Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Hercules

Writing Assignment 3

For as long as storytelling and mythology have existed, legends surrounding heroes have been some of the most celebrated. Although the 1997 Disney movie Hercules is based on ancient legends of the Roman hero, the modern-day rendition has many parallels to a Babylonian poem we studied in class called the Epic of Gilgamesh. Both narratives surround the trials of a hero that is part god and part mortal, and his quest for immortality or god status. The stories utilize some of the same types of myths such as a “heroic quest myth” and a “katabasis myth”. The hero of each also has a close bond with another character, which is a guiding force behind many of their actions throughout the tale. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, this bond

The Epic of Gilgamesh and Hercules both tell the story of a legendary hero from each culture. In mythology, the term “hero” refers to a figure that the gods have taken a special interest in, a trend we see in both tales. Hercules is half god and half mortal. His father is Zeus, the storm god and ruler of Olympus, and his mother is princess Alcmene. In the beginning of the film, Hades takes a particular interest in Hercules due to a prophecy told to him by the Fates. When Hercules was just an infant, Hades minions kidnapped him and gave him a potion that made him mortal with god-like strength. When Hercules finally discovered who he was 18 years later, his father Zeus spoke to him through a statue and told him what he must do to gain immortality, “if you can prove yourself a true hero on earth, your godhood will be restored.” Similarly, Gilgamesh is two-thirds divine and one-third human. His father is King Lugalbanda and his mother is the Goddess Ninsun. According to the story, “Belet-ili designed the shape of his body, made his form perfect, was proud.” In the Epic of Gilgamesh, there is a divine council between Ninsun and Shamash, the sun god, in which she begs him to help Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh comes close to gaining immortality when he finds a plant that restores youth until it is stolen from him by a snake, “a snake smelt the fragrance of the plant. It came up silently and carried off the plant. As it took it away, it shed its scaly skin.” Hercules is granted immortality by the gods for his selfless act but he chooses to give it up so he can live on earth with Megara. Hercules concludes that there are more meaningful things than immortality, “a life without Meg, even an immortal life, would be empty.” In both cases, the heroes learn a powerful lesson: your cultural achievements and your accomplishments on earth are what makes you immortal. Your legacy lives on even after you pass