"How could my cheeks not be wasted, nor my face dejected, Nor my heart wretched, nor my appearance worn out,
Nor grief in my innermost being,
Nor my face like that of a long-distance traveller,
Nor my face weathered by wind and heat
Nor roaming open country clad only in a lionskin?"
This passage from The Epic of Gilgamesh (Evaluating the Evidence 1.2) describes Gilgamesh's grief after

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The passage references Gilgamesh's cheeks not being wasted and his appearance not being worn out, which suggests that he is not physically ill or exhausted from battle or wandering. However, it also mentions his heart being wretched and grief in his innermost being, which indicates deep emotional pain. The only event in the story that would cause this level of grief in Gilgamesh is the death of his friend Enkidu.

"How Could My Cheeks Not Be Wasted, nor My Face