This list comprises people claimed to achieve a deathless existence on Earth. This list does not contain those people who are supposed to have attained immortality through the typical means of a religion, such as a
Christian in
Heaven. It also does not include people whose immortality involves living in a place not on Earth, such as
Heracles on
Mount Olympus[1] or the
Eight Immortals of
Taoism in
Mount Penglai. It also does not include people who, according to their religion, became deities or actually were deities the whole time, such as
Jesus of Nazareth (who as part of the
Trinity was, according to Christianity, also
God) or
Parashurama according to
Hindu mythology.
List
These listings are in chronological order, though some dates are approximate.
Ziusudra, the last king of Sumer prior to the
Great Flood. His story is known from only a single fragmented tablet datable by its script to the 17th century BC. He was commanded to build a boat by the god
Enki and the tablet describes the flood. After a break in the text, Ziusudra is described prostrating himself to the gods
An and
Enlil, who grant him immortality.[2]
Endymion
, a shepherd in the Mount
Latmus of
Asia Minor.
Selene fell in love with him at first sight, but Endymion is a mortal, would eventually die naturally, so Selene asked
Zeus to grant Endymion eternal life, but the price was long sleep. Endymion still maintained a beautiful face and a gratifying smile after he fell asleep. Selene was deeply moved by Endymion's beauty, so she would spy on him in the cave every night.
Tithonus, who in
Greek mythology was granted eternal life but not eternal youth. He was transformed into a grasshopper.[3]
Ashwatthama, a
Kaurava warrior from the Mahabharata, cursed by
Krishna following the
Kurukshetra War for his attempt to end the
Pandava lineage after the cessation of hostilities. He is regarded to be a chiranjivi, an immortal being, who still roams the world with foul-smelling fluids oozing from his form.[4]
The
Wandering Jew (b. 1st century BC), a Jewish shoemaker. According to legend, he taunted Jesus on his way to
crucifixion. Jesus cursed him to "go on forever till I return." Thus, the Wandering Jew is to live until the
second coming of Jesus.[6]
John the Apostle (AD 6–101), one of Jesus's followers. Some
Latter-Day Saints, in conjunction with their own scriptures, interpret the biblical scripture found at John 21:21-23 to mean that John will tarry or remain on the earth until the
Second Coming.[7]
The
Three Nephites (between AD 34 and 35), three men described in the
Book of Mormon who are given power over death in order to fulfill their desire to minister among men until Jesus comes again.[8]
Markandeya, a sage who was granted the boon of immortality at the age of sixteen by the Hindu deity
Shiva after he was saved from the noose of the god of death,
Yama.[9]
Sir Galahad (born 2nd-6th century), one of the three
Arthurian knights to find the
Holy Grail. Of these questing knights, Galahad is the only one to have achieved immortality by it.[10]
Merlin (2nd-6th century), the famous magician. In some accounts, Merlin is trapped by an
enchantment by
Nimue, and while some end with Merlin dying, in others he remains in the trap (variously a tomb, a cave, a mist, or a tree) indefinitely.[citation needed]
Nicolas Flamel (c. 1330 – ), a French scribe and manuscript seller. He is believed to have found and decoded the everchanging book of Abraham the Mage, and found a spell for immortality, along with his wife, Perenelle Flamel.
Count of St. Germain. Myths, legends, and speculations about St. Germain began to be widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and continue today. They include beliefs that he is
immortal.
Mahavatar Babaji (30 November 203 BCE), an Indian
Kriya Yoga guru who is believed to have manifested 5,000 years ago in India and is still presently alive in his physical body. He is reputed to live in India or at the
Himalaya mountain.[11]
Olumba Olumba (born 1918) is a Nigerian religious leader and founder of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, an alleged evil cult and new religion. Olumba claimed to be the Abrahamic God[12] in human form. Members of his religion claim he is immortal.[13]
Khidr. In Islamic mythology "Al-Khidr" or "The Green" is a guide and servant for other prophets. He is considered an immortal human who, depending on the versions, is normally a human servant or prophet of God. Although sometimes he has also been considered an angel.
Failed quests for immortality
Gilgamesh (possibly reigned during the
26th century BC) after the death of his companion,
Enkidu, Gilgamesh pursues immortality to avoid Enkidu's fate. Gilgamesh fails two tests and does not become immortal, realising instead that mortals attain immortality through lasting works of civilization and
culture.
Gilgamesh's story is among the
oldest stories recorded.[14]
Qin Shi Huang, the First
Emperor of China who reigned during 259 BC–210 BC, also sought immortality in his old age. Twice he sent hundreds of people under the direction of
Xu Fu to find the legendary
elixir of life, but failed. He allegedly died of
mercury poisoning after he had eaten too many mercury pills, prescribed by his court doctors to make him immortal.[15]
This list comprises people claimed to achieve a deathless existence on Earth. This list does not contain those people who are supposed to have attained immortality through the typical means of a religion, such as a
Christian in
Heaven. It also does not include people whose immortality involves living in a place not on Earth, such as
Heracles on
Mount Olympus[1] or the
Eight Immortals of
Taoism in
Mount Penglai. It also does not include people who, according to their religion, became deities or actually were deities the whole time, such as
Jesus of Nazareth (who as part of the
Trinity was, according to Christianity, also
God) or
Parashurama according to
Hindu mythology.
List
These listings are in chronological order, though some dates are approximate.
Ziusudra, the last king of Sumer prior to the
Great Flood. His story is known from only a single fragmented tablet datable by its script to the 17th century BC. He was commanded to build a boat by the god
Enki and the tablet describes the flood. After a break in the text, Ziusudra is described prostrating himself to the gods
An and
Enlil, who grant him immortality.[2]
Endymion
, a shepherd in the Mount
Latmus of
Asia Minor.
Selene fell in love with him at first sight, but Endymion is a mortal, would eventually die naturally, so Selene asked
Zeus to grant Endymion eternal life, but the price was long sleep. Endymion still maintained a beautiful face and a gratifying smile after he fell asleep. Selene was deeply moved by Endymion's beauty, so she would spy on him in the cave every night.
Tithonus, who in
Greek mythology was granted eternal life but not eternal youth. He was transformed into a grasshopper.[3]
Ashwatthama, a
Kaurava warrior from the Mahabharata, cursed by
Krishna following the
Kurukshetra War for his attempt to end the
Pandava lineage after the cessation of hostilities. He is regarded to be a chiranjivi, an immortal being, who still roams the world with foul-smelling fluids oozing from his form.[4]
The
Wandering Jew (b. 1st century BC), a Jewish shoemaker. According to legend, he taunted Jesus on his way to
crucifixion. Jesus cursed him to "go on forever till I return." Thus, the Wandering Jew is to live until the
second coming of Jesus.[6]
John the Apostle (AD 6–101), one of Jesus's followers. Some
Latter-Day Saints, in conjunction with their own scriptures, interpret the biblical scripture found at John 21:21-23 to mean that John will tarry or remain on the earth until the
Second Coming.[7]
The
Three Nephites (between AD 34 and 35), three men described in the
Book of Mormon who are given power over death in order to fulfill their desire to minister among men until Jesus comes again.[8]
Markandeya, a sage who was granted the boon of immortality at the age of sixteen by the Hindu deity
Shiva after he was saved from the noose of the god of death,
Yama.[9]
Sir Galahad (born 2nd-6th century), one of the three
Arthurian knights to find the
Holy Grail. Of these questing knights, Galahad is the only one to have achieved immortality by it.[10]
Merlin (2nd-6th century), the famous magician. In some accounts, Merlin is trapped by an
enchantment by
Nimue, and while some end with Merlin dying, in others he remains in the trap (variously a tomb, a cave, a mist, or a tree) indefinitely.[citation needed]
Nicolas Flamel (c. 1330 – ), a French scribe and manuscript seller. He is believed to have found and decoded the everchanging book of Abraham the Mage, and found a spell for immortality, along with his wife, Perenelle Flamel.
Count of St. Germain. Myths, legends, and speculations about St. Germain began to be widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and continue today. They include beliefs that he is
immortal.
Mahavatar Babaji (30 November 203 BCE), an Indian
Kriya Yoga guru who is believed to have manifested 5,000 years ago in India and is still presently alive in his physical body. He is reputed to live in India or at the
Himalaya mountain.[11]
Olumba Olumba (born 1918) is a Nigerian religious leader and founder of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, an alleged evil cult and new religion. Olumba claimed to be the Abrahamic God[12] in human form. Members of his religion claim he is immortal.[13]
Khidr. In Islamic mythology "Al-Khidr" or "The Green" is a guide and servant for other prophets. He is considered an immortal human who, depending on the versions, is normally a human servant or prophet of God. Although sometimes he has also been considered an angel.
Failed quests for immortality
Gilgamesh (possibly reigned during the
26th century BC) after the death of his companion,
Enkidu, Gilgamesh pursues immortality to avoid Enkidu's fate. Gilgamesh fails two tests and does not become immortal, realising instead that mortals attain immortality through lasting works of civilization and
culture.
Gilgamesh's story is among the
oldest stories recorded.[14]
Qin Shi Huang, the First
Emperor of China who reigned during 259 BC–210 BC, also sought immortality in his old age. Twice he sent hundreds of people under the direction of
Xu Fu to find the legendary
elixir of life, but failed. He allegedly died of
mercury poisoning after he had eaten too many mercury pills, prescribed by his court doctors to make him immortal.[15]