At an early point in history, The Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Genesis were two texts that set the framework of the entire world. They were two epics that established the foundations of religion, literature, and all other standards that were followed by every category of people. Both texts entice the audience through antique language, and the stories of epic heroes and immortal gods. Sin-Leqi-Unninni and the many writers of the Bible use love as their central theme, yet it unfolds as having distinguishing effects on all characters throughout both texts. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the author conveys love as a motivational factor for helping Gilgamesh and other characters transition into better individuals, whereas in the Old Testament, individuals do harm upon others in the name of love in order to follow what is morally correct based on the religious standard.
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Sin-Leqi Unninni does a magnificent job in conveying how all figures are inspired by the act of love. Enkindu is evidence of someone being manipulated and easily convinced by love. His love for the temple prostitute leads him to fall for the temptations that Uruk provides, and instigates his first experience of initial hate for Gilgamesh. Despite striking him with a feeling of hate, the love for the temple prostitute gives Enkindu the willpower to walk into Uruk and challenge Gilgamesh for power over the town. After competing on the Uruk battleground, the two gigantic men forget their desire for power but rather get entangled in a twisted erotic love. It is through their love that they aspire to beat Humbaba, god of the cedar forest. Enkindu provokes Gilgamesh to transition from a selfish and power-driven figure, to a more enlighten...
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...nother as did Jacob and his brother Esau along with Joseph and his brothers. Enkindu and Gilgamesh embraced the stench of competition to bring them closer rather than draw them apart as did the figures in the bible.
Despite being written in the same proximity of time, The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis of the Old Testament are based on the same ideas but are distinguishing in their overall morals. The Epic of Gilgamesh portrays love as a force that brings loved ones closer together in order to overcome the power of immortal gods, whereas, Genesis portrays love as not a strength, but rather a weakness that sets loved ones apart because of an immortal god influencing them. Sin Leqi Unninni is an advocate of love contributing to the good of individuals where the authors of the Bible are more influenced by religion, even if it means overlooking the love for others.
The ancient Mesopotamian writing, The Epic of Gilgamesh, gives readers insight into the traditions and customs of the people who wrote it. Like all epics, The Epic of Gilgamesh is the story of a heroic national figure: this epic gives the story of the life of Gilgamesh from his birth as two-thirds god, one-third man to his death. Throughout the epic the importance of loyalty is addressed. In The Epic of Gilgamesh readers see that loyalty is the most important aspect of a Mesopotamian relationship and that there are always consequences for violating trust.
As human beings, we are designed to belive in something. Although the belief in a higher power or religion is diverse, many theologies share common themes. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and the Hebrew book of “Genesis” are seemingly polar opposites. Christianity, demonstrated in Genesis, is monotheistic, and the Hebrews base their faith on their relationship with God. On the other hand, Sumerian philosophy, found in Gilgamesh, is polytheistic, and the Sumerian people base their theology on fear. Ancient polytheistic literature forms an archetypical pattern of the mortals trying desperately to please the gods. A mortal’s entire existence rests in the hands of the sometimes childish gods. In spite of this, these two stories
The issue of obedience figures prominently in both "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and the book of Genesis in the Bible. These works were produced by very different cultures and traditions (Middle Eastern and Hebraic, respectively) and the characters in each react to authority or advice with very different levels of obedience. Noah is found to be righteous by God and is rewarded with a means to escape the devastation of the flood. Gilgamesh, in his arrogance, thinks himself to be above the mortal concept of death. I have chosen the two opening paragraphs from the seventh chapter of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and Genesis 6:8-22 to illustrate the conflicts between obedience and arrogance.
Ancient world literature and early civilization stories are mostly centered on human’s relationship with higher beings. Ancient civilizations were extremely religious, holding the belief that their very lives were in the hands of their almighty god or goddess. This holds true for both the people of biblical times as well as those of the epic era. However, their stories have some differences according to cultural variation but the main structure, ideas, and themes are generally found correlative. It is hard to believe that one work did not affect the others. The first great heroic epic poem of Gilgamesh and the Old Testament are parts of two cultures that are hundreds of years apart. Whereas Gilgamesh is a myth and the book of Genesis is the basis of many religions, they both have notably similar accounts of symbols, motifs, meaningful events according to the relationship between the divine and humans in literature.
...e Hebrew religious text of genesis when Adam and Eve learn of temptation or original sin. The actual wrath of Ate appears physical in both texts. In the Greek text Agamemnon “evil heart” is mentioned. Genesis shows the repercussions of Ate as naked bodies. The Greek text shows the body with little or no unity, while the Hebrew text depicts the body as, a whole. The presence of Ate in each text is for different reasons. The Iliad show the importance of honor and Genesis shows the importance of faith. The great power of Ate arises in different situations in the two texts due to the purpose of the text and the culture in which it was written. In both we see that this force is to be harnessed. This lesson of controlling anger, blind rage, and delusion is relevant in all cultures. The presence of religion and government in today’s culture attempts to harness this Ate.
The tale of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamia poem that is considered to be the oldest surviving piece of literature. It is an epic tale about a demigod known as Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his close friend, Enkidu, a wild man who was originally created by the gods to fight against Gilgamesh and to stop him from mistreating the people of Uruk. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are depicted as strong and powerful male characters who go on epic journeys, face great battles, and suffer great hardships. Their epic tale and characteristics can be seen as in-depth and admirable, and this creates an interesting tale to be read, but the tale is mainly male-centric and the females depicted in it, are hard to find admirable
Enkido’s arrival in The Epic of Gilgamesh forces Gilgamesh to reconsider his immaturity. Gilgamesh is introduced as “tall, magnificent and terrible” and as one “who crossed the ocean” (George i.37-40). As a “wild bull on rampage”, Gilgamesh’s tyrannical kingship is not challenged until an observer notices Enkido, a beast that “fills in the pits that I myself dig” and “stops me doing the work of the wild” (George i.30, 130-133). Because Enkido, “sets free” all the “beasts of the field”, he is presented as a wild creature that can “fill the pit” Gilgamesh digs and stop him from being a “wild bull on rampage” (George i.130-133). Later, Enkido is referred to as “the child of nature, the savage man from the midst of the wild”, conveying that his ‘savage’ origins (nature) are essential to clear civilization’s harmful influence on Gilgamesh (George i.178-179). While Enkido represents nature’s weapon to combat civilization’s mishaps, Enkido also portrays that even his pure soul is vulnerable to “Confusion, Gaiety, and Pride” and “Lust, Delight, and Thirst” (Cowell xiii.3). By seducing the “child of nature” and doing “for man the work of a woman”, Shamhat (or “Lust”) corrupts Enkido’s purity. “When wit...
Perhaps one of the main reasons the Epic of Gilgamesh is so popular and has lasted such a long time, is because it offers insight into the human concerns of people four thousand years ago, many of which are still relevant today. Some of these human concerns found in the book that are still applicable today include: the fear and concerns people have in relation to death, overwhelming desires to be immortal, and the impact a friendship has on a person’s life. It does not take a great deal of insight into The Epic of Gilgamesh for a person to locate these themes in the story, and even less introspection to relate to them.
In the beginning of the book, Gilgamesh appears to be selfish. Gilgamesh’s “arrogance has no bounds by day or night” (62). Even though he is created by the Gods to be perfect, he misuses his powers and gifts for his own earthly pleasure. He has sexual intercourse with all the virgins of his city even if they are already engaged. Through all Gilgamesh’s imperfections and faults, he learns to change his amoral personality. The friendship of Enkidu helped to change his ways, for only Enkidu, who “is the strongest of wild creatures,” (66) is a match for Gilgamesh. Through this companionship with Enkidu, Gilgamesh starts to realize his incapabilities and need for his friend. When they fight Humbaba, they both give moral support to each other when the other is scared. Another event that changes Gilgamesh’s character is the death of Enkidu. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes through the suffering of losing a loved one. Gilgamesh experiences a pain, which no worldly pleasure can ease. By this experience Gilgamesh starts to understand his vulnerability toward death and pain. Losing his best friend causes Gilgamesh to be melancholic. At this point Gilgamesh is humbled by the fact that even he could not escape the wrath of death. Gilgamesh goes from this arrogant king to a lonely grieving person with fear of death in his heart.
Gilgamesh is an epic of great love, followed by lingering grief that causes a significant change in character. It is the story of a person who is feared and honored, a person who loves and hates, a person who wins and loses and a person who lives life. Gilgamesh's journey is larger than life, yet ends so commonly with death. Through Gilgamesh, the fate of mankind is revealed, and the inevitable factor of change is expressed.
Karahashi, Fumi and Carolina Lopez-Ruiz. “Love Rejected: Some Notes on the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh and the Greek Myth of Hippolytus.” Journal of Cuneiform Studies 58 (2006): 97-107. JSTOR. Web. 28 Feb 2014.
The “Epic of Gilgamesh” is a historic story of the king of Uruk, Gilgamesh. The story portrays the short lived friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The story begins as Shamat the prostitute seduces Enkidu and convinces him to go to the city of Uruk and meet Gilgamesh. From that moment on, the two were very close. They planned a trip to the forest of cedars to defeat the monster known as Humbaba so that Gilgamesh could show his power to the citizens of Uruk. However, Enkidu tried vainly to dissuade Gilgamesh in going to the forest. Despite Enkidu’s plead, the two continued on their adventure to the forest where Humbaba lives. Once they arrived, they found the monster and killed him.
In the epic of Gilgamesh the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is very complex and necessary. Their friendship brings animal, human, and god together. Gilgamesh is changed by his friendship with Enkidu. He becomes a better person and a better ruler because of Enkidu. Enkidu’s life is enriched because of his friendship with Gilgamesh. Enkidu was created to balance out Gilgamesh, and he accomplishes this goal. The two men are very close, and love each other deeply. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu benefit from their friendship.
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 epic begins with Gilgamesh terrorizing the people of Uruk. They call out to the sky god Anu for help. In response Anu tells the goddess of creation, Aruru, to make an equal for Gilgamesh. Thus Aruru created Enkidu, a brute with the strength of dozens of wild animals. After being seduced by a harlot from the temple of love in Uruk, Enkidu loses his strength and wildness yet gains wisdom and understanding. The harlot offers to take him into Uruk where Gilgamesh lives, the only man worthy of Enkidu's friendship. After a brief brawl the two become devoted friends.