Above words from FiveBooks Interviews: Stephen Cave on Immortality
There is a bar at the end of the world in the legend of Gilgamesh and the hero stumbles into it in very sad shape. His adventures are meaningless. His best friend has died. He is mortal.
An Egyptian Pottery Seller Near Giza by Elisabet Jerichau-Baumann 1876
The barmaid, Siduri, tells him:
"Gilgamesh, where are you wandering?
The life that you are seeking all around you will not find.
When the gods created mankind
they fixed Death for mankind,
and held back Life in their own hands.
Now you, Gilgamesh, let your belly be full!
Be happy day and night,
of each day make a party,
dance in circles day and night!
let your clothes be sparkling clean,
let your head be clean, wash yourself with water!
Attend to the little one who holds onto your hand,
let a wife delight in your embrace.
This is the true task of mankind."
from the Babylonian version
Translations taken from "The Epic of Gilgamesh" by Maureen Gallery Kovacs, Stanford University Press
Easy for her to say. I do not dread or fear death. I do not relish life.
“We provide education on green options and better choices for the environment, including information about green cleaning products and cars that produce less emis sions,” said Tori McConoughey, festival organizer. “We have a variety of topics — something for everyone.”
Posted by: mont blanc pens | 04/29/2012 at 01:51 AM