Lady Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh a new set of kingly clothes for his return to Uruk.

Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh where to find the prickly heartbeat plant at the bottom of the ocean. If he eats this plant it will make him young again. Gilgamesh ties a stone to his foot and dives to find the plant of eternal youth.

Near to Uruk he leaves his clothes and the plant beside a cool pool. While he is bathing in the cool pool a snake eats the plant. She leaves behind her old skin and wriggles away renewed. Gilgamesh realises he can’t have youth forever but he can fulfil his destiny as the king of Uruk.

His people welcome him home.

View a storytelling performance of the episode where the snake eats the plant of eternal youth.

View a storytelling performance in Arabic of the episode where Gilgamesh returns to Uruk and his people welcome him home.

View a reading of Part 7—Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, from the book which was a project learning resource (8m 21s).