Gilgamesh’s despaired heart had soon subsided from years of manufacturing his kingly destiny. His heart was now occupied with unearthing the most exquisite maiden of Uruk. He could now definitively accept mortality and had gained awareness of how lonesome a mortal life without a partner would be. To assist in his possession of a wife, Gilgamesh declared a midnight bash for all the maidens of Uruk, no matter their social standing. That same night maidens came pouring in like vicious rains, labeling themselves as ‘Gilgamesh’s permanent female consort’. Gilgamesh scoured the mass throng unable to find a maiden that imprisoned his eye with adoration. Just as soon as Gilgamesh assumed all hope for love had gone extinct, a maiden that …show more content…
He was in pursuit of the one he could call wife. Gilgamesh went to every home asking the same question each time, ‘Do you know of a maiden with beauty immense enough to rival that of Ishtar’s, the goddess of love?’ Each door had a uniform answer, claiming they knew no such thing of a maiden so exquisite. Through all the seemingly clueless answers, Gilgamesh felt as if something was wrong. He plunged onto his knees in prayer to Ishtar. Gilgamesh wept in between his exchange of words, revealing his supposed nonexistent vulnerability. ‘Oh Ishtar the most beautiful goddess there has ever been,’ he started. ‘How come I cannot find my maiden?’ Ishtar replied with ease, ‘She is concealed in the tower just beyond the beginnings of the cleared Cedar Forest. She lies in a deep slumber forced upon her by I.’ Gilgamesh was incredulous, how could the one who blessed his upcoming marriage entrap his wife? ‘Why would you do such a thing?’ The goddess of love countered his question with reason. ‘This will prove to me your love and devotion for this maiden and only yours. Help is not permitted. It will display your willingness to take risks to rescue while awakening her from her eternal sleep. If you cannot reach her in seven hours or abide by the given rules, she will forever be asleep.’ Then Ishtar completely vanished, leaving Gilgamesh to devise a plan of his own to