Legend about Guilgamesh
Utnapishtim has conveniently arranged Guilgamesh in his house, and when the hero had a rest, has asked him: " What, our great king, have you arrived here for? Why do you think that I can help you? " Guilgamesh has told him that he is ready to pass through any difficulties for the sake of true of immortality. Utnapishtim sighed: " You are mistaken, Guilgamesh. I cannot give you what you ask, it is simply because this secret does not exist. Let me tell you my story ". After short period of silence an old man continued: " Long, long ago, I have lost the account of time, people become malicious, vicious and egoistic. They did not respect laws any more, did not believe in gods. Ea, Marduc and all other gods became angry with them. They have decided to kill human beings. However the head Ea had sent me (unique of people) the warning, all other stayed without knowledge. According to his order I have collected best boards. With the help of Urshnabi I have constructed a large ship. You guess, that it had taken a lot of time! People laughed at me, but I worked without rest or paying any attention to people. When the ship was ready, I put all of my animals there, then me and my wife. Went there too. Urshnaby had become a captain. We began waiting. Suddenly sky was covered with heavy clouds. There was a heat of day, and it seemed, that deep night came. Then clouds were broken, and waterfalls were put on the Earth. I was touched by the wing of the Bird of Storms. The sea has left its borders, and waves had risen higher than mountains. Huts and mansions were washed off, as rubbish. Nothing has staid after the flood. Six days and seven nights hurricanes stormed above ground. Our ship got in horrifying whirlpools. However thanks to Ea it has not sunk. On dawn of the seventh day the sun had risen in the clear sky. The sea around was quiet again. We organised the great holiday to give thanks to the gods. Water has gradually begun to fall down, and soon ship was lowered on a slope of a mountain. We were already going to land on ground, as the powerful god of wind came to us. He has ordered us to not descend from the ship and with the speed of hurricane sent it on waves to this island in other world. There we also have found out will of the gods: they have made us immortal as the memory of former mankind. That is why, Guilgamesh, I cannot open you the secret of immortality. It was a present for me, but I do not know, how it can be deserved". Guilgamesh has shaken his head thoughtfully. History, which was told by the old man, has not changed his decision to continue searches. Persisting, he has asked an old man: " And what have I to do, Utnapishtim? " The old man has understood that the hero does not want to recognise truth. That is why he has offered him a test, though he knew that it could do nothing: "Go on a coast of the sea, Guilgamesh. Ask the gods seven days and seven night without closing an eye. Maybe, they will be softened by your courage ". Guilgamesh went there and spent some hours asking to the gods. However, exhausted by adventures, he has fallen asleep in the evening of the first day. His dream continued for seven days. Each day the wife of Utnapishtim put bread baked by her near him. When the hero has woken up, he saw an old man sitting near him and telling him: "You have failed, Guilgamesh. You were overcome by dream. King Uruka has tried to deny that, but has seen six stale and one fresh bread near him. He has lowered eyes and has recognized his defeat. Utnapishtim has returnedhim youth and beauty for his courage. He has given him an advice: " Stop thinking about death, king. Try to live time that you are given". Staying on the ship taking him to the world of people, Guilgamesh thought of these words, and suddenly he felt thewave of pleasure: he has not found immortality, but has realized that wisdom is the most important thing for a person.
