Comparing Gilgamesh And Achilles

Dating back to Ancient Greek mythology, heroes have been known for their victories and defeats, foe their courageous acts of bravery, and for simply being epic. The stories of these heroes have been passed down from generation to generation. Two epic heroes that have comparable stories are Gilgamesh and Achilles. To each man’s culture, the heroes are considered epic due to their long, dangerous journeys and bravery. Just like every story, both Gilgamesh and Achilles experience conflict during their journey.

The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a king named Gilgamesh who is one-third man and two-thirds god. Gilgamesh was described as being extremely wise and visually elegant. He ruled his people in a rather harsh manner, taking advantage of the women and forcing labor onto his people. Gilgamesh had a great friend named Enkidu, and after he passed, Gilgamesh was heartbroken. Enkidu’s death sparked Gilgamesh’s journey to seek the truth about the after life.

The Iliad tells the events of the Trojan War. Achilles is described as being prideful and ruthless. He is also described as being one of the boldest and greatest warriors on the battlefield during the war. When his pride is hurt, he withdraws from battle, where his close friend Patroclus takes his place. When Patroclus dies in battle, Achilles becomes raged and filled with anger. He demands

revenge against the killer of Patroclus, which is Hector.
While each story is unique, they do indeed share some notable similarities.

To begin with, both Gilgamesh and Achilles were born to a kind and a goddess. Gilgamesh was the son of Ninsun and King Lugalbanda. Achilles was the son of Thetis and Peleus. The heroes also both possess what you could considered a “sidekick”. Enkidu was created in order to help humble Gilgamesh. Patroclus was Achilles best friend and lover. Both characters were seen as epic heroes to the people in their culture. They both set out on a journey, each for a different purpose. Gilgamesh and Achilles have similar stories with different

circumstances.
Each hero experiences a devastating tragedy; they both lose their best friend. The major contrast of the two heroes is how they respond to the death of their companions. Enkidu died of an illness brought upon him by the gods. When he died, Gilgamesh set out on a journey to learn about all the mysteries of life and death. He wants eternal life, just as Utnapishtim was granted by the gods, because he fears death. After the death of Patroclus on the battlefield, Achilles immediately demanded vengeance. His anger was great and he allowed his pride to continue to control his emotions.
Each story offers a beautiful escape to the past. Literature allows us to travel back in time and experience things that we otherwise would not get to. Both heroes were considered brave, valiant, and epic. The stories of Gilgamesh and Achilles teach us that it is important to push our pride aside and appreciate what we have in life because death is inevitable. Even the most epic heroes are faced with conflict some times; it’s how we respond to the challenge that matters.