Comparing Odyssey And The Epic Of Gilgamesh

Odysseus and Gilgamesh are both heroes from two diverse time eras that were in search for the meaning of life. The epic Gilgamesh was settled from early Mesopotamia, and the Odyssey was developed from early Greece. Gilgamesh was very prevalent and it was also extremely valuable to the historians of the Mesopotamian culture because it discloses much about the religious world, such as their attitudes to gods, how hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship. The Odyssey was very prevalent in its time also. It was set in ancient Greece where its culture, mythology, was the heart of everyday life. The Greek culture turned to mythology to explain different miracles for which they had no scientific explanation and that was prominent in the epic of Odysseus. The two heroes of these different stories have many differences and parallels.

Greek mythology is the study of myths, which are stories about ancients Greeks. Those stories talk about the origin, history and cultural tradition of the gods and heroes of Greece. Achilles and Gilgamesh are considered mythological heroes; they are both hero’s that faces many problems through their journey and have fought many battles. These two legends have remained precious to the people now because their hero’s journey is unforgettable. They are both brave, and they have overcome many challenges to protect their family and city. Both Gilgamesh and Achilles share some similarities, such as they are both sons of a goddess and a mortal which makes them both a semi-divine personage. They are very powerful warriors who face the death of a

Each mythological hero by all accounts seems to be on a quest searching for what he desire most on the planet. The same can be said for the two heroes I chose, Gilgamesh and Achilles. Gilgamesh's greatest fear was dying, while Achilles fear was his legacy lost and overlooked. Although their wishes differ, their quest share numerous similarities. In the end it all comes down to the same thing. Both Gilgamesh and Achilles wanted immortality regardless of anything else, but  each in his own particular manner. In spite of the fact that immortality has a different meaning for Gilgamesh, as it does for Achilles, each choice and additionally every one of the sacrifices they make, all depend on their fear of dying and death. Both Gilgamesh and Achilles actions showed insight into their cultures. It somewhat proved an answer to the way they did things and why they.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odysseus both are poems that have since early times been viewed as stories that teach the reader valuable life lessons, almost like a self-help book in today’s society. They both teach a lot of the same general lessons but there are some key similarities and differences throughout both works. Such as perseverance, and the inevitability of death are both lessons that are taught in each poem but they are presented to the reader through different interpretations. In the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey there are two main characters both viewed as heroic figures in which the develop a greater knowledge of human mankind and immorality.

The Lord of the Rings and Odyssey are two very weird stories in my opinion. The two stories include several similarities. The most noteworthy similarity of the two that were in common was the use of themes. Both included similar themes such as, life, death,power, brotherly love, myth, temptation, and journey.

The Iliad, Odyssey, and Epic of Gilgamesh all demonstrate the transformational process of their respective epic heroes through their strengths and weaknesses. Epic heroes such as Achilles, Odysseus, and Gilgamesh all possessed superior qualities that separated them from other individuals. Although their incredible abilities may support the societal perception of strong leadership, their weaknesses caused these characters to hold vices that went against the cultural expectations of what a strong leader should be. Furthermore, they all shared similar experiences in terms of undergoing a difficult situation and changing their approach in an effort for redemption. This paper will be examining the virtues of these epic heroes and the

The Odyssey, written in 725 BCE. in Greece is a tale of a great warrior Odysseus, trying to return home to his wife after fighting a great war. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written earlier in 2700 B.C. in Mesopotamia, is the tale of a King Gilgamesh who goes on a quest to find immortality. Throughout these two epics’ both Gilgamesh and Odysseus are required to fight for their survival.  In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk has to fight Humbaba, a giant beast who is the guardian of the Cedar Forest. While Odysseus lands in the island of the Cyclopes and is trapped in a cave with a giant.

The portrayal of Gods in Homer’s “The Iliad” and the ancient Sumerian poem “The Epic of Gilgamesh” has many parallels and divergences in regard to their interactions and relations with human beings. Although there is a difference of nearly 1000 years between the release of both of the epic poems, a firm analogy can be established between these works. The Gods in “The Epic of Gilgamesh” are portrayed as more inconclusive and detached from humans while the Gods of “The Iliad” are shown as decisive and intimate with human affairs.

When reading The Epic of Gilgamesh, there is a story in tablet XI that refers to a flood that destroyed the human race. Readers today read this part of the epic, and quickly compare it to a very similar story in Genesis 6-9. At first glance, the two stories seem to be extremely similar. Although there are some obvious similarities, when looking closer there are some subtle differences. These differences may seem minor, but actually have large impact on the moral of the stories. The differences of the two stories show the extreme difference in the world view of the culture in Gilgamesh’s and in Genesis.

How do these two historical stories have in common? The Odyssey and Epic of Gilgamesh have identical themes, which is temptation. The two historical works have a message on how the consequences of temptation can lead to negative or positive outcomes. In the Epic of Gilgamesh temptation plays corresponding outcomes. In Odyssey temptation is shown everywhere. There is not one part of the story where temptation is not shown.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Mesopotamian myth and the oldest known narrative there is, originally created on clay tablets written in cuneiform. The story focuses on two individuals. Gilgamesh, who is the tyrannical ruler of the kingdom of Uruk. Then his counterweight, Enkidu who resides in the forest and was raised by animals. It may seem that neither would have much in common, considering one is royalty and one is a wild man. However, these two characters balance each other despite their differences, which results in a beautiful friendship, but both will lose as well as gain in the end.

Thus muses Achilles, one of epic poetry's greatest heroes. Epic poetry, one of the earliest forms of literature, began as an oral narration describing a series of mythical or historic events. Eventually, these stories were written down and read aloud to an audience. Although the Epic of Gilgamesh was composed approximately fifteen hundred years prior to the Iliad, the heroes of both epics possess strikingly similar characteristics. Indeed,

The Hero’s Journey is portrayed and widely known in many of the most popular films, songs, and novels. The Odyssey follows this format, and many of these entertainment pieces were inspired by this epic, such as The Chronicles of Narnia. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is led through many different adversities while trying to return home from the Trojan War. He finds himself and his crew in many situations that lead to death or put them in danger, before eventually making it home and being reunite with his family with the help of the goddess Athena. In the Chronicles of Narnia, three children are led into a strange new world in the wardrobe, where they face challenges with their enemies and have to eventually return home. They

This short essay will identify five traditional epic characteristics that are evident in both the Iliad and the Odyssey.