This story is dedicated to Leah, Amanda and Jimmy in Los Angeles.
Gilgamesh Part 6, The Plant of Immortality
Hello, this is Richard, and I’m here with the sixth and final part of our epic story from ancient Mesopotamia - Gilgamesh.
King Gilgamesh who had suffered and travelled so much, had listened to the story of the Great Flood and the gods’ gift of immortality from the lips of Utnapishtim the far distant. He had listened with great interest, but he was exhausted after his long hard journey and his eyelids weighed heavy.
Utnapishtim saw that his guest was extremely weary, and said:
“King Gilgamesh, you wish to live forever. But let’s try this test. Let’s see if you can manage without sleep for seven days. For if you have not the strength to stay awake for a week, how can you hope to live for all time?”
Gilgamesh’s eyes were now closed and his chin was sinking to his chest. Utnapishtim said to his wife:
“Let us keep count of how many days he sleeps. Every morning bake a loaf of bread for his breakfast, and leave it by his resting head. If he does not awake to eat it, do not take it away, even though it might be hard and stale, but leave it there, and the next day bake a fresh one.”
And the wife of Utnapishtim did as he suggested. After Gilgamesh had slept for a whole day and night, she left a loaf of bread by his head, and then he slept for another night and day, and even after that he slept on, and on, sometimes snoring like thunder.
When the king finally awoke, after a week of sleep, seven loaves of bread were waiting by his head. Six of them were hard and stale, and only the seventh was fresh.
Gilgamesh stretched out his great arms with a yawn and said, “OHHH! I must have nodded off for a moment.”
But Utnapishtim told him: “Count the loaves. They are the number of days you slept - seven in all. Six of the loaves are hard and stale, only the seventh is today’s loaf, still soft, and moist, and ready for you to eat.”
When Gilgamesh saw that this was true, he wept and said: “Utnphishtim, where shall I go? What shall I do? For if I do not have the strength to stay awake, how can I possibly live forever?”
Utnapishtim looked at his guest and saw that he was in a sorry state. He said: “You are a king, but you are filthy. Go and get washed.”
Gilgamesh looked down at his clothes, such as they were, and saw that what Utnapishtim had said was true. He did as he was asked, and went down to the river to wash his filthy hair and body. He threw his ragged clothes into the swirling currents that swept them away to sea. The servants of Untnapishtim brought him fresh clothes and a clean hair band. When he was clean, he returned to his host who smiled approvingly and said:
“Gilgamesh, you have travelled many miles to come here. Perhaps you think that your journey has been useless. You see no chance of conquering death. But I will let you into a secret. There is a plant that grows under the sea. It has a thorn like a rose that will prick your hand if you grab hold of it, but if you succeed in taking it, this plant will restore your youth and strength.”
Gilgamesh brightened at this news. “There is such a plant? I must get it! Will you help me?”
Utnapishtim ordered the sea captain to take Gilgamesh out in his boat to the part of the sea where the plant grew on the seabed.
They sailed over the waves and when they reached the place, Gilgamesh dived over the side of the boat, and swam down to the bottom of the sea. In the misty depths he found the plant with a thorn like a rose and grabbed hold of it, and although it pricked his hand, he held it fast and returned to the surface of the water and climbed into the boat.
When he was seated once more on the boat, he examined the plant and said to himself:
“What kind of seaweed is this? I am told that it contains the secret of youth. I shall return with it to glistening Uruk, and when I am outside the city, I shall feed just a little bit of this plant to the ancient shepherd who must be 100 years old. If he sheds his age and returns to his youth, I will know that it is magical indeed! Then I shall eat it too, and be young again!”
The sea captain sailed the boat back to the shore and set Gilgamesh on his homeward journey back to Uruk. When he had walked thirty miles, he stopped for the night by a fresh pool of water. His limbs were hot and weary from the journey, and water was tempting. He waded into it and washed himself.
But while he was in the water, a snake smelt the sweet plant that Gilgamesh had left on a rock. The snake came up silently and stole it away back to his hole, where he ate it. After he had eaten this magical plant, the snake felt rather strange. His old wrinkly skin began to feel loose and crumbly. Soon he slivered out of it and wriggled away wearing his new, shiny, youthful skin.
And from that time on, snakes have always shed their skins.
But when Gilgamesh came out of the water and saw that the plant of immortality was gone, stolen away by the snake, he wept and wailed bitterly.
“To what end did I make this long and weary journey? For what purpose have I suffered? I have not gained anything. No advantage at all. I have won and lost the secret of youth and now I am no better off at all than I was before. Old age and death still await me. One day I shall turn to clay just like all other men. What is the point of it all?”
In the morning, he set off wearily on his way. Onward he walked for seven days and seven nights, until at long last he came to the place just outside the glistening city of Uruk where the shepherds camp with their sheep.
He stood on the top of the hill, side by side with the ancient shepherd, and looked out at the city. And then he spoke with pride.
“There lies the glistening city of Uruk. If you climb onto its high battlements and take a walk around, you will see it is one square mile in size. You will see green orchards just as big. You will see the vast quarries where they dug out the clay to build the houses. You will see the temple of Ishtar and its lovely grounds. I am the king who oversaw the creation of this city, more splendid than any other that ever was or ever shall be.”
And then Gilgamesh wished the shepherd well, and began to walk down the hill towards the glistening city of Uruk, the monument that he built, whose fame would last for all time.
Only then did he understand that his name would live forever and the story of how he, king Gilgamesh befriended Enkidu the wildman would be told and retold for all time. Together, side by side, King Gilgamesh and Enkidu fought and killed Humbaba the dragon, they overcame the great bull of heaven, and after the gods took away the life of Enkidu, Gilgamesh traveled the ends of the Earth to meet Utnapishtim the far distant. He dived to the bottom of the sea to pick the rose of eternal youth, and when it was stolen by the snake, he understood that he would live on through fame and reputation.
And that was the final part of the epic tale of Gilgamesh. It is a fantastic story but I don’t think it is as well known as the Greek epics, like the Odyssey and the Iliad. The epic of Gilgamesh is even older than those stories. We hope it has given you a little insight into an amazing civilisation of the past, that grew up between the banks of the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris in the part of the world we now call the Middle East.
For now, from me, Richard, at Storynory.com, goodbye.
Thank you Richard. We’ve really enjoyed listening to your booming Gilgamesh voice! And thank you too to Leah, Amanda and Jimmy in Los Angeles who very kindly support us on Patreon. Leah is 7 years old and her favourite story is The Magician’s Horse - she likes to hum the music that Bertie plays on the guitar at the beginning of the story. We hear that the family have been looking forward to this Gilgamesh episode and we are really delighted to dedicate to them.
Wonderful
Anonymous — May 8, 2020
Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous — May 8, 2020
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous — May 8, 2020
my favorite part of the story is when Richard said thank you for booming Gilgamesh becuase he was 7 years old.
JORDYN — May 8, 2020
I love the story very beautiful
Thanks Richard, Leah, Amanda y yimmy for sharing this story.
Isaias — May 8, 2020
I loved it was cool 👌 😝 thank you for making a nother one of these stories! My dog loved this story too 🐾 ( my dog is Raven ) lol hey Birtie how old are you. How old is Tim the tadpole? And can ya make a story about Jessica and Jeff and Jessica gets a new dog and smooches gets very cross thank you plz reply thanks again if you make that kind of story I’m Willow I’m 9 years old and I’m a huge fan lol
Willow and Raven — May 9, 2020
Hello Willow and Raven, I’m glad you enjoyed the story and it’s great to hear you’re a huge fan 😀 Yes we live making stories about wicked uncle and we are thinking of a competition very soon ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — May 9, 2020
Finally the last part!! I loved it!!
Madeline — May 9, 2020
Cool
Anonymous — May 9, 2020
I love it because it is amazing
Andrea — May 9, 2020
You are so cool!! oh and Happy Mother’s Day Bertie and Jana!!!!
ZoeWang — May 10, 2020
Thank you Zoewang! ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — May 10, 2020
Great story but will there be another competition lol good story 😍😍😍😍😁😁😁😊😊😊😎😎😎🎶🎶🎶😴😴😴🙈🙈🙈
Ella-LouiseW - Sunday 10, 2020 — May 11, 2020
nice
Aarshav — May 11, 2020
best thing ever
belle — May 11, 2020
SO EPIC OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toby — May 11, 2020
YOYOYO EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 11 2020
Toby — May 11, 2020
I would like to read the rest. It’s lovely
Valva — May 11, 2020
I just enjoyed reading it!!!
Param — May 11, 2020
It was super cool
Isha — May 11, 2020
cool
jocelyn — May 11, 2020
nice
jocelyn — May 11, 2020
I would like to use some of your stories for my choice board however when I try to download it gives me a warning and I cannot download? Can you help?
Brenda — May 11, 2020
10 stars awesome
Greta — May 11, 2020
I did not like the story because there wasn’t fictional creatures in it. It was cool that it told us the legend of why snakes shed their skin. Also, it gave me many questions about the timeline of ancient history. Overall, this is a better way to learn about ancient history than reading a history book or looking at old pictures.
Mikala — May 11, 2020
Wonderful
Yolanda — May 12, 2020
normal
Anson — May 12, 2020
The story is awsome. My favourite part is when the snake ate the plant.
Eh Ywa — May 12, 2020
Love it so much
Eh Ywa — May 12, 2020
It’s very interesting but it will be more enjoyable if it’s in some tinting audio
Anonymous — May 12, 2020
Please realize that the is also very interesting when it’s in video
Jainam B Pandya — May 12, 2020
Wow so Amazing! I love it!
Ketki — May 12, 2020
I loved this story!
Ketki Nadhe — May 12, 2020
so good
Ayden — May 12, 2020
VERYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Me LIKE IT!
DANIEL — May 12, 2020
this is a nice story I love it! It really nice i hope to hear more <3!
Flora — May 12, 2020
I love it its really nice and I hope to see more like it <3!
Flora and Nula the doggo — May 12, 2020
The reason why I like this story so much is because it tells about the tale of Gilgamesh. I love the fact that he went to the Sea bed to get the rose of eternal youth.
tanner — May 12, 2020
It is perfect for staying at home. Just get on storynory and you can watch it!
Ashlynn — May 12, 2020
Yes, I love the story.
Kyrsten — May 12, 2020
I loved it ….. It was very delightful 🤓🤓
Neha — May 13, 2020
YES IT IS VERY INTRESTING
Anonymous — May 13, 2020
It was awesome I can’t believe that that is why snakes shed their skin!!!
Drew — May 13, 2020
Awesome it was so cool and was a good book to listen to I can’t believe that the reason why snakes shed their skin is because one snake ate the plant!!!
Drew — May 13, 2020
ready to listen to it for real and can’t what toi hear it and later wow
jones — May 13, 2020
amazing
jones — May 13, 2020
Thank you!!! The story was amazing and happy mothers day Jana! Thanks, Leah, Amanda & Jimmy
Leah, Amanda & Jimmy from LA — May 14, 2020
Thank you so much Leah, Amanda and Jimmy! ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — May 14, 2020
Please make more Astropup I can barely stand quarantine without storynory now I’m back pls make more arstropup it is my favorite Siries of story’s thx keep doing what you do.
HarrWalk — May 14, 2020
Thanks HarrWalk, yes we’ll keep going with Astropup for sure
Jana Elizabeth — May 14, 2020
Good
Rakes — May 14, 2020
Very good.
Rakes — May 14, 2020
Loved this story!
Disguised_panther — May 14, 2020
It is nice but there are many words can not understood or you can say new one.
Sultan — May 14, 2020
I LOVE IT
Anonymous — May 15, 2020
Cool 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Ridhi — May 15, 2020
so nice story
Rosu — May 15, 2020
👩 so cool
Dee — May 15, 2020
Very useful
Khoi — May 16, 2020
it was a fantastic tale, I like it so much.
carlos — May 17, 2020
OMG I did not think you would respond thx soooooooo much
I <3 Storynory you guys are the best!!!!!!
Will you pls make a story where the parot gets addictiod to Visio games PLS PLS PLS
Again keep doing what you are doing!!!!!!!!!<3 <3 <3
HarrWalk — May 18, 2020
Thanks for your suggestion and enthusiasm HarrWalk, sounds quite amusing ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — May 18, 2020
WOW AMAZED TO READ YOUR STORY.AND I LEARNED MUCH INFORMATIVE LESSON THROUGH THE STORY.THANK YOU SO MUCH
Anonymous — May 18, 2020
OMG
You responded again😱😱😱😱
I have been using storynory since I was 3 or 4 I am 9 now and I just lost my tooth and I am about to lose another one
I Konica I keep saying this so sry but keep doing what you do
And stay safe
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
P.S
I keep almost fainting when you respond
HarrWalk — May 18, 2020
No problem HarrWalk, Thanks for being so loyal to Storynory… we love story suggestions and Bertie and I really like your idea about the parrot playing video games. Hope you get a nice visit from the tooth fairy. Best wishes and we hope you and your family are staying safe too ☺️
Jana Elizabeth — May 18, 2020
i loved it :)!!!
isa — May 19, 2020
hi this book was so good i loved it i cried it joy 🙂
isa — May 19, 2020
awsome
hunter — May 19, 2020
I like stories that have great adventures and lessons and this was the perfect book for me!
Sosena — May 19, 2020
Wow I love this.
Daiwik — May 20, 2020
I luv it it is very interesting
kunhee — May 20, 2020
Great story
Jeaniene — May 25, 2020
Where is part one I can’t find it in this web
Nihal — May 26, 2020
🤗 thank you
Anonymous — June 5, 2020
I liked the story
liam — June 8, 2020
i cant hear
lacy — June 9, 2020
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuùuuùuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuùuuuuuuuuuuùùuuuuuuuùuuuuuuuuuuck this story😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😖😖😖😖😖😖😖😖
Lia — June 10, 2020
Sorry but too long
Covid — June 16, 2020
I like this story 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞😂😂😂😂😂
Alexis — June 16, 2020
COOL
NICE — June 17, 2020
Thank you Richard. I’ve really enjoyed listening to your booming Gilgamesh voice
Anonymous — June 22, 2020
This was a nise story. I love it. It was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous — June 26, 2020
It was really a great story I love it .It was awesome
Arham Ali — July 2, 2020
This story is good to
Rommel david sean — July 3, 2020
it was amazing Richard i like the bit when the snake stole the magical rose from Gilgemesh it was funny
AMAZING JOB TO YOU ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
elliot — July 3, 2020
Now when I think about a plant 🤔🤔🤔
(Lol……jk)
😉😊😎
BY:SUMAYYA♡STORYNORY♡FOREVER #BIG FAN OF THESE BOOKS!
SUMAYYA♡ STORYNORY ♡ FOREVER — July 12, 2020
wierd
Alaina — July 20, 2020
i love this
hayden — August 19, 2020
I like it 😍
Anonymous — August 21, 2020
I like it 😍
Ava — August 21, 2020
I love it 😻
Ava — August 21, 2020
I love it so much 😍
Ava — August 21, 2020
CCCOOOOOOLLL
PRO — September 4, 2020
i lovedis storyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
cool guy — September 4, 2020
i like it .
brenlee douglas — September 4, 2020
Goodddddddd!!!!!!! Story
Victor — September 8, 2020
I liked the story, but I’m giving a suggestion. Can you add highlight on each word the Narrator reads? I get lost in the book /:
Sarai — September 9, 2020
I Love this story!
Hannah — September 13, 2020
It was amazing 🤩
Naomi — September 16, 2020
I like it alot
Naomi — September 16, 2020
I have a suggestion for author of this story! I wish king Gilgamesh didn’t throw his ragged clothes to the sea.He could bury them in ground!!!!
In story “He threw his ragged clothes into the swirling currents that swept them away to sea.
Mahmud — September 18, 2020
This book was amazing in love it the felt an my child loved it
synanim — October 21, 2020
Wow
Gracie — November 11, 2020
Amazing!!!!!!,🟥
A — November 11, 2020
I think it was ok it was not the best i wish that it was harder to get the flower but whatever it is what it is
Gianna — November 11, 2020