One of the main reasons why the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted so long is perhaps because it offers insight into the human concerns of the people of four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and worries people have about death, the overwhelming desire to be immortal, and the impact of friendship on a person's life. It doesn't take much knowledge of the Epic of Gilgamesh to locate these themes in the story, much less introspection to identify with them. While many people today seem afraid of dying and are making great strides to avoid premature death, this is not a new human concern. In fact, Dr. Peter J. Brand has conducted extensive research into how the people of ancient Mesopotamia viewed death and the afterlife. He believes the death was extremely frightening for the people of that area. In his article entitled: Dying: Death and the Afterlife, Brand states: “Like all human cultures, the people of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were greatly troubled by death. » (Mark p. 1) Apparently, death was even more terrible in the minds of the Mesopotamians. “Mesopotamian views of death were more pessimistic, leading to less elaborate preparations for death. » (Mark p.1) On the contrary, it seems that there would have been a lot of preparation, since the journey to the underworld alone was a perilous feat. This tells us that there was nothing glorious about death, and nothing exciting about the journey to the underworld. However, it reveals that there was a lot of confusion around death and how to deal with it. Dr. Brand goes on to explain how the underworld was a... middle of paper...... as the number one driving force behind his actions. Works Cited PageFoster, Benjamin R. "The Epic of Gilgamesh". The Norton Anthology of World Literature. General Ed. Martin Puchner. 3rd ed. Flight. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 95-151. Print. March 13, 2014.Brand, Peter J. “Dying: Death and the Afterlife” PDF file. March 13, 2013Guzman, Jennifer de. Staff. Writing therapy. “The Mirror of Sorrow: The Epic of Gilgamesh and Ecclesiastes” December 28, 2010. . March 13, 2013Donlin-Smith, Thomas. “The Spirituality of the Epic of Gilgamesh.” PDF file. March 12 2014