Gilgamesh Morality
A moment, much like life, is not fully complete until one realizes that it is fleeting. The curse of man is that after being gifted with advanced intellect and comprehension, he is now fully knowledgeable of the impending demise about to be suffered by him and his kind. No other creature on his planet has such a burden to bear. The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them. Wisdom is learned by three distinct means: by reflection, which is noblest, is first; second, by imitation, which is by far the easiest of the three; and third by experience, which is the bitterest as it involves putting into practice your own method and weighing out their successes. With all the aspects of living that go on, one
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usually forgets to enjoy the small things and soon it is too late. Too many times you see a person, no matter how long a life they lived, be mourned by his loved ones and have them proclaim that they were taken too soon. Death is the end of life, you were born to live multiply then pass. How does one function knowing that each moment is a step close to their own demise? It’s quite simple really: take each moment for their worth and try to enjoy them. Sounds simple enough, does it not? Each moment in a life is precious and the worth fighting for, hence the grief at ones passing. How does one cope with this grave realization? What happens when it is all said and done, this is a question posed by athletes and Gilgamesh alike. Why athletes? Well today, our athlete play a huge role in the community, economy and many other markets. Their presence is greeted with cheers and applause and are looked upon as the epitome of development, much like Gilgamesh. When your entire existence hinges upon performance of physical feats, it may go downhill after you left unable to perform such feats. The epic of Gilgamesh the theme of chasing immortality (figuratively) is explored in such a way that can be applied to modern sports today.
What does it mean to truly be immortal? In the words of writer and actor Sylvester Stallone: At one point in a person’s life, for one mortal moment, one must make a grab for immortality; if not, one has not lived. That sentiment captured within that phrase has led the student to pose the following question. Which is better: To never die or never be forgotten? In other words, is it greater to live forever or to live forever in an instant? The difference between the two is that the latter requires much less effort but the results never change while the former implies that great change in the mental state with only minimal changes to one’s physical. Although similar in sense of never fading, the two opposing views have distinct differences, each of which are touched upon within he epic of Gilgamesh. Of the two however, the student believes that “figurative immortality” is a more prominent position today than literal, therefore the concentration of the discussion will remain focused on immortality of the figurative sense.
To understand the need for immortality-either figurative or literal- one must first understand the type of man to seek it.
An unstable compound of two parts gods and one part man, Gilgamesh suffers most from immoderation. Although he is indeed a mortal, the deity at the core of his nature seeks the gift of the gods: immortality. Knowing that at some point he must shake this mortal coil and move on the eternal deity that comprise 2/3s of him seek eternity. He is the greatest of all men, and both his virtues and his flaws are outsized. Gilgamesh is exemplary regarding physical stature with nobility beyond reproach, although the latter came after a tragic loss that led to a complete paradigm shift. He is the fiercest of warriors and the most ambitious of builders. These traits further bolster conjecture that he is looking to create a name for himself as warriors are prideful and competitive and for him to be the best would mean that he has bested, already, the warriors of his day and course, his being king cements the conjecture. The traits needed to Gilgamesh a candidate for “immortality” are the same that would drive great athletes of today. These traits are as follows: motivated, takes imitative, lacks excuses, full of determination, strong willed and willing to go that mile. Traits likes these are hallmarks of athletes that are worth remembering, and given the physical proewess necessary to be a great warrior, it is by no stretch of the imagination that Gilgamesh too, was an athlete and subject to the worries thereof. Immortality in his mind, was there for the taking and now was only the matter of achieving
it.
Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death. Enlil made him guardian of the Cedar Forest, to frighten off the mortal who would venture there. But who would venture there? Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar is the floodwater; he breathes and there is death. He hears the slightest sound somewhere in the Forest (Gilgamesh, Tablet II). The above excerpt is taken from tablet two and is a conversation between Gilgamesh and his Enkidu. Enkidu, feels this to be a fool’s errand says so by describing the opposition they face and the repercussions thereof. Gilgamesh however, takes these statements in stride and use them to greater strengthen his resolve He was young and powerful, so too was Enkidu. In the mind of Gilgamesh, this was a life defining event. One fail swoop to live out in infamy for the defeat of the Forest Guardian or go out with a bang as the man who foolishly tried to take on a quasi-deity; either way he figured this was his shot at immortality. This is a common through among great athletes. To stick out from other great athletes they must accomplish something never done before, push the envelope and progress ever forward. Take for instance the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas. Billed as "Tyson Is Back!”, was a historic boxing match that occurred at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on February 11, 1990 in which then undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson lost via knockout to the 42–1 underdog Buster Douglas. Here we have the epitome of strength, brash and power in Michael Tyson going against a man many had discounted already. Much like those that said Gilgamesh would be slain by the seasoned and powerful guardian, so too did critics believe Douglas to have no chance. When the bell rang, he went full force at a man who with one punch could end it all. Why would he do such a foolish thing? He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Much like Gilgamesh, the thought of defeat was on his mind but not so much so that he would give up a chance to succeed. Losing meant nothing to either one Douglas or Gilgamesh because their opponent had every right to be regarded as superior. A loss was the likely outcome. But what if they won? The implications thereof are mind boggling and too much temptation to not try. To do something no man has done, defeat the undefeated? To do so would mean instant immortality and therefore was worth the risk.
As previously stated, death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns him away from their fight with Humbaba (Gilgamesh Tablet II). Life is short, the two warriors tell each other on their way to the deadly confrontation in the Cedar Forest, and the only thing that lasts is fame. But when Enkidu is cursed with an inglorious, painful death, their bravado rings hollow. Shamash, the sun god, consoles Enkidu by reminding him how rich his life has been, but though Enkidu finally resigns himself to his fate, Gilgamesh is terrified by the thought of his own. At this moment, a parallel can be drawn between two teammates or colleagues of the same spot who have competed together forever. One has a career ending injury and sees all their endorsements and flashy lifestyle begin to fade. The friend, still active in the athletic arena, sees this and wonders about the inevitable end he faces. He begins to alter his actions and maneuver himself into a position to go out with a bang such as trading to another franchise, pick up a deal or endear himself to the fans. He begins to do things that will bolster his resume and enhance his legacy so that when he goes out, it will not lead to a fade from the limelight but instead a fond memory that rings through time, carrying him to immortality (figuratively speaking that is). An example of this occurrence is Michael Strahan. Ta record that would stand the test of time. Faced with the option of going out with fans remembering him on the sideline or going out the way he deserved, Strahan returns, breaks the record and is even lucky enough to make t to and win a Super Bowl. A few years later, on merit of the broken record and many the feats during his career, Strahan was elected to the football hall of fame, locking in lace forever his spot in immortality. Why is Michael Strahan’s end of career story pertinent to Gilgamesh? Well it captures how man will make a change for the better if the end is near. Man wants toe remembered, because to be forgotten is akin to not being here at all. Mesopotamian theology offers a vision of an afterlife, but it gives scant comfort—the dead spend their time being dead. A man of Gilgamesh’s caliber would not enjoy death and realizing this he tries to put that off for as long as possible. Granted, figurative immortality only works if your story s repeated but he was banking n the fact that his story would be one so epic it would warrant countless repetitions- And he was correct. Here we are centuries after it was written down and we are still speaking the name of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh’s quest to the Cedar Forest was done so to spite death. He knew that he had a 50/50 chance of dying young and gaining fame as a man who dared go where mortals were forbidden and be ridiculed for his blunder forever or beat the odds completely and tell the story himself. Too often we forget that life is what you make of it. The thought of living forever is tempting but in the grand scheme of things sees quite boring you either become extremely cautious and fear death or you live long enough to do everything your heart desires. Either way, it is not a fate fit for man. We were brought into existence to live, wander and create stories to inspire the next generation. Gilgamesh, in his youth thought that by ceasing destiny, he could defy death and take his rightful place I eternity but after seeing the slow tragic death of his best friend, his tune soon changed. The epic poem of Gilgamesh explores the deeper meaning of immortality n the figurative sense that can be easily applied in the sports world today. We love heroes, some wear capes, others wear badges and still some wear helmets. Our athletes are modern super humans and much like Gilgamesh, each wants his story told into posterity.
usually forgets to enjoy the small things and soon it is too late. Too many times you see a person, no matter how long a life they lived, be mourned by his loved ones and have them proclaim that they were taken too soon. Death is the end of life, you were born to live multiply then pass. How does one function knowing that each moment is a step close to their own demise? It’s quite simple really: take each moment for their worth and try to enjoy them. Sounds simple enough, does it not? Each moment in a life is precious and the worth fighting for, hence the grief at ones passing. How does one cope with this grave realization? What happens when it is all said and done, this is a question posed by athletes and Gilgamesh alike. Why athletes? Well today, our athlete play a huge role in the community, economy and many other markets. Their presence is greeted with cheers and applause and are looked upon as the epitome of development, much like Gilgamesh. When your entire existence hinges upon performance of physical feats, it may go downhill after you left unable to perform such feats. The epic of Gilgamesh the theme of chasing immortality (figuratively) is explored in such a way that can be applied to modern sports today.
What does it mean to truly be immortal? In the words of writer and actor Sylvester Stallone: At one point in a person’s life, for one mortal moment, one must make a grab for immortality; if not, one has not lived. That sentiment captured within that phrase has led the student to pose the following question. Which is better: To never die or never be forgotten? In other words, is it greater to live forever or to live forever in an instant? The difference between the two is that the latter requires much less effort but the results never change while the former implies that great change in the mental state with only minimal changes to one’s physical. Although similar in sense of never fading, the two opposing views have distinct differences, each of which are touched upon within he epic of Gilgamesh. Of the two however, the student believes that “figurative immortality” is a more prominent position today than literal, therefore the concentration of the discussion will remain focused on immortality of the figurative sense.
To understand the need for immortality-either figurative or literal- one must first understand the type of man to seek it.
An unstable compound of two parts gods and one part man, Gilgamesh suffers most from immoderation. Although he is indeed a mortal, the deity at the core of his nature seeks the gift of the gods: immortality. Knowing that at some point he must shake this mortal coil and move on the eternal deity that comprise 2/3s of him seek eternity. He is the greatest of all men, and both his virtues and his flaws are outsized. Gilgamesh is exemplary regarding physical stature with nobility beyond reproach, although the latter came after a tragic loss that led to a complete paradigm shift. He is the fiercest of warriors and the most ambitious of builders. These traits further bolster conjecture that he is looking to create a name for himself as warriors are prideful and competitive and for him to be the best would mean that he has bested, already, the warriors of his day and course, his being king cements the conjecture. The traits needed to Gilgamesh a candidate for “immortality” are the same that would drive great athletes of today. These traits are as follows: motivated, takes imitative, lacks excuses, full of determination, strong willed and willing to go that mile. Traits likes these are hallmarks of athletes that are worth remembering, and given the physical proewess necessary to be a great warrior, it is by no stretch of the imagination that Gilgamesh too, was an athlete and subject to the worries thereof. Immortality in his mind, was there for the taking and now was only the matter of achieving
it.
Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar the floodwater; his breath is death. Enlil made him guardian of the Cedar Forest, to frighten off the mortal who would venture there. But who would venture there? Humbaba’s mouth is fire; his roar is the floodwater; he breathes and there is death. He hears the slightest sound somewhere in the Forest (Gilgamesh, Tablet II). The above excerpt is taken from tablet two and is a conversation between Gilgamesh and his Enkidu. Enkidu, feels this to be a fool’s errand says so by describing the opposition they face and the repercussions thereof. Gilgamesh however, takes these statements in stride and use them to greater strengthen his resolve He was young and powerful, so too was Enkidu. In the mind of Gilgamesh, this was a life defining event. One fail swoop to live out in infamy for the defeat of the Forest Guardian or go out with a bang as the man who foolishly tried to take on a quasi-deity; either way he figured this was his shot at immortality. This is a common through among great athletes. To stick out from other great athletes they must accomplish something never done before, push the envelope and progress ever forward. Take for instance the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas. Billed as "Tyson Is Back!”, was a historic boxing match that occurred at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on February 11, 1990 in which then undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson lost via knockout to the 42–1 underdog Buster Douglas. Here we have the epitome of strength, brash and power in Michael Tyson going against a man many had discounted already. Much like those that said Gilgamesh would be slain by the seasoned and powerful guardian, so too did critics believe Douglas to have no chance. When the bell rang, he went full force at a man who with one punch could end it all. Why would he do such a foolish thing? He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Much like Gilgamesh, the thought of defeat was on his mind but not so much so that he would give up a chance to succeed. Losing meant nothing to either one Douglas or Gilgamesh because their opponent had every right to be regarded as superior. A loss was the likely outcome. But what if they won? The implications thereof are mind boggling and too much temptation to not try. To do something no man has done, defeat the undefeated? To do so would mean instant immortality and therefore was worth the risk.
As previously stated, death is an inevitable and inescapable fact of human life, which is the greatest lesson Gilgamesh learns. Gilgamesh is bitter that only the gods can live forever and says as much when Enkidu warns him away from their fight with Humbaba (Gilgamesh Tablet II). Life is short, the two warriors tell each other on their way to the deadly confrontation in the Cedar Forest, and the only thing that lasts is fame. But when Enkidu is cursed with an inglorious, painful death, their bravado rings hollow. Shamash, the sun god, consoles Enkidu by reminding him how rich his life has been, but though Enkidu finally resigns himself to his fate, Gilgamesh is terrified by the thought of his own. At this moment, a parallel can be drawn between two teammates or colleagues of the same spot who have competed together forever. One has a career ending injury and sees all their endorsements and flashy lifestyle begin to fade. The friend, still active in the athletic arena, sees this and wonders about the inevitable end he faces. He begins to alter his actions and maneuver himself into a position to go out with a bang such as trading to another franchise, pick up a deal or endear himself to the fans. He begins to do things that will bolster his resume and enhance his legacy so that when he goes out, it will not lead to a fade from the limelight but instead a fond memory that rings through time, carrying him to immortality (figuratively speaking that is). An example of this occurrence is Michael Strahan. Ta record that would stand the test of time. Faced with the option of going out with fans remembering him on the sideline or going out the way he deserved, Strahan returns, breaks the record and is even lucky enough to make t to and win a Super Bowl. A few years later, on merit of the broken record and many the feats during his career, Strahan was elected to the football hall of fame, locking in lace forever his spot in immortality. Why is Michael Strahan’s end of career story pertinent to Gilgamesh? Well it captures how man will make a change for the better if the end is near. Man wants toe remembered, because to be forgotten is akin to not being here at all. Mesopotamian theology offers a vision of an afterlife, but it gives scant comfort—the dead spend their time being dead. A man of Gilgamesh’s caliber would not enjoy death and realizing this he tries to put that off for as long as possible. Granted, figurative immortality only works if your story s repeated but he was banking n the fact that his story would be one so epic it would warrant countless repetitions- And he was correct. Here we are centuries after it was written down and we are still speaking the name of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh’s quest to the Cedar Forest was done so to spite death. He knew that he had a 50/50 chance of dying young and gaining fame as a man who dared go where mortals were forbidden and be ridiculed for his blunder forever or beat the odds completely and tell the story himself. Too often we forget that life is what you make of it. The thought of living forever is tempting but in the grand scheme of things sees quite boring you either become extremely cautious and fear death or you live long enough to do everything your heart desires. Either way, it is not a fate fit for man. We were brought into existence to live, wander and create stories to inspire the next generation. Gilgamesh, in his youth thought that by ceasing destiny, he could defy death and take his rightful place I eternity but after seeing the slow tragic death of his best friend, his tune soon changed. The epic poem of Gilgamesh explores the deeper meaning of immortality n the figurative sense that can be easily applied in the sports world today. We love heroes, some wear capes, others wear badges and still some wear helmets. Our athletes are modern super humans and much like Gilgamesh, each wants his story told into posterity.