Editing Elixir of life (section)

===Ancient Mesopotamia===

An early mention of an elixir of life is found in the [[Epic of Gilgamesh]] (from the 2nd millennium BC) in which [[Gilgamesh]] comes to fear his own declining years following the death of his beloved companion [[Enkidu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Epic of Gilgamesh: Enkidu |url=https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/Gilgamesh/character/enkidu/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=SparkNotes |language=en}}</ref>  He seeks out [[Utnapishtim]], a figure in Mesopotamian mythology known for surviving a great flood sent by the gods and being granted immortality.  Gilgamesh is directed by Utnapishtim to find a plant at the bottom of the sea, but he loses it to a serpent before he can use it himself. This legend is an archaic explanation for snakes shedding their skin, seen as mystical rejuvenation.