The Gods In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Words: 334
Pages: 2

The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts the afterlife as a great equalizer. Everyone, from the lowest peasant to the most powerful king, must serve in the end. Even those who once directly served the gods, even “stood in the place of the gods,” now must deliver cooked meat and cold water. There doesn’t seem to be any inclination of heaven or hell, just one place for everyone. Instead, the real heaven is contained in your legend on Earth, and this lesson will be brought to light in the darkness of the underworld.
Interestingly enough, the gods are portrayed to be incredibly human. They question each other, fight with each other, and act without the knowledge of the other gods. However, the main way they differ from humans, unsurprisingly, is their insurmountable