Odyssey And Gilgamesh Alike

The floods in Genesis and The Epic of Gilgamesh are in no doubt different but in so many ways similar. The two men are given a task to save humankind from a flood and succeed and are rewarded. The major basic events that take place in the stories a similar however the smaller details of them and how they are carried you are different. They two also tells us a lot about the relationship between humans to Divinity.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey have been a part of human literature for many, many years now, they are both more referred to as epic poems. Both epics are found in different points of time in human cultures stretching roughly 1000 years apart. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a poem from early Mesopotamian culture and The Odyssey is said to be written from the early onset of the Greek civilization. The main characters for these epics are Gilgamesh, a demigod and ruler of Uruk, and Odysseus a great warrior returning home to his wife from war. The two main characters of these epic poems, Gilgamesh and Odysseus share many traits together and apart from each other. Among the qualities that these characters display in each of their respective poems,

First, Gilgamesh and Achilles are two epic heroes who share some differences. Among the differences there are also some similarities. Achilles and Gilgamesh were to a great degree different with respect to their identity and how they reacted to death. Achilles was a warrior and Gilgamesh was a ruler, each all around respected and feared in their role. They both demonstrated fearlessness and toughness in their parts, yet their responses to the passing of their best friend varied greatly. Combined Achilles and Gilgamesh participated in many battles, as discussed in Homer's "Iliad" and the Mesopotamian "Epic of Gilgamesh".

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.

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 gods seemed to favor both Gilgamesh and Odysseus because of their semi-godlike characteristics. Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and the King of Uruk. While Odysseus is not formally a god, he does possess the cunning and physique necessary to be a god, along with being the King of Ithaca. Odysseus experiences numerous near-death events, yet always overcomes the ordeals without any harm. He succeeds in blinding the Cyclopes to escape their island; goes to the underworld and back; avoids being killed by the Laistrygonians; protects himself and his men from the Sirens' songs; navigates between Scylla and Charybdis; and heeds the advice of Teiresias not

These two men share many characteristics, but one of their most important ones is their great leadership. Odysseus has led his men since the start of the Trojan War, and even though he has led different groups of men, they all listen to and respect him. He portrays this leadership throughout the entirety of The Odyssey, but it is shown most clearly when he is ordering his men to keep going even though

An epic hero is a character in an epic poem that is recognized for their courageousness and success in the face of great trials and tribulations whereas a tragic hero is a character in a tragedy who, despite his/her nobility, can’t escape their imminent collapse. Although Gilgamesh is an epic hero and Oedipus is a tragic hero there are many similarities between both epics. Both characters are valiant and heroic in their very own way.

Out of the two men, Gilgamesh was far braver than Oedipus. He risked his life a number of times when he was in the company of his friend Enkidu. In addition, he risked his life following Enkidu's death whilst he went to uncover the secret of life and death to save Enkidu. Gilgamesh believed

The themes of myths speak to concerns for every human being. This shows that different cultures are interconnected and share ideas. From reading the Epic of Gilgamesh we can begin to understand the values help by ancient Mesopotamian society. By reading the Ramayana we can analysis the religion and world view of Hinduism. Many ancient stories seem to parallel each other. Although stories are written in diverse cultures, there tend to be likenesses, especially between the protagonists. This is true with the stories of the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Ramayana when it comes to the depictions of their hero’s.

These two stories are very similar in their context because they occur close together in history. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written around 600 B.C.E. but the historical events that the Epic of Gilgamesh talks about would have taken place around 2,700 B.C.E. which is when Gilgamesh lived. Similarly, the Book of Job was written around 1,000 B.C.E. but would have taken place around 2,000 B.C.E. Both of these stories happened within 700 years of each other but didn’t get written until many years later, 2,000 years later for the Epic of Gilgamesh and 1,000 years later for the Book of Job. While a 700 year difference may seem big when put into perspective of history the 700 years is an extremely small gap. By being so close to each other in time, this means that the context and advancement between the two aren’t significantly different.

One difference that lies in the two epic heroes is how christianity is perceived through the epics. Gilgamesh and Beowulf both have biblical references in their quests, yet in Beowulf it can be seen more clearly. During Beowulf's journey he specifically prayed to the Gods for guidance in the battles with both Grendel and his mother. While in Gilgamesh the story contained a motif to Noah's Flood, and this leads to shaping Gilgamesh into a greater king because it gives him a story to tell. Another similarity in the epics in connection to christianity is they both use stories of the bible, Beowulf is seen as a kenning to Cane in the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Gilgamesh used

Back in the days of ancient Greece and before this time, epic heros have had their lives chronicled and the stories of them passed on from generation to generation, all the way to our present day in our lives. Two of the greatest heros that have been expressed in past epic stories were Gilgamesh from the epic named after him, and Achilles from Homer’s Iliad. The two of their stories however, transpired in two different eras, their lives both had a surprising number of common points. Of course with things in common, there always comes differences, in the way they lived and the ideals they believed in.

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.

There are many mutual experiences that make the journeys of Gilgamesh and Orestes similar. Orestes and Gilgamesh reform their characters by going through a series of events; at each event, their character is modified or strengthened in a analogous way by their communities or peers. Although they both begin content with their situations, they become aware that something needs to change in order for there to be harmony within their societies. Following this realization, various influences force the leading characters to go through with their personal trials that they have been contemplating, in turn forcing them to have the strength and courage that they had not possessed prior to this point. In order to assist Gilgamesh and Orestes learn the virtue and importance in comradery and community, each is paired with a companion to aid them in their trials. At the conclusion of the stories, the characters fully comprehend that the wellbeing of the populous is more important than their own person gains. Both title characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Oresteia undergo parallel journeys, with the most pivotal similarity being the effect that the community has on the shaping events that Gilgamesh and Orestes undergo.