Cowardly Seeking for Answers

"Gilgamesh wandered in the wilderness

grieving over the death of Enkidu

and weeping saying: "Enkidu has died. 

Must I die too? Must Gilgamesh be like that?"

Gilgamesh felt the fear of it in his belly." (48) 

I don't understand why Gilgamesh, being so strong and mighty, would be scared to die. It's a bit ironic.Everyone can fear death, but it's kind of disappointing, coming from a "hero", to be coward in that aspect. This reminds me of Paris from the Iliad. He is not a hero nor a god, but he's the son of a king and he was brave enough to kidnap Helen from king Menelaus. When it comes to confronting Menelaus, Paris is scared because he knows his death is secure.

"He said to himself that he would seek the son 

of Ubartutu, Utnapishtim, he, 

the only one of men by means of whom 

he might find out how death could be avoided. 

He said to himself that he would hasten to him,

 the dangers of the journey notwithstanding" (48) 

I relate myself to Gilgamesh in this section because he never stops until he gets an answer. When I have a doubt or when I want to understand something, I look for different ways to find the answer to my questions. I ask several people and consult different sources of information until my doubt is clear.