Difference Between The Epic Of Gilgamesh And The Iliad

Traveling the world allows one to open their mind to the wide array of cultures. It allows one to change their views on others, but more importantly, it allows one to grow and become a better person. The Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh and the Greek poet Homer’s Iliad express how one important part of a hero’s journey is the transformation that the hero’s character goes through over the course of their story. In the Epic of Gilgamesh and Iliad, the characters Gilgamesh and Achilles demonstrate that family is very important throughout one’s lifetime. Both Gilgamesh and Achilles are very fierce and arrogant warriors, who often act swiftly without giving much thought, so guidance from their mother is needed. In both pieces of literature, a brotherhood

This is when their mothers come to assist them. Gilgamesh has become friends with Enkidu and has a brilliant idea. As courageous and powerful as they are, Gilgamesh has the idea of going to accomplish something great, through killing Humbaba, to build their glory. Gilgamesh tells Enkidu they should go see Ninsun because, “Ninsun is wise, all-knowing, she understands, she will set the steps of good advice at our feet.” Later on, the author says, “She came before Shamash, made a smoke-offering.” It is very important that she travelled to see Shamash the Sun-god because when her son and Enkidu go to battle Humbaba, they will need help. Following the striking of a deal, Shamash came through for the warriors by providing winds to immobilize the monster, allowing Gilgamesh to kill him. On the other hand, Achilles is the best warrior in all of Greece, and he knows it, but he is also a sore loser. When Agamemnon has taken his beautiful wife from him to keep as a prize, he weeps away since there is nothing he can do at the time. His mother sees that her son is sad and goes to see Zeus, saying, “Agamemnon, king of men, has dishonoured him, for he has taken and keeps his prize by his own arrogant act. But honour him, Olympian Zeus, lord of counsel; and give might to the Trojans, until the Achaeans do

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh wants to obtain immortality and is set out to see Utnapishtim, the only man to be ever granted immortality. The idea of immortality could not be granted to Gilgamesh, but Utnapishtim offered him a plant that was at the bottom of the apsu. A snake snatched the plant of forever youth away from him and he returned to Uruk. Gilgamesh told Urshanabi, “Go up on the wall of Uruk, Ur-Shanabi, and walk around.” He continued to say, “One square mile is a city, one square mile is orchards, one square mile is clay pits, as well as the open ground of Ishtar’s temple. Three square miles and the open ground comprise Uruk.” Gilgamesh was so adamant about being able to live forever after his other half died, that it was not until returning home that he realized the only true type of immortality is being remembered for what one has accomplished. Achilles was the best warrior during the Trojan War. He was angered by the actions of his peers, who wanted to return home and not look back. Yet it was the words from his mother, “For my mother the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, telleth me that twofold fates are bearing me toward the doom of death: if I abide here and war about the city of the Trojans, then lost is my home-return, but my renown shall be imperishable; but if I return home to my dear native land, lost then is my glorious renown, yet shall my life long endure, neither shall the