Death And Religious Beliefs In Epic Of Gilgamesh

Death and religious beliefs are largely expressed over the course of the poem “Epic of Gilgamesh.” After having a confrontation with Enkidu and later making him his brother, it’s impacted automatically when Enkidu dies. This is the turning point of the story which makes Gilgamesh depressed and transforms him into a different person similar to what happens to most people today. When it comes to religious beliefs, in the poem, the people of Uruk turned to their gods and prayed to them for help in times of need and hardship as mind religious people do today. When Enkidu died, Gilgamesh had a very difficult time dealing with the loss of his dear friend. He went through a lot of pain and shock like most people go through today. Gilgamesh felt uneasy and couldn't think straight. In the poem it stated, “And he - he does not lift his head. I touched his heart, it does not beat.” At that specific moment, Gilgamesh had realized that his friend Enkidu had departed. He immediately felt lonely, empty, and filled with despair.“Like an eagle I circled over him. Like a lioness whose whelps are lost he paces back and forth. He tears and messes his rolls of hair. He tears off and throws down his fine clothes like things unclean,” This part of the poem demonstrates Gilgamesh’s agony and anxiety. When someone breaks the news …show more content…
They found only one solution to their problem; a prayer to their gods. They prayed and put their hopes on the gods for an answer to their worries. As presented in the poem,”Did you not make this mighty wild bull? The raising of his weapon has no equal...He, Gilgamesh, keeps the son from his father day and night. Is this the shepherd of Uruk of the Sheepfold? Gilgamesh does not let the young woman go to her mother, the girl to the warrior, the bride to the young