The search for immortality is mankind's attempt to take control over the inevitability of death. This is a theme commonly found in Mesopotamian mythology, and a good example of this is the "Epic of Gilgamesh," in which, the protagonist, Gilgamesh, a demigod, is on a quest to attain immortality after the death of his friend Enkidu. Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay Humbuba and take over the Pine Forest. Furthermore, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are made to wrestle the Bull of Heaven due to Gilgamesh's actions of spurning Ishtar when she confesses her love for him. The two friends fight and overcome the Bull, which causes commotion causing the Gods to decide that one of the two friends must be punished for their wrongdoing. Enkidu suffers immensely from illness and eventually dies. After Enkidu's demise, Gilgamesh's fear of death drives him to search for the power of immortality. .
Enkidu was formed from clay and saliva from Aruru, the goddess of creation, to tame Giglamesh and rid him of his arrogance. Enkidu transforms from the nature of an animal to that of a human and at the end, he dies. This portrays the natural life cycle of mankind, which is that of birth and death. Furthermore, this natural cycle relates back to Enkidu's creation in the natural world. Gilgamesh is afraid after Enkidu's death, which makes him question his own mortality. The final fate of all mankind that is death, becomes the main hurdle for Gilgamesh to conquer. Gilgamesh who is two-thirds divine, stands in the center of mortality and immortality. According to Gilgamesh, the power of immortality belonged to women for the sole reason that they are able to give birth. Gilgamesh starts out his journey to attain immortality at the mountain Mashu where he encounters the Scorpion-men, guardians of boundary between earth and sky, who tell him "It is impossible Gilgamesh, Nobody has passed through the mountain's inaccessible tract. " (Epic of Gilgamesh 140) Gilgamesh is upset since he is asked to leave, no human can make pass through the mountain Mashu.
