THE SEARCH FOR EVERLASTING LIFE

● Gilgamesh wanders the wilderness, grieving for Enkidu. He declares that because he
fears his own death, he will travel to find Utnapishtim whom they call the Faraway, who
survived a great flood and was granted everlasting life, allowing him to live in Dilmun, “in
the garden of the sun.”

- Gilgamesh grieving for Enkidu traveled over the wilderness and took a long journey in
search of Utnapishtim. At the mountain, he prayed to ask God to protect him. He fell
asleep and after he woke up he saw lions around him and he killed them.

● Gilgamesh lands at Mashtu, a mountain range that protects the sun as it rises and sets.
Its gate is guarded by "Scorpions," or guards. They're half-dragon, half-man.

- The man scorpion asked Gilgamesh why he traveled so far. He said that he traveled for
Enkidu. He said that he love him dearly and they are together in all kinds of hardships.
He traveled to ask Utnapishtim about life and death.

● The Scorpion warns Gilgamesh that no mortal has ever traveled through the mountains
and that if Gilgamesh dares to, he will be in complete darkness for twelve leagues. He
opens the gate for Gilgamesh and wishes him luck in his journey.

- He traveled along with the leagues and it was all complete darkness. He starts to see
light again after eleven leagues, and the sun reappears after the twelve leagues. He
made it to the gods' garden.

● In the Garden of the Gods, Shamash sees Gilgamesh approaching the sea and warns
him that no mortal has ever crossed the sea. Gilgamesh is told by Shamash that he will
not find the secret to eternal life.
● Siduri, who rules over the vines and makes wine, lives near the sea. When she sees
Gilgamesh, who is tired from traveling, she assumes he is a criminal and locks the door
to her house.

- Gilgamesh went through the door. He said that he is Gilgamesh who killed the Bull of
Heaven, the lions in the mountain, and so on. Siduri is suspicious: if he truly is the
famous and strong Gilgamesh, then why does he look so gaunt despairing? So
Gilgamesh said that he looks gaunt and in despair, for he has made a long journey and
his companion, Enkidu, has died. He asked Siduri to not let him see the face of death
which he dread so much.

● Gilgamesh is told by Siduri that the gods would not grant him immortality, but that he
should enjoy the life he does have.
- Gilgamesh still asks Siduri the way to Utnapishtim. Siduri informs him that crossing the
sea is impossible and only the Shamash can cross the sea. Siduri tells Gilgamesh that
 deep in the forest he may find Urshanabi, “the ferryman of Utnapishtim.” She says it is
possible the ferryman will take Gilgamesh across the water. But if not he should go back.

● Gilgamesh travels into the woods in search of Urshanabi. Gilgamesh happened to

smash Urshanabi's boat's tackle in anger.

- Urshanabi asks Gilgamesh he looks so gaunt and in despair, and Gilgamesh (again)
asks why should he not, for his companion has died and now he fears death. Urshanabi
tells Gilgamesh that because he destroyed the tackle of the boat, it is no longer safe to
cross the water.

● Gilgamesh is instructed by Urshanabi to cut him 120 poles of wood, treat them in
bitumen (a crude asphalt), cap them with metal, and return them to him. Gilgamesh
complies with Urshanabi's request, and the two depart on the boat.

- They traveled for 3 days and arrived at the waters of death. He warns Gilgamesh not to
touch the water with his hands.

● When Utnapishtim sees the boat off in the distance, he wonders who is piloting the boat
besides Urshanabi. He asks Gilgamesh as to who he is and why he has come.

- Gilgamesh introduces himself. Again, with the same words used by Siduri and
Urshanabi, Utnapishtim asks why Gilgamesh looks so gaunt and in despair, and
Gilgamesh, again using the same words, asks why should he not look gaunt and in
despair, for he has made a long journey and his companion has died.

● Gilgamesh asks Utnapishtim whether he might ask him questions regarding life and
death, as well as how to discover the key to eternal life. “There is no permanence,”
Utnapishtim answers. Do we build a house to stand forever, do we seal a contract to
hold for all time?” He tells Gilgamesh that the destiny of men is decided by divine judges
and "the mother of destinies."

● Gilgamesh asks Utnapishtim how he possesses everlasting life. He answered that he

will reveal a mystery and tell a secret of the Gods.
- Utnapishtim told gilgamesh that he will tell secrets of the Gods and that conversation is
the last part of the search for everlasting life.

The main lesson of the Gilgamesh Epic is that death is inevitable. Gilgamesh wastes a lot of
time and effort in his hopeless search for eternal life. He abandons his family and friends to
seek out something he can never have.  He seeks for magic to keep him young after failing to
obtain immortality, only to lose it as well.
In life, regardless of our values and traditions we know that we will get old and may die. We can
run marathons every weekend, eat only organic vegetables, etc but it will not save us in the end.
Of course, we should look for ourselve s since it would be a total waste not to try for a long and
happy life, but those who, like Gilgamesh, refuse to realize that they are mortal have suffered a
great deal of pain. Let people believe what they want about life after death, but we all have a life
ending, just as we all have a life beginning.

Carnelian
A semi-precious reddish-brown mineral used for gemstones.
Agate- common rock formation.
Felon- a person who has been convicted of a felony.
Bitumen
A thick tarlike substance used for waterproofing and as an adhesive.
Lapis lazuli
A semi-precious stone prized for its deep blue color. It is mentioned several times in the story,
most notably because Gilgamesh's story is said to be recorded on tablets made of it.
League
A unit of measurement equal to about a mile and a half.
Ferrule- a ring or cap, typically a metal one, which strengthens the end of a handle, stick, or
tube and prevents it from splitting or wearing.
Mast- a tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat, in sailing vessels generally
carrying a sail or sails.