Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Odysseus

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Gilgamesh and Odysseus both journey in pursuit of what they desire most. For Gilgamesh it is immortality, and for Odysseus it is home. Gilgamesh the king of Uruk and Odysseus, king of Ithaca must face their ultimate struggles and come in contact with their fears and suffering. These men seek for pride and honor on their journeys. Along the way, their fate is being held in the hands of the Gods. Both Gilgamesh and Odysseus search for the meaning of life through knowledge and perseverance, trying to make it alive until the end.
The epic of Gilgamesh has been stated to be written by the unknown, and has been dated back between 2700 B.C. and 600 B.C. in Mesopotamia. The main character in this epic Gilgamesh, is the strongest of men and the personification …show more content…

Before the death of Humbaba, with his last words he cursed Enkidu and Gilgamesh. “I curse you both. Because you have done this, / may Enkidu die, may he die in great pain,/ may Gilgamesh be inconsolable,/ may his merciless heart be crushed with grief”(127). Shortly after, the curse came true leaving Enkidu to become very ill and suffer for twelve days before he died. Gilgamesh continuously wept over the death of a man he called his brother and came to the realization that he would soon have to face death himself since he was part human. Gilgamesh was now in search for immortality. So he sets off on a journey to find the only mortal granted immortality. Utnapishtim was the immortal god who survived the flood. Gilgamesh traveled days and went through extreme lengths to see the God, but not all worked out in his …show more content…

The monster is not inviting and eats two of Odysseus’ men and intends to destroy the rest. Odysseus offers the Cyclops wine and gets him drunk and unstable. Once he’s drunk, the king blinds the Cyclops by stabbing his only eye and escapes. Just as Gilgamesh and Enkidu were cursed, the Cyclops cursed Odysseus by having Poseidon, the god of sea and earthquakes and his father to make sure no man will make it home alive. Throughout the rest of his journey, Odysseus loses many of his men and struggles to find hope for himself to make it home. With his clever ways he is able to manage a plan and to not give up on his

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