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How Did Gilgamesh Search For Eternal Life

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How Did Gilgamesh Search For Eternal Life
Lizeth Sanchez
Nancy C. Bjorklund
History 110
30 August 2010
INMORTALITY
The search for the meaning of life is a question that has pervaded mankind's curiosity for as long as we have known our time in this world is limited. There are as many stories attempting to answer this question as there are cultures and civilizations to tell them. One such story is the Epic of Gilgamesh. This ancient Mesopotamian epic is not only the first epic poem, but is one of the first stories attempting to answer the very question of what it means to live. The story tells of the trails and exploits of a Sumerian king named Gilgamesh. His search for eternal life takes him across the land overcoming trials and accomplishing heroic tasks as the gods seek to thwart …show more content…
Along with his companion and friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh sought to rise to godhood by breaking the bonds of mortality and becoming an immortal. Through his his close friendship, adventuring companionship, and eventual loss of Enkidu, the would-be-god is left with an even stronger resolve to fulfill his ambitions of attaining eternal life. His life, adventures, and wishes of greatness are something which not only the ancient Mesopotamian civilization could admire, but even our modern multicultural world could glean many facets of insight into the largely unanswered questions that lie within each and every one of …show more content…
After questioning the goddess about the secrets of eternal life she questions the life our hero is leading. She says that he will never find what he's looking for as long as his search continues. Siduri tells Gilgamesh to take time to enjoy the life he has been given, not to seek out another. Enjoy the things you now take for granted. Her veiled words are the very answers Gilgamesh seeks but instead of heeding the advice he continues on his journey. Everything Siduri says to him tells us much about our own lives. These simple pleasures that we take for granted every day can be fleeting. The busy days of the Mesopotamians lives I can only imagine can easily reflect the hustle and bustle of our modern civilization. It seems that even ancient wise goddesses knew the value of enjoying the lives which can easily be taken for
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