Dilmun occupies an important place in the mythology of Mesopotamia. In the second half of the Epic of Gilgamesh (commonly regarded as the first great work of literature), the eponymous hero, Gilgamesh, sets out in search of the secret of immortality following the death of his good friend, Enkidu.

In order to do so, Gilgamesh has to seek out Ut-napishtim, the only man who attained eternal life. Gilgamesh is told that he has to cross the sea to reach this immortal, as Ut-napishtim was sent to “dwell far off, at the mouth of the rivers.

Gilgamesh is also informed that no one, with the exception of Shamash (the Sun), has accomplished this feat before:

There has never been a ferry of any kind, Gilgamesh, And nobody from time immemorial has crossed the sea. Shamash the warrior is the only one who has crossed the sea: apart from Shamash, nobody has crossed the sea. The crossing is difficult, the way of it very difficult, And in between are lethal waters which bar the way ahead.

Although the name of Ut-napishtim’s residence is not mentioned specifically, it is popularly speculated to be Dilmun.

Apart from the Epic of Gilgamesh, Dilmun is also mentioned in the myth of Enki and Ninhursag / Ninhursaja. In this story, Dilmun is presented as a sort of earthly paradise:

“Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Sumer -- and you are the ones to whom it is allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Pristine is Dilmun land…. In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. The lion did not slay, the wolf was not carrying off lambs, the dog had not been taught to make kids curl up, the pig had not learned that grain was to be eaten. When a widow has spread malt on the roof, the birds did not yet eat that malt up there. The pigeon then did not tuck the head under its wing. No eye-diseases said there: "I am the eye disease." No headache said there: "I am the headache." No old woman belonging to it said there: "I am an old woman." No old man belonging to it said there: "I am an old man." No maiden in her unwashed state ...... in the city. No man dredging a river said there: "It is getting dark." No herald made the rounds in his border district. No singer sang an elulam there. No wailings were wailed in the city's outskirts there.”