Uruk from Mesopotamia was probably the first legendary immortal. He was believed to be an ordinary person who simply could not die. Nevertheless, according to mythology, immortals have always existed. In this sense, Uruk can be seen as one example of an immortal observer of humanity.
Gilgamesh was the ruler of the city of Uruk. He presumably lived 2000 years after Uruk the immortal. According to some legends, Uruk lived at the court of Gilgamesh and was even one of his teachers. Gilgamesh was the son of Enkidu and Ninsun.
Two lives, two ways of being
The legend of Enkidu speaks of nine immortal women who came to him when he was born. These nine women were moira (goddesses of fate) who made predictions about the life and fate of a newborn. After a series of good predictions from the first eight moira, the last, the youngest (but the wisest) one predicted that Enkidu would have two lives: one belonging to him, in which he would act incorrectly, and the second, belonging to her, in which his actions will be righteous.
Relief dedicated to the goddess Ninsun, mother of Gilgamesh
Photo: Public Domain
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In addition, moira stated that she saw a great gift in the second life of Enkidu. She was right. In his first life, despite the fact that he was brave, strong and wise, as predicted by the first eight moiraes, Enkidu made many mistakes and mixed everything in his kingdom and in his personal life. Ultimately, the kingdom fell into decay, Enkidu was on his deathbed. Then he asked forgiveness from the wise Moira, who predicted two lives for him.
At that moment, the immortal woman appeared in front of him and turned time back to the moment when Enkidu was young. In his second life, Enkidu acted righteously, he married Ninsun and they had Gilgamesh, the great gift that the goddess of fate foretold.
Possible image of Enkidu
Photo: CC By-Sa 3.0
Sharon's Wish
Sharon was considered immortal in Etruscan culture. It is said that he went to hell and returned, and it is also known that he was unhappy, being immortal. He was one of the few immortals who had one desire - to die. In world mythologies, heroes who go to hell and return are also considered immortal, because they leave the world of the living without dying and return to it. The gods of ancient mythologies are also immortal. Sometimes the ancient gods are seen as immortal hidden people. The Slavic god Veles admitted that he is immortal, but not a real god.
Vampires, werewolves and the church
Vampires are also immortal mythological creatures. There is a theory that the stories about such creatures were written by the immortals themselves in order to keep their own existence a secret. Taurus supported this idea in his book Gheestelycke Sermoonen. Mythological creatures such as vampires and werewolves, with their terrifying appearance, are said to be designed to distract people from the idea of the real existence of immortals.
In the past, the church has banned and attempted to destroy all books that talked about immortals in their physical form. In addition, alchemists were hunted down and pursued as they searched for the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance that could be used to obtain the elixir of life.
Alchemist in search of the philosopher's stone. Painting by Joseph Wright from Derby, 1771
Photo: Public Domain
Later legends
Gheestelycke Sermoonen speaks of a young man who joined a group of mercenaries. During the battle, the young man witnessed the assassination of the leader of the group. Many years later, this man, already an old man, met the former leader of the mercenaries, whom he believed to be dead. He looked the same as before. The old man asked his former commander if he was immortal. The immortal revealed his identity and told his old friend that he had fulfilled his destiny.
Another well-known immortal is the Count Saint-Germain, he is one of the immortals who appeared quite late in history. Nicola Flamel is also one of the later, it was said about him that he found the philosopher's stone and used it to obtain the elixir of life and achieve immortality.
Portrait of Saint Germain. Artist Charles Sindelaire, 1935
Photo: Public Domain
Many of the world's legends and myths tell of immortals. There are also different types of immortals. Some were born immortal, while others acquire this status by discovering the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Immortality. How true are the stories about the immortals? Perhaps they were created by the immortals themselves to hide their existence?