Sean Essary
Mythic Truths
Dr. Himes
English 4003.3
09/30/14
Gilgamesh: The Return Gilgamesh sits stoically, with both feet tucked under him. He feels the dew from the fleece tickle against his muscular legs. All he has to do is remain awake for six days and seven nights and Utnapishtim will grant him eternal life. After witnessing the death of his beloved Enkidu he is afraid his own lifeforce will soon leave his body. He is determined not to suffer the same miserable fate as Enkidu. “I, Gilgamesh, the mighty ruler of Uruk,” he thought to himself; “Slayed Humbaba, in his forest and felled the great Bull of Heaven. Surely I will be able to complete this test.” It is not long before Gilgamesh begins to feel the weight of his eyelids as he strains with every fiber of his considerably muscular being to stay awake; however, he is weary from his long journey and cannot best his mortality—Gilgamesh succumbs to a deep slumber. In what seemed like only a moment, Gilgamesh is awakened by the smell of bread baking over burning embers. Utnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that he has been asleep almost seven days. Each day Utnapishtim’s wife has baked a loaf of bread for everyday that Gilgamesh has been asleep. Gilgamesh begins to protest, but upon seeing the rotting bread lying on the ground, he becomes distraught at the realization that will not escape his mortality—it is his destiny to die. Not wanting Gilgamesh to leave empty handed, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh about a flower that can restore a man’s youth. Gilgamesh is elated upon retrieval of the flower. He can now be restored to the vitality of his youth and, at least for a while longer, he can stave off death. However, this flower is a false hope, for as Gilgamesh is bathing in a cool well of water, a serpent emerges from the depths of the well and steals Gilgamesh’s flower of youth. Once again his attempts to