The Epic of Gilgamesh

Divine Immortality

Throughout history, people have searched to remedy their mortality. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient quest for immortality that reveals facts about the period. In ancient Mesopotamia, it was believed that the gods had ultimate authority over humans and their mortality. The story reveals how the ancient world viewed their deities and what part it played in society. Gilgamesh’s quest to seek immortality was fraught with despair but he did eventually find that happiness helped him deal with mortality.

The characters in The Epic of Gilgamesh believed that Gods were active in their daily life. For instance, when Enkidu dreamt of the gods’ unhappiness, “Because they have killed the Bull of heaven, and because they have killed Humbaba who guarded the Cedar Mountain one of the two must die” (89). It is surmised that religion played a large role in the ancient world. If the gods were not respected, there would be a human price to pay. Therefore, a human’s mortality belonged to the gods and it could be demanded as payment for appeasement. The ancient Mesopotamia people believed that the gods had ultimate control and authority over them.

Religion served as an explanation for things that were not fully understood. Enkidu believed that his fate had been decided. “My friend, the great goddess cursed me and I must die in shame. I shall not die like a man fallen in battle: I feared to fall but happy is the man who falls in battle, for I must die in shame” (93). Resolute of his impending death, Enkidu falls ill and accepts that which was dictated by the gods. This provided some insight into how the ancient Mesopotamians viewed medicine and diseases. If a person was ill, it was because the gods wanted them to be. Also important is how they might be memorialized. It could be assumed that their society had greater respect for warriors who died in battle more so than those who died of other causes. The family of a warrior who died in...