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Summary Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh

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A goddess, named Ishtar went to Gilgamesh to make him a lover after hearing of his fame. Gilgamesh rejected her with insults and a list of all her ex-lovers demise. Ishtar became angry at being slandered went to Anu and asked for the Bull of Heaven to hurt Gilgamesh. Anu gives her the bull and Ishtar lets it loose on the city of Uruk. The bull is destroying the city and killing hundreds of people. Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the bull together which angers Ishtar further. Enkidu begins to taunt her and threatening to kill her next with Gilgamesh. He then rips off the bull’s thigh and throws it at her face. Enkidu becomes deathly ill after having foreboding dreams which, he then finds out the gods are taking vengeance out on him. The gods decided to punish Enkidu for the death of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Angry at how he is being treated Enkidu starts cursing everything and everyone. …show more content…

He doesn’t take care of himself but eventually realizes that he will also die one day. He decides he can’t live unless he lives an immortal life. He goes on a journey to Utnapishtim and his wife the only mortals to be granted immortality. He reaches Mount Mashu and encounters two large scorpions who try to convince him to end his journey. They relent after a while and let him pass into the land of night where there is no light. When he gets to the end he enters a beautiful, lush garden filled with jewels. Gilgamesh finds a tavern by the shore and Siduri who owns it. Gilgamesh asks her how to get to Utnapishtim, but she tries to stop him saying it is too dangerous. She directs him to Urshanabi who works for Utnapishtim to get help. Gilgamesh is too cocky when approaching Urshanabi and destroys vital stones to get across the river. Urshanabi gives Gilgamesh an alternative to get across and Gilgamesh eventually makes it to another shore. A man is there who tells him that death is necessary because the gods made it

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