he is told over and over that he will never become immortal (even by his best friend Enkidu), Gilgamesh never accepts this fact and constantly looks for immortality. After Enkidu’s passing, Gilgamesh develops a fear for death, believing his fate will be like that of his friend. When Siduri confronts Gilgamesh, he makes clear his overwhelming fear of death from Enkidu.
‘Because of my brother I am afraid of death, because of my brother I stray through the wilderness and cannot rest. But now, young woman, maker of wine, since I have seen your face do not let me see the face of death which I dread so much.’
She answered, ‘Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping.’ (102 Epic of Gilgamesh)
After being told this, Gilgamesh still will not accept this fate, his fear of death and longing for eternal life too strong in his heart. Utnapishtim puts Gilgamesh to a test to become a god and upon failing, he begins to realize he is not worthy to be a god or have everlasting life. Again he is denied everlasting life when the serpent snatches the flower that restores youth from Gilgamesh’s grasp. After Gilgamesh is denied everlasting life when the serpent snatches the flower that restores youth from his grasp, the realization that he will never be immortal comes over him and he begins his journey home. Upon arrival to the city of Uruk, Gilgamesh swells with pride for the kingdom that he will now rule and live in until his mortal death. “When the journey was accomplished they arrived at Uruk, the strong-walled city. Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Urshanabi the ferryman, ‘Urshanabi, climb up on to the wall of Uruk, inspect
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its foundation terrace, and examine well the brickwork; see if it is not of burnt bricks; and did not the seven wise men lay these foundations? One third of the whole city, one third is garden, and one third is field, with the precinct of the goddess Ishtar. These parts and the precinct are all Uruk.’ This too was the work of Gilgamesh, the king, who knew the countries of the world.” (117 Epic of Gilgamesh) In the end, Gilgamesh accepts his destiny and embraces his life as two-thirds god, one-third man.
Gilgamesh believes that if he creates a name for himself and finds fame, then he will be greater than mortals can ever be and will be closer to being a god and fulfilling his purpose. “I will set up my name in the place where the names of famous men are written, and where no man’s name is written yet I will raise a monument to the gods.” (70 Epic of Gilgamesh) When Gilgamesh is told his fate is to never be immortal in the beginning of the epic, he begins his search for fame- being the next best journey to becoming a god. The god’s prophecies make Gilgamesh quick to become famous and fulfill his destiny. Pride overtakes Gilgamesh at times as he sees his potential for greatness. He knows that his name will be remembered for doing great things so he assumes that he must conquer beasts and defeat enemies to gain fame. After meeting Enkidu, Gilgamesh uses his friendship to achieve what he thinks is fame through physical feats of greatness. When the gods punish Gilgamesh and Enkidu for killing the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh begins to see that gaining fame through his strength is not his destiny. The gods use Enkidu’s death as an example for Gilgamesh to teach him that fame does not come with the destruction of enemies by the use of force.
The king has laid himself down and will not rise again,
The Lord of Kullab will not rise again;
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He overcame evil, he will not come again;
Though he was strong of arm he will not rise again;
He had wisdom and a comely face, he will not come again;
He is gone into the mountain, he will not come again;
On the bed of fate he lies, he will not rise again,
From the couch of many colours he will not come again.
(119 Epic of Gilgamesh)
Gilgamesh’s eulogy statements tell of Gilgamesh’s wisdom, how he overcame evil, and how he was a great king and lord. They, however, tell nothing of his previous attempts at fame: the slaying of Humbaba, the destruction of the Bull of Heaven, and his journey to Utnapishtim. After Gilgamesh leaves Utnapishtim, he begins his destined path to fame, unintentionally, as the king and ruler of Uruk.
It is not Gilgamesh’s purpose to be the king of Uruk- although he believes that he is fit to be king- until he has matured and become more attuned with his people and himself. Gilgamesh’s potential for greatness is infinite and he is destined for greatness, but when he is created he believes he is already fit to rule over all mortals. The gods tell Gilgamesh he will be a great leader so he believes he is already that great leader.
But the men of Uruk muttered in their houses, ‘Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night. No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all, even the children; yet the king should be a shepherd to his people. His lust leaves no virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s
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daughter nor wife of the noble; yet this is the shepherd of the city, wise, comely, and resolute.’ (62 Epic of Gilgamesh)
Gilgamesh proves to be an unjust and unruly leader at the start of the epic, doing whatever he sees fit and fulfilling his desires at the cost of others. Gilgamesh believes that he must be king and reign over mortals to fulfill his purpose and does so by overpowering his subjects. Gilgamesh’s subjects have no faith in their ruler, although he is supposed to be the shepherd of his people, and he is driven away by his own people. Before the coming of Enkidu, Gilgamesh proved unworthy to be king. After his arrival, Gilgamesh faces many obstacles on his path to kingship that prepare him to be a great king. Having lost his best friend and failing on his search for immortality, Gilgamesh leads more compassionately having gone through so much pain and anguish. It is only after Gilgamesh matures as a person, having given up the search for immortality and fame, and by having lost so much that he becomes the ruler he was meant to be.
Before Gilgamesh was able to reach his full potential, he needed to complete a journey. Not a journey to conquer or defeat countless enemies, not a journey to find everlasting life, and not a journey to be a great king, but a journey within himself to find who he truly was meant to be. As shown in the conclusion of the epic, Gilgamesh will forever be known as the ruler of Uruk, compassionate and wise. His encounters with Humbaba, the Bull of Heaven, and his vast journey to the ends of the earth will fade away in time, leaving only the memory of his honorable rule lasting, surviving the test of time.
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Works Cited
The Epic of Gilgamesh, Trans. N.K. Sandars
New York: Putnam, 1972