The third section of The Epic of Gilgamesh begins with the goddess Ishtar asking for Gilgamesh's hand in marriage. Although he is a mortal, Gilgamesh would provide Ishtar with a suitable husband and a wealthy lifestyle. To Ishtar's appal, Gilgamesh viciously rejects her proposal claiming that she poisons every man she loves. As a result Ishtar persuades her father, Anu, to set forth the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh. After wreaking havoc on the countryside, Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeat the Bull of Heaven, but because of their conquering over the bull and over Humbaba, Enkidu is condemned by the gods to die. Gilgamesh and all the inhabitants of Uruk lament and honor the death of Enkidu with a large statue of him in Uruk. In this section the death of Enkidu is foretold in a dream (pp. 89). Here his dream tells him that the gods have decided upon his death. Their decision is a result of his triumphs with Gilgamesh over Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. Before he dies Enkidu and Gilgamesh begin lamenting the death of Enkidu. This passage is important because it displays the importance of dreams in the lives of people during this time. Although dreams can be helpful tools of insight, why does this successful, historical society value dreams to such an extreme? The emphasis put on the importance of dreams seems ridiculous to modern social beliefs, but in this era the dream fore tells the future. Even though Enkidu had not died, the mourning for his death had commenced. .
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