Mythology

‘When 1 die, shall I not be like Enkidu? Woe has entered my belly. Fearing death, I roam over the steppe.’ He resolves to go in search of immortality, and the account of his adventures during the search constitutes the next section of the Epic. Gilgamesh is aware that his ancestor Utnapishtim is the only mortal who has acquired immortality, and he determines to find him in order to learn from him the secrets of death and life. At the outset of his journey he comes to the foot of the mountain range called Mashu, the entrance to which is guarded by a scorpion-man and his wife. The scorpion-man tells him that no mortal has ever crossed the mountain and braved its dangers, but when Gilgamesh discloses the object of his journey, the guardian lets him pass, and he travels along the sun’s road. For twelve leagues he journeys in darkness until he reaches Shamash, the sun-god. Shamash tells him that his quest is vain, ‘Gilgamesh, whither rovest thou, The life you pursue you shall not find.’ But he will not be dissuaded and goes on his way. He then comes to the shore of the sea and the waters of death. There he finds another guardian, the goddess Siduri, the ale-wife; she too endeavours to dissuade him from attempting to cross the deadly sea, and tells him that none but Shamash can cross that sea. She tells him to enjoy life while he may in words that strangely resemble the words of the Master of assemblies in Eccl. 9:7-9 ‘Gilgamesh, whither rove you? The life you pursue you shall not find. When the gods created mankind, Death for mankind they set aside, Life in their own hands retaining. You, Gilgamesh, let full be your belly, Make you merry by day and by night. Of each day make you a feast of rejoicing, Day and night dance you and play. Let your garments be sparkling and fresh, Your head be washed, bathe you in water. Pay heed to the little one that holds your hand, Let your spouse delight in thy bosom, For this is the task of mankind.’ [17] It is hard to resist the conclusion that the late Hebrew moralist was acquainted with this passage in the Epic. But the hero refuses to listen to Siduri with her jug of ale, and pushes on towards the last stage of his perilous journey. By the shore he meets Urshanabi who had been the steersman of Utnapishtim’s boat, and commands him to ferry him across the waters of death. Urshanabi tells him that he must go into the forest and cut down 120 poles each sixty cubits long. He is to use these as punt poles letting each drop as he uses it, so as not to touch the fatal waters of death. He follows Urshanabi’s advice, and comes at last to Utnapishtim’s dwelling-place. He immediately begs Utnapishtim to tell him how he has attained to the immortality which he himself is so eagerly seeking. In answer his ancestor tells him the story of the Flood, as we

Note: If you are looking for good and high quality web space to host and run your java application check Lunarwebhost java web hosting services