Procreation In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Procreation has always been essential to society by creating more of the human species. In modern society, people know that procreation is an equal process between a male and a female. Before scientist could explain this process, the Earliest People thought differently about procreation. They believed that women were the only reason in procreation, which made them dominant over the male species. They created many natural symbols to support their claims and critical thinking. To portray how society was like for the Earliest People, The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts how women were the main source of life and male’s curiosity of how they do not take part in procreation. The Earliest People believed that women were crucial to procreation and they created

Gilgamesh admits to himself that he is scared of death and starts off his quest by saying, “Because I am afraid of death I will go as best I can to find Utnapishtim whom they call the Faraway, for he has entered the assembly of the gods”. Searching for everlasting life, he tries to go back to the land of Dilman, is the source of life, and comes across to the great Mount Mashu. Mount Mashu is the first example, stated in the story that shows the appraisal and high status of women. Gilgamesh describes Mashu as, “Its twin peaks are as high as the wall of heaven and its paps reach down to the underworld.” Gilgamesh describes a mountain to a female on all fours by calling her breast as “twin peaks” and her nipples as “paps” facing the ground which is “the underworld”. Gilgamesh tells the female guardian of the mountain that, “on Enkidu’s account I have come, for the common lot of man has taken him” and she feels sympathy for Gilgamesh’s loss by stating,“ Go on Gilgamesh, I permit you to pass through the mountain of Mashu and through the high ranges.” As Gilgamesh proceeds with his journey, he encounters Siduri, the maker of wine. Siduri is another example of female empowerment when Gilgamesh describes her by stating “she is covered with a veil” giving Siduri a goddess-like picture in the reader’s mind. Gilgamesh explains the story behind his journey, but Siduri states that, “Goddesses created man they allotted to him death”. When Gilgamesh finally encounters Utnapishtim, he unfortunately tells him that, “It is only the nymph of the dragonfly that sheds her larva and sees the sum in its glory.” But Gilgamesh is not satisfied with Utnapishtim’s answer so he puts Gilgamesh into a test. When Gilgamesh fails the test, Utnapishtim’s wife tries to help him succeed, but