Throughout ones’ life, they will face challenges and temptations in which they cannot overcome, despite the consequences that may occur. This appears to be true in the Epic of Gilgamesh when Gilgamesh is given two tests that will prove that no matter how hard he tries, he will fail and come to realize he is not immortal, and cannot escape death. Gilgamesh relates to the eating of the apple in the Garden of Eden because although it was spoken to be poisonous and will cause death, the temptation from the serpent led them to their fatality.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu set off on their journey to steal trees from a cedar forest, which is forbidden to mortals. Once they arrive, they have to fight and kill Humbaba, which is the guard of the trees in the forest. They cut down the trees and make them useful on their trip back to Uruk. Ishtar, the goddess of love, sends down the Bull of heaven to punish Gilgamesh after she falls in lust with him and he is not interested. Enkidu and Gilgamesh kill the Bull; afterwards the
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Gilgamesh goes to get the plant in hopes of returning to Uruk and sharing the plant with the elderly. All hopes are tarnished when a snake steals the plant in the middle of the night. Once Gilgamesh realizes, he watches as the serpent slithers away with new skin growing back making it young again.
Although eternal life was what Gilgamesh wanted, failing the tests he was given showed that he was meant to be mortal. He is not weak, he is mortal and like any mortal, it is hard not to give into the temptation of sleeping. He is a strong king that seems almost undefeatable, and has put fear in the people of Uruk. By the end of the Epic, he realizes that life will proceed after he is gone and since he has left his mark on so many lives as the King, he comes to peace with knowing that is the next best achievement to eternal