Tablet XII, The Nether world

From all the Tablets I read, this was by far the most confusing. It was, I think a description of an after life, and it was like hell, the Nether world. Enkidu went there for Gilgamesh, and in some point he incarnated Gilgamesh, wearing perfume and nice clothing, for which he was not welcome there. I think it means that people with luxuries where hated and not treated well in the after life. It was interesting as well that they believe there is a soul within the corpse and how we reencounter the ones we lost in the past. Enkidu returns from there meaning that there is a return, and he embraces Gilgamesh.

Enkidu describes the Nether world to Gilgamesh. In the description he narrated how the ones who had more sons were the ones who were happier and treated the best, while the ones with one or no sons lived in misery. This shows the importance of having sons in that time and may represent how reproducing was a duty, and failing it was punished in the life after death. He also describes how the different types of deaths were rewarded. "'And he whose corpse was thrown away unburied’ he wanders without rest through the world down there'" (pg. 92)

Tablet XI, The End of his Journey

As Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh his story, it was really hard to keep Noe`s story out of my mind. The story of Noe's arch is reflected on this story as Enlil, a god, decides to create a flood that end with the life of all, one is warned about it and told to build a boat. "The voice of Ea telling me the secret came whispering through the reed walls of my house." (pg. 66)The technique of sending birds, the sketch of the boat, and many other details, match the biblical story. It is very interesting and hard to explain how both stories coming from different times and places are connected in such manner. I couldn`t continue ignoring the mention of the number seven. Seven where the terrors of Huwawa, seven were the days from the one Enkidu fell ill to the day of his death, seven days it took Utnapishtim to build the boat and seven for the storm that covered the glorious city to end, seven days Gilgamesh had to stay awake and seven the days the time he slept. I don`t think it is a coincidence.

The plant he was given, and his entire search, reminds me of the same search made and written of by people all throughout history. One perfect example is the fountain of youth, mentioned in many cultures. This extensive search continues today with all the devices, medicines and researches that take place today and that are meant to extend our lives. People today live more than people one hundred years ago.

At the end of this story, when Gilgamesh becomes himself again and the plant his journey was rewarded with is stolen by the snake, he finally understands the truth of immortality. He is tired of his suffering and feels proud of the greatness of his city and at the same time of his greatness. As he tells the boatman to measure his city he teaches us that eternity is accomplished by leaving a legacy; his legacy being the great city of Uruk.

Tablet X, A Quest for Inmortality

When Gilgamesh reaches the tavern on the shore of the glittering sea, the keeper doesn`t let him in. It is evident that the death of Enkidu has transformed Gilgamesh's life completely and who he is. He is no longer the King who`s life seemed perfect and who was always handsome and impeccable; he is no longer as overbearing as before, he is aware of his weakness. "she said to herself, 'who is it, hairy-bodied, wearing ...looking like one who has undergone a journey, his face bitten by huger or by sorrow?' She was afraid, and shut the door to her tavern."(pg. 54) Gilgamesh is asked the same thing by all the people who he encounters in his journey (the tavern Keeper, the boat man and the old man standing on the faraway shore) and he always answers it is for the death of his dear brother.
The words of the old man at the end of this tablet where incredibly wise and made me think a lot about death and its meaning. “The simple man and the ruler resemble each other. The face of one will darken like that of the other." Death doesn`t have race, social class, status, education or gender, we are all equal when it comes to facing death. “There they established that there is life and death. The day of death is set, though not made known"(pg.64) It is very interesting that there are attempts to explain destiny from such a long time ago. Does destiny truly exist? Is there a way of avoiding it? These are questions Gilgamesh must have faced during his journey and that are simply too complex to be answered. I personally don`t think there is a way to avoid it and we should not waist our time delaying it. I don`t mean not taking care of our health or doing suicidal activities, I mean I don`t think it is worth holding ourselves from doing things we want to simply to avoid taking a risk. Why should we stop from traveling because of a fear of the airplane falling if the place you left can be destroyed by an earthquake while you’re gone? There is nothing as a totally safe place.
Things happen as they are meant to happen, and I think they happen for a reason. One should live their life as happy as they can, for at the end you don`t want to realize your life was worthless because you were trying to make it long. I have always asked myself: How would life be without death? Well I don`t see any sense in life without death; knowing that we could die in any moment makes every second more valuable and helps us treasure every opportunity we are given. I value death because it is what makes our life precious.

I was also captivated when he called the gods Annunaki, the way Sitchin calls the creatures of his theory.

Tablets VIII and IX, The Death Of the Companion

Many of us are aware that death exists but we don`t see that we are as close to death as any other. People are dying all over the world, and we understand that it can happen to anyone, even to us, but we sometimes don`t really believe it. This continues only until someone close to us or even us suffers from a deadly experience, like the case of Gilgamesh in tablets VIII and IX. As his companion dies, the strongest and most perfect of all, finally starts to value Enkidu's role and is decided to keep him in the memory of all. "On the dangerous errand, in the confusions of noises, he was the shield that went before in the battle; he was the weapon at hand to attack and defend."(pg. 44) He also reacts in a pretty interesting and confusing way, which I found hard to understand: "and Gilgamesh will wear the skins of beasts and wander hairy-bodied grieving in the wilderness for you."(pg. 47) I think he is doing this to fill the space that Enkidu left and somehow soften his grief.

Enkidu finally died and Gilgamesh suddenly awakens and lands in the reality where he is as vulnerable as any other mortal. "Enkidu has died. Must I die too? Must Gilgamesh be like that?" (pg. 48) The idea that death was close to him and had overcome the greatness of Enkidu, equal to his, made Gilgamesh start a Journey to avoid it. Gilgamesh traveled 12 leagues in darkness, alone and blind, with fear. “After he struggled, blind, his companionless way through eleven leagues of darkness …” (pg. 52) Maybe in this journey he was blind and fearful because he didn`t have his companion, and his guide, with him. Gilgamesh finally passes the mountain Mashu and the two peaks and arrives to a garden.

Tablet VII, A Sacrifice for Civilization

The gods make a council and decide that Gilgamesh and Enkidu cannot live at the same time and that one should be sacrificed. Enkidu falls ill and Gilgamesh mourns the departure of his brother. They fall in misery for, they understand they will be separated, “"Why am I left to live while my brother dies? Why should he die and I spare to live?"” (pg. 38)The dream the wild man has before his end, I interpret as death approaching; Enkidu fights with the same strength as he did with Huwawa and the bull but he cannot defeat death. He also says how he was alone and he cried for his brother's help but he didn`t come to his rescue, showing him he was alone in his fight with death. " I cried out in the dark to Gilgamesh 'Two people, companions' but the man overpowered me, and raged like a wild bull over me in glory, and Gilgamesh was afraid and did not help me." (pg. 42)
Enkidu starts to regret, he regrets falling for the temple prostitute and curses her for bringing him into the city, and he regrets his search for the tallest cedar tree to build the gate. Shamash tells him he should not regret, for, he was now praised as a king by all, and his brother would honor his memory and celebrate his fame.

I was intrigued by the description of the place where the dead go and again insist in the similitude of it to the kingdom of Ares of the Greek culture (where there is also the Olympus/ council of the gods). “He seized an arm and led me to the dwelling of Irkalla, the House of Darkness, the house of no return." (pg. 42) The companions also talk about a door that separates them, and separates as well the dead from the alive.

Tablet VI, A Second Triunf Together

After they finally succeed in their mission, Gilgamesh cleans up and acquires his image of attractive king. The goddess Ishtar desires him and asks him to lay with her. We can see how love makes us all do crazy things and take mistaken conclusions when he rejects her proposal and points out her previous love experiences and the unfortunate destiny of her lovers, and she reacts violently. She requests the bull of heaven to punish Gilgamesh. It is killed by Gilgamesh with the significant support of Enkidu, his companion. The act of Enkidu defending Gilgamesh and insulting the goddess in agreement to his new friend reinforces my suggestion of a close and fond relationship between the two "heroes".

This tablet and the story in general, refer to gods as living things that can be seen and touched by humans, more than an idea. This reminds me of a theory stated by an archeologist and writer, Zecharia Sitchin, which says that creatures more advanced than us and from the space, may have been on the earth and have been interpreted by humans as gods. He demonstrates how many cultures have gods that share roles and are very similar in personality. It may sound quite impossible, somewhat illogical and crazy, but if you read his books and investigate well it becomes possible. “Then Ishtar was enraged and the goddess climbed the parapet of the city of Uruk and spoke her curse.” (pg. 34) The way Ishtar acts reminds me of the Greek and Egyptian gods, imperfect gods that feel and think as we do. The possible interaction of gods with a mortal and the idea of demigods are also very familiar to these cultures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oa5r0nQ8ms
http://www.sitchin.com/

Tablets IV and V, A Dream upon a Quest

The quest to kill Huwawa begins and Enkidu and Gilgamesh submit to arduous days of travel following Shamash, the god of the sun. Everyday they survive under the water that Enkidu finds and the shelters Enkidu builds to protect from the wind. Every night Gilgamesh`s sleep is disturbed by fearful dreams that are later interpreted by his wild companion as fortunate. Gilgamesh’s dreams take a great role in this part of the story, as they keep the quest going and remind them that they are not alone. Sometimes dreams may really mean something and can help us find out how some things are affecting us as well as find what some things that are happening or that are to come make us feel.
Both of them, as humans in general, are meant to conquer and overcome what is in their way; in this special mission they are to conquer the cedar forest to end with the demon, enemy of the gods, Huwawa. As Enkidu and Gilgamesh start feeling his deadly aura and it becomes inevitable to find his face everywhere they looked, a new fear makes them indecisive and in one point they consider returning to the plains and escaping the danger of their purpose, but they support each other and continue. As Gilgamesh faces Huwawa at last and receives the help from Shamash, the demon intends to convince him of folding his purpose and tries to turn him against Enkidu. “” Huwawa said: Do not listen to him who has neither father nor mother, child of wilderness. When Enlil hears of this, the fisrt of gods, the god of wilderness Enkidu knows that there will be a curse because of this.”(pg. 28) Enkidu convinces him of the contrary and Huwawa is finally put to death. In older posts I have insisted that Gilgamesh is like the culture described in Ishmael but now I have changed my mind and consider that that inner voice in our society is more likely to be Huwawa. He can be seen now as the evil conscience within all, one that tells us to do what is wrong as if it were right, and one that is hard to kill and must be destroyed by all humankind working together. The gate to be built for the city represents what separates civilization from nature , the raft they build to return represents a new beginning, and the head of Huwawa represents the end of a fear and a proof of how two, almost opposites, worked perfectly together as a team.