Status Updates From Gilgamesh: The Oldest Epic ...

The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, which has been the emotional heart of the epic, ends in death, but its legacy continues in Gilgamesh's wanderings and his eventual acceptance of mortality. The funeral rituals in Tablet VIII represent the honoring of Enkidu's memory, while the wanderings in Tablets IX and X represent Gilgamesh's attempt to come to terms with his loss.

Enkidu's death brings home to Gilgamesh the reality of mortality. Despite their heroic achievements—slaying Humbaba, defeating the Bull of Heaven—Enkidu dies a lingering death, his fate sealed by divine decree. The grave goods and funeral rituals cannot prevent his death or restore him to life. They can only honor his memory and secure his well-being in the afterlife!!