The search of deathlessness in Gilgamesh tragedy based on Irvin D. Yalom’s existential ideas

This study is a research on Gilgamesh tragedy which is a search of deathlessness Based on Irvin D. Yalom (1931) whom is an American existential Psychiatrist – ideas on death and one’s self defense mechanism against anxiety caused by fear of death. Gilgamesh was the fifth king of Sumeria. He ruled Uruk city for 125 years after Noah’s flood. People complain to the gods about his oppression and gods create Enkidu to defeat him. The two become friends after a head-to-head fight. Gilgamesh, with the help of Enkidu kills the Bull of heaven and Humbaba the guardian of the cedar forest. In the aftermath, Enkidu dies and sad Gilgamesh seeks immortality, but in the end, the death embraces him. In this study, with Relying on descriptive-analytical method and comparative approach, The Gilgamesh tragedy has been compared with Irvin D. Yalom’s opinions that the main goal of his existential psychotherapy is to increase a person's awareness of existential concerns by expanding his perspectives on life and the world around him. The result of this study shows that Irvin D. Yalom’s ideas on death anxiety and giving a solution for overcoming fear of death are consistent with Gilgamesh tragedy.