place of the Queen of Darkness where those who enters never returns. There Enkidu saw many kings, rulers and kings who once wore kingly crowns and ruled the world in the days of old. Enkidu shared his dream with Gilgamesh, and as he becames sicker Gilgamesh wept over Enkidu. Enkidu died and Gilgamesh mourned him for seven days and nights. Gilgamesh commanded that the whole Uruk weep for his friend and commissioned that a statue should be made of his friend.
Gilgamesh entered the mountain and travelled a very long distance in the darkness before the light of dawn appeared. Gilgamesh reached the great sea and he met the woman of the vine, the maker of wine, called Siduri. Siduri could not believe that it was Gilgamesh, because he looked so weary, but then he told her about Enkidu and his plans to obtain everlasting life. Siduri told Gilgamesh that he had to cross the sea to find the land of Dilmun where Utnapishtim lives. Gilgamesh said who but Shamash could cross the great sea. Siduri however told him that he could ask Urshanabi, the ferryman of Utnapishtim to help him. Urshanabi told Gilgamesh to go and chop wood in the forest to build a boat. After Gilgamesh built the boat he and Urshanabi sailed for a month and fifteen days until they reached Dilmun where Utnapishtim lived, the only man that received everlasting life from the gods.
When Gilgamesh reached Dilmun, Utnapishtim saw him from a distance and wondered who this man was. Gilgamesh introduced himself as Gilgamesh from Uruk, but Utnapishtim could not believe that it could be Gilgamesh, because he looked so weary. Gilgamesh then explained to him that Enkidu has died, and he mourned for him seven days and seven nights, and that he has travelled a very far distance to reach Dilmun. Gilgamesh told Utnapishtim that he came to ask him about life and death and how to gain everlasting life, whereby Utnapishtim told him that Anunnaki, the judge and Mammetun, the mother of destinies, decides the fates of men. Utnapishtim however said that he would tell Gilgamesh how he came into the precence of the gods and how they granted then everlasting life. The story continues in THE STORY OF THE FLOOD