What is the significance of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

What is the significance of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest epic poem and the first work of literature to deal explicitly with the nature of death and human mortality. Gilgamesh, who represents the forces of civilization, and was an actual historical figure, initially is proud and confident. With the death of his best friend Enkidu, representing the forces of nature, he realizes his own mortality. He thus embarks on a quest for eternal life, the secret of which he discovers from Utanapishtim, the equivalent of the biblical Noah. Utanapishtim tells him of a magic herb with the property of making one eternally youthful; he also tells of a great flood which he survived to become immortal. Gilgamesh finds the herb but a serpent, attracted by the smell, eats it consigning Gilgamesh to the universal human fate of mortality.

The Epic of Gilgamesh demonstrates a number of important themes in literature and philosophy: the nature of friendship, the sometimes antagonistic and painful relationship between humans and the goods, the conflict between nature and culture, the necessity of moderation, and the reality of human limitations. This work is also significant as the first epic poem in literature. It exhibits many of the features of later epics: the use of epithets, the semi-divine hero, the hero's companion, and the journey to the underworld.