The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Odyssey

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

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.

(Gilgamesh 71)” Gilgamesh's grief for his friend was natural, but he shouldn't have abandoned his people and his royal duties. As ruler, his people have to follow his decree, and need his support to thrive. By forcing them to grief, and abandoning his position, he left them in a very vulnerable position. His last and final abandonment of his people began with Gilgamesh's quest for immortality. He was so upset and shocked by what occurred to Enkidu's body after death, that he vowed he would never die. His selfishness has grown so far, that when he finds his cure for mortality, he chooses to let an old man test the plant in case it brings death instead. “I will bring it to Uruk-Haven, and have an old man eat the plant to test it. The plant's name is “The Old Man Becomes a Young Man.” Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth. (Gilgamesh 106)” Gilgamesh was a powerful man with a lot of ambition, and potential. It was just ruined by his selfish nature. He was, all-in-all, a famous and great ruler... but not a just one.

maker of wine, since I have seen your face do not let me see the face

Gilgamesh encounters Utnapishtim, a man who survives the great flood and receives immortality. Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh eclectic tasks to achieve eternal life. The first task is to stay awake for seven days, which Gilgamesh is unable to accomplish. Feeling sorry, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh a secret that if he finds the “plant that grows under the water… [it] restores his lost youth” (31). Gilgamesh lights up and ties rocks to his feet to sink down to search for the marvelous plant. Gilgamesh finds the ultimate boon. He is overjoyed and eager to bring the plant back to his homeland to restore the youth of all the men there. The refusal of the return occurs when, he was returning home and becomes careless and bathes in a nearby well of cool water, leaving the plant unattended. A snake suddenly appears and eats the plant, restoring the snake’s youth. Gilgamesh begins to weep upon seeing that he failed in his quest for immortality. Gilgamesh returns back to his homeland, Uruk, and engraves his story on a stone for everyone to see and

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.

He “ran dry the blood of [his] heart” by “toil[ing] [his] arms so hard” (XI 311-312). Physically, he is close to death like a human would be. Figuratively, blood relates to violence. The drain of blood represents Gilgamesh’s arrogance and violent personality fading away. He used to be violent and egoistic because of his godly stature. Thus, the drain also represents his godliness fading away connecting to Gilgamesh’s inferiority to the wild because he is as weak as a human. However, he is becoming more peaceful. Human Gilgamesh’s goal to steer Gilgamesh to a wise and peaceful life is almost a success. Thus, Gilgamesh’s question “For whom[?]” he endures these tests is answered (XI 312). It is for Human Gilgamesh so that Gilgamesh finally accepts his human

The Epic of Gilgamesh has its place as one of the first examples of epic poetry in recorded history. The epic describes the adventures of the demigod-king Gilgamesh who, after the death of his close friend Enkidu, seeks immortality but is ultimately unsuccessful. This story arc is not dissimilar to those found in the epics of the ancient Greeks centuries later. This excerpt from The Epic of Gilgamesh clearly demonstrates Gilgamesh’s reckless lust for pride and fame at all costs.

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

Gilgamesh developed his character from the beginning and the end of the epic which is also portrays a theme of identity. At the beginning, he was known as an evil and selfish king, but as the epic continues to the end he becomes an admired leader. The passage is shown here when Gilgamesh says to Urshanabi the ferryman, " 'Urshanabi, climb up on to the wall of Uruk, inspect its foundation terrace, and examine well the brickwork;, see if it is not of burnt bricks; and did not the seven wise men lay these foundations? One third of the whole is city, one third is garden, and one third is field, with the precinct of the goddess Ishtar. These parts and the precinct are all Uruk '" (Sanders 31). He wants to protect Uruk, his community, and is in the process of reconstructing from the flood 's aftermath. This supports Gilgamesh 's identity theme because he shows his new character as a helpful and kind leader who cares about the people in Uruk. Identity is not as an

The number seven represents unity and completion. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim challenges Gilgamesh to stay awake for seven nights in order to obtain eternal life. When he fails, Utnapishtim reveals how to obtain eternal youth where he also fails. Enkidu makes love to Shamhat for seven nights which leads to his manhood. Shamhat changed Enkidu from a primitive man who’s “whole body was shaggy with hair, he was furnished with tresses like a woman, his locks of hair grew luxuriant like grain. He knew neither people nor country; he was dressed as cattle are. With gazelles he eats vegetation, with cattle he quenches his thirst at the watering place. With wild beasts he satisfies his need for water“. After his encounter with Shamhat he changed into a civilized man who “had acquired judgement, had become wiser…[Shamhat said] ‘You have become wise Enkidu, you have become like a god. Why should you roam open country with wild beasts’”. Utnapishtim tells his survival of the deluge to Gilgamesh upon their first meeting. According to Utnapishtim, after seven days, the boat was prepared for the flood that lasted for seven days. When his boat gets lodged into the top of Mount Nisir, he is trapped for seven days and on the seventh day, he release a dove to search for land. As a small detail, Uruk is protected by it’s seven gates (built by

In today’s society, many humans define themselves by various means. How others perceive them, personality traits, profession, and tangible assets often define individuals. Others use intangible characteristics and their believe system in God or a god/gods. As we age and experience life, many people change the way they define themselves. Throughout the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, “Oedipus the King”, “The Odyssey”, and “Beowulf”, the readers notice how society defines each main character by their heroic characteristics, the relationship between the humans and the divine, and the differences of how each hero’s journey ends.

Upon the seal of this great friendship, Gilgamesh began to change his selfish ways. He shared with Enkidu the luxuries of kingship. Shamash, speaking to Enkidu, said, "He (Gilgamesh) has made the princes of the earth kiss your feet, and now all the people of Uruk lament and wail over you"(91). Setting aside his great pride and power, Gilgamesh had opened a place in his heart, and in his sumptuous life, for his beloved brother.

Giglamesh symbolizes water in two different meanings, as life and death. Giglamesh uses water to represent life is Gilgamesh 's dreams. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu travel are on their quest to kill Humbaba, Gilgamesh

In Mesopotamia’s Epic of Creation, it is stated in the beginning that creation of the heavens started with two types of water intermingling- sweet water, also known as fresh water, Apsu and bitter water, known as sea water, Tiamat. Already, there is a prominence placed on water. The waters represent good and evil. The Hymn to the Aten also hits on good and evil with night and day, showing how when it is dark everything dies, but when the sun is out everything is alive. (Lichthiem, pg. 96-99) There is also an importance placed on water in Gilgamesh, when he travels across the water to meet Utnapishtim, who tells him about the flood, that wiped out mankind. (The Epic of Gilgamesh, pg. 92-93) Water is represented as both rejuvenating and destructive. Another interesting aspect in both Mesopotamian myths is the emphasis on the power of the natural elements. Marduk defeats Tiamat using the winds to fill her belly then slices her in half and uses her body to