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Comparing Gilgamesh And The Odyssey

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What is a hero? Is a hero someone with superpowers? Not exactly, a hero is a man or a woman of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities. The stories of “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and “The Odyssey” are tales of two different heroes from two different periods. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are both considered heroes, but they have different abilities and accomplishments. Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk in Babylonia, on the river Euphrates in what we know today as Iraq. He lived about 2700B.C. Gilgamesh was considered a hero because of his amazing physical strength and fighting ability. The author describes Gilgamesh as “superior to other kings, a warrior lord of great stature…” (The Epic of Gilgamesh Page 32 Tablet 1 Line 27). Gilgamesh used his strength and stature to defeat powerful beings. One example would be his victory over Humbaba, the monster who guards the Cedar Forest. He fought this beast to build a reputation on his quest for immortality. Another example is his triumph over the Bull of Heaven that Ishtar sends to destroy the city after being mocked by Gilgamesh. He was also considered a hero by the way he protected his men. The author compares Gilgamesh to a “strong net, the protection of his men” (The Epic of Gilgamesh Page 32 Tablet 1 Line 31). He took care …show more content…
Odysseus is seen more as a hero because of his wisdom and war tactics, but Gilgamesh is viewed as heroic because of his brute strength and power. Gilgamesh was more of a protective leader and took care of his men. Odysseus, on the other hand, put his men’s lives in jeopardy continuously and even let all of them die. However, both men were great leaders, brave, and respectable heroes. Both also had faults such as selfishness, arrogance, and carelessness for others. Gilgamesh and Odysseus experienced hardships and made mistakes, but both changed for the better throughout their respective

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