Gilgamesh And Moses: A Comparative Analysis

Gilgamesh: A New English Version, translated by Stephen Mitchell, and The Book of Job translated by Raymond P. Scheindlin, are both ancient texts that argue that the world is not just in a variety of ways. In Gilgamesh, the part-human, part-divine tyrannical ruler of Uruk, Gilgamesh, is sent an equal by the gods in the hopes of changing him and therefore rescuing the people of Uruk from his brutal ways. This equal, Enkidu, and Gilgamesh go on to offend the gods in a multitude of ways, leading to the death of Enkidu and finally, the return of Gilgamesh to Uruk to continue his ruthless regime over the people. The Book of Job is the story of Job, a faithful servant of Yahweh (or God) who is the picture of morality. When Yahweh makes a passing bet with the Accuser that results in Job having everything dear to him, including his health, torn away, Job and his friends debate the duties and nature of Yahweh. Gilgamesh and The Book of Job are in agreement that the world is not just, but whereas Gilgamesh shows that the innocent are killed and that the guilty are rewarded rather than punished, The Book of Job argues that the morally upright suffer and that Yahweh did not create the world to be fair, and so it is not.

The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to the Bible, especially in Genesis and it’s not just that the both begin with the letter “g”’! One major similarity being the flood story that is told in both works. The two stories are very similar but also very different. Another being the use of serpents in both works and how they represent the same thing. A third similarity being the power of God or gods and the influence they have on the people of the stories. Within these similarities there are also differences that need to be pointed out as well.

Both Stories illustrate each cultures morals to a certain extinct. In the Epic of Gilgamesh true friendship and comradery is exemplified through the relationship of Gilgamesh & Enkidu. They desire companionship and closeness “Enkidu is pleased: "he longed for a comrade, for one who would understand his heart” (Brown). Gilgamesh’s want for compassion and Friendship as well it is shown in his dreams and describe by his Mother. “I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as though to a woman. This is a strong comrade, the one who brings help to friend in his need. He is the strongest of wild creatures.”(Norton 15) This strong bond shows how the Sumerian feels about friendship and comradery. Enkidu relationship with Gilgamesh is stronger then that of just friend but like brothers. Gilgamesh’s mother Ninsun adopts Enkidu as her son, not only endorsing his friendship to Gilgamesh but also making him Gilgamesh’s brother “ Strong Enkidu you are not the child of my body, but I

Since they both are equal and have power, gilgamesh saw an interest in his heart pertaining to

Though there are many differences between the Hebrew God and middle-eastern beliefs of the divine, Gilgamesh also depicts some similarities. Sumerian gods respond to prayers from the Uruk citizens that Gilgamesh is an unjust ruler by creating Enkidu, the

The division becomes prominent between the power-struggle of Gilgamesh vs. Enkidu. Gilgamesh represents the civilized person and Enkidu represents the natural world. Therefore, he represents the gifts of nature, such as the forests, vineyards and gates. Gilgamesh directly ties in with books 1-3 of The Genesis. The relationship between Adam and Eve is extremely proportionate to the relationship between Enkidu and Harlot. Both of the stories have far reaching implications on the contrast between men and women and their role in the natural world. All Adam, Enkidu and Harlot face isolation and rejection from the women they used to depend on them for support and assistance. Harlot entices Enkidu. He chooses to bring him to the world of humans. Similarly, Eve persuades Adam to have the apple of their sin. This causes the rejection by God. Although in Gilgamesh women were subordinate to men, the Book of Genesis provides an extremely different light. In the Book of Genesis women take center stage. Their triumph has them dominate the center of the universe and this enables them to maintain female position dominate in the world of

The birth goddess Aruru pinched a piece of clay and threw it to the plains where Enkidu was created. Enkidu was a wild man, hairy and naked. He ate and drank with the other animals. The harlot Shamhatwas sent to tame Enkidu. She offered her body and showed him the luxuries of men. He was led to Uruk and met Gilgamesh attending a wedding where he would have the bride for his own before her husband. Enkidu thought this was inappropriate and took exception to the act. Gilgamesh and Enkidu clashed with each other in the streets but there was no winner. This shows the moral differences in the two though they were physical equals. Enkidu would come to be the moral compass to Gilgamesh’s brutality (W. W. Norton & Company Vol

Gilgamesh, written by David Ferry, illustrates a story about a man who knows everything, but continues to try and learn more. Although Gilgamesh may be arrogant, he still remains a great ruler and commander of Uruk. Throughout the book, the adventures of Gilgamesh fit Joseph Campbell’s idea of the hero’s journey. After analyzing the pieces to the hero’s journey, Gilgamesh is proven to be a true hero because his journey parallels that of the hero’s journey described by Campbell. The latter part of this paper will prove Gilgamesh is a hero using Campbell’s model, by analyzing the pieces of the hero’s journey: separation or departure, the initiation, and the return.

Odysseus used his sharp intelligence to defeat the Cyclops and to sail past the Isle of the Sirens. Odysseus’s mental strength stood strong for the men that accompanied him on his journey home and for Odysseus himself while he was gone from home for so long. Gilgamesh’s brute, physical strength comes from the fact that he is a demi-god in the epic poem, he is described as being two-thirds god and one-third man. The battles that face Gilgamesh are all met with his god-like strength, at first his battle with Engidu, who after defeat accepts Gilgamesh and the two become friends throughout the poem. Gilgamesh later defeats Khumbaba and the bull that Anu constructed and sent from the heavens to kill him. The gods followed by Gilgamesh were no longer pleased by his actions and his actions to the people of Uruk. The gods constructed Engidu to challenge Gilgamesh and defeat him. In The Odyssey, the gods convene and decided to allow Odysseus to return home to his family. So both epics have the hero’s being affected by the gods in one way or another. One in which an enemy is constructed to challenge the current ruler of a kingdom, Gilgamesh in this case. The other way is that the gods can plot, plan and set forth your future tribulations that you may encounter,

In both Mesopotamia circa 2100 BCE and Israel circa 367 CE, two very different forms of religion were being practiced. However, key concepts in both religions remain strikingly similar, and in some cases, nearly identical. The relationship between people and their deities is a strong one based entirely on literature, whether that be oral or written. And while this relationship is characterized mainly by love and admiration, fear of and punishment by deities was not an uncommon practice in any religion. The Epic Of Gilgamesh and The David Story both work to prove that the relationship between a people and the divine is characterized by both love for and fear of deities. This relationship based on love and fear directly impacts both the decisions made with the guidance of deities and the punishments inflicted for decisions made without approval of these deities.

One of the most fascinating pieces of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh, deals with and explores many of the problems humans have wrestled with for thousands of years. Even though the text does not explicitly answer any of the questions it poses, it gives clues that point to the answers. One of these questions, the dilemma of whether to act based solely on a person’s intuition or act based on reason and advice, occurs regularly in the text. Throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, characters have success and failure when they act based on either their intuition or using reason, but the epic clearly points out, through examples, that acting based on reason instead of intuition constitutes more success in all facets of life.

The maturation of Gilgamesh and his desire to acquire wisdom throughout his journey is quite apparent. By overcoming difficulties such as upholding Uruk, becoming friends with Enkidu, and various other scenarios, Gilgamesh proves that he did in fact grow up throughout the epic.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest written epic in history, documented in 2700 BC, in cuneiform, on clay tablets, found in the library of Nineveh, describes the king of the city-state Uruk’s love of his friend Enkidu and his quest for immortality. The Book of Exodus, written in 1400 BC describes God’s call of Moses, a Hebrew raised in Ramses II’s court in Egypt, to the Promise Land in Canaan. Gilgamesh and Moses function as heroes in these two ancient literary works. Gilgamesh and Moses exhibit similarities yet also exhibit differences. In particular the two men are alike in that they both embody their cultures; however their personalities and their journeys differ.

In The Epic of Gilgamesh the lines that are repeated at the beginning and end of the epic show that only immortality a human can gain lies in creating things that last beyond a person’s lifetime. While at the beginning of the epic Gilgamesh is seeking eternal life, when he concludes his journey he realizes that he has created an enduring legend through the foundation of his city, Uruk. Through this legend, Gilgamesh can live on in the memory of his people, long after he has passed away. The epic is able to convey this message multiple ways. The opening lines immediately introduce and impress upon the audience the importance of Gilgamesh, and the significance of his kingship. The epic continues on to describe the city of Uruk, with special consideration given to the walls surrounding Uruk. 3. Finally, the ending repetition of the lines shows that Gilgamesh has become aware of the legacy he has created in Uruk, and and accepts that in lieu of immortality. okay so these are the three? points you are talking about in your paper? make sure they match up with your paragraphs proving them and are not so vague

The Epic of Gilgamesh tells a story of a powerful demigod whose internal conflicts prevent him from becoming the great ruler he is meant to be. The story takes place in ancient Mesopotamia in the most important city, Uruk. Gilgamesh was an impulsive king with much power who had no moral limits on how he ruled his people. “Gilgamesh lets no girl go free to her bridegroom” (George 4) he ruled heavily with an iron fist and his sexual desires brought fear to the women in the city. His unquestionable and unchallenged power forced the people of Uruk to plead to the gods to end the torment of horrid ruling and wish to live in peace. The God’s solution was to create an equal being to balance the storm of Gilgamesh’s heart. Thus, Enkidu is created with a general purpose to complement Gilgamesh. As these opposite characters cross paths, Gilgamesh is challenged and his authority is threatened. Their agreement to fight lead them to figure out their differences and join to become the perfect duo. Slowly Gilgamesh is exposed to situations, that force him to address his internal conflicts and mature to become a better ruler.