Chapter 14 Summary

Finally realizing that his quest is, indeed, hopeless, Gilgamesh laments to Utnapishtim, wondering where his steps must lead him now. At first Utnapishtim will speak only to Urshanabi. He orders the boatman to take Gilgamesh to a place where he can wash and change into more clothing appropriate for his journey home than the torn animal skins he is currently wearing. Urshanabi, for helping Gilgamesh in the first place, is banished from the place for all time.

Gilgamesh and his new companion set out, but not before the wife of Utnapishtim urges her husband to give him something that will allow him to return to Uruk honorably. In response, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh of a magic weed that grows at the bottom of the Bitter River that, if eaten, will renew youth. Gilgamesh resolves to gather some of this weed. The difficulty will be...