Theme Of Death In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Humankind, as far as we know, has always been subject to the laws of mortality, but this fact does not necessitate a universal understanding of death throughout space and time. The Mesopotamian understanding of death is uniquely different from modern perceptions in that the Mesopotamians lacked a knowledge of the difference between the objective and the subjective. The Mesopotamian epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, can, as a result of both the theology and the cosmogony of the civilization, be viewed as the first meditation on death and the human condition. The hero of the epic, Gilgamesh, through a metaphorical self-death, via the death of his only equal, Enkidu, can begin to comprehend the idea of death. The Epic of Gilgamesh, above all else, is a reflection on mortality and the human place in the cosmos.

Gilgamesh is “two thirds” (Epic 61) god, and, as a result of this, lives with a sense of invincibility. The idea of death, of ceasing to exist in his temporal form, does not originally frighten him, as it does Enkidu, who is able to grasp the true nature of existence because of his bestial side. Though Gilgamesh is aware that “only the gods live forever” (71) while men’s “days are numbered” (71), his understanding of his place in the cosmos is limited. Gilgamesh is unable to comprehend that though he is

While it is certainly true that Gilgamesh pursues heroism, he does it passively and as a secondary pursuit to his quest for everlasting life. When Gilgamesh is questioned at the beginning of his journey, he admits that after Enkidu’s death, his “life is nothing” (98). This reveals that death conquers all emotions and ambitions, making all other pursuits and desires meaningless. The Epic of Gilgamesh serves as a testament to human life, and in doing so, illuminates what it means to