Short Essay #1: Thanatology
The Sumerians had a mature view of death that mortality is inevitable for all except Utnapishtim. As the great king of Uruk, Gilgamesh was not afraid of anything except death. Gilgamesh was extremely sadddened by the death of Enkidu. His life fell apart because he suddenly realized that he would die one day and this thought gave him a lot of panic. He decided to take a perilous journey to find Utnapishtim and get eternal life, because the gods had granted eternal life for Utnapishtim. However, Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh that death is unavoidable because of the will of the gods. The Epic of Gilgamesh sends the message that all human effort is not permanent and death is an inevitable fact in everyone’s life.
Humans are exploring the mysteries of life all the time. Everyone wants to get eternal life. However, it is impossible to achieve, even for Gilgamesh. The Sumerians have to accept the fact that people will die and dead people will never come back. For example, in the sixth tablet, Ishtar talks to her father, Anu that if her father does not give her the Bull of Heaven, she would crush the gates of the Netherworld and let the dead out to consume the living (George, page51). According to this part, the Sumerians realized that people will die and dead people will go to the Netherworld, also dead people can’t leave the Netherworld unless the gods destroy the gate, which means dead people are forbidden to come back. Then the Sumerians advocated people couldn’t control their death because the gods control it. Death was implemented as a stopgap measure by the gods. For instance, Enkidu fell ill after he and Gilgamesh killed the Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. In Enkidu’s dream, a demon came to take him to the underworld. He found out from the priest that he is chosen for vengeance by the gods. Then he died after suffering twelve terrible days. In this part, it is clear that people are helpless when the gods open the gate of underworld for them. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the gods had many ways to let people die, such as Humbaba, the Bull of Heaven and deluge.
People have studied death for a very long time because no one wants to accept the fact that everyone has to die. Gilgamesh was a typical example that ancient people were fighting for eternal life. It seems that death is the biggest trouble for people, so Gilgamesh was willing to take an extremely dangerous journey to find out how to live forever. According to what Gilgamesh says to Utnapishtim: ‘How can I keep silent? How can I stay quiet? My friend Enkidu, whom I loved, has turned to clay’ (George, page85), readers can feel how fearful he is. Gilgamesh fell to his knees and wept when the snake stole his plant. He was desperate because he had to give up the fight and accept death. He talked to himself: ‘Not for myself did I find a bounty, for the “Lion of the Earth” I have done a favor’ (George, page99). The Sumerians used this plant story to explain that it is impossible to get eternal life no matter how hard they try. Death is final and the Netherworld is the only one destination for all people.
Communication is possible between the living and the dead in the Sumerians’ view. Enkidu told Gilgamesh the Netherworld is not a good place. People can’t make noise, kiss their wife or wear sandals in the underworld. Based on this part, even though the Sumerians had realized that it is hard to live in the Netherworld, they still had to obey the will of the gods and they would continue to serve their gods in the afterlife. The most important thing the Sumerians should do before they die is maintain good relations with the gods.
Reference:
George, Andrew. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Great Britain: Penguin Press, 1999. Print.