Question

Monumental tombs such as the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the elaborate rituals surrounding mummification stand as testaments to the Egyptians' views about death and afterlife, while Gilgamesh's quest for immortality and Enkidu's description of the underworld give us insight into the Mesopotamian conception of death and the human condition. What does this evidence teach us? In what ways did these ancient civilizations view death differently? For this week's Reflection, analyze the evidence presented, specifically the Epic of Gilgamesh, and contrast the Mesopotamian view of death with their ancient counterpart, the Egyptians.

Answer 1

The evidence teaches us that the Egyptians believed in life after death, and the Mesopotamian did not.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Egyptians believed in an afterlife much similar to life itself, thus explaining why they sought preservation through mummification and were buried in pyramids along with their slaves, food, gold, and clothing - their earthly possessions were believed to followed them to their afterlife. Death was merely a transition. As for the Mesopotamian, by analyzing the Epic of Gilgamesh, death was not a transition, but the end of oneself. Gilgamesh is in the pursuit of immortality, only to discover that is impossible for humans, for gods detain life, and humans are mortals.