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Comparing and contrasting creation myths
Creation myths comparison essay
Creation myths comparison essay
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The epic of Gilgamesh is about demigod created to rule over the people of Uric but fears death, Throughout the epic, Gilgamesh faces many obstacles while undergoing a series of changes and developments; starting out as an arrogant and selfish king. The king of Uruk, an arrogant dictator who was created to to be perfect. “when the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body. Shamash the glorious sun endowed him with beauty, Adad the god of the storm endowed him with courage, the great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull. Two thirds they made him god and one third man.” (Gilgamesh, 504) Although Gilgamesh was created to be perfect, his style of ruling became to be a problem. Gilgamesh …show more content…
Gilgamesh’s fear of death than leads him to go on a quest in search of immortality. Along the way Gilgamesh runs into Enkidu who was created to end Gilgamesh’s reign, but instead Gilgamesh and Enkidu begin to fight and some how a start of a new friendship emerges. “Gilgamesh and Enid have a furious and prolonged wrestling match but emerge from the contest as friends.” (Gilgamesh, 205) Enkidu Accompanies Gilgamesh on his quest in search of immortality but instead ponders off to slay an innocent servant, referred to as Humbaba, although Humbaba begged for his life. Gilgamesh and Enkidu still take his life, angering the gods. Ishter the goddess than falls in love with Gilgamesh but he rudely insults her making her rage with anger. “Ishter ask her father for Amu to make the Bull of Heaven, to destroy Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven, and throws the thighbone of the Bull in Ishter’s face, a terrible form of disrespect.” Gilgamesh has no compassion nor does he have sympathy or respect, killing off spiritual servants and disrespecting the gods. The Actions of Gilgamesh and Enkidu Angered the god terribly. Enid was created to stop Gilgamesh but instead made the situation messier than it need to be, therefore the gods punish him with dead. “Ana, Enlil, Es and heavenly Shamash took counsel together, and Anu said to Enlil, ‘Because they have killed the Bull of Heaven, and because …show more content…
“How can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair is in my heart. What my brother is now, that shall be when I am dead. Because I am afraid of death I will go as best as I can to find Utnapishtim whom they call farwell, for he has entered the assembly of gods.” (Gilgamesh, 507) Gilgamesh finally finds Utnapishtim and demands for immortally. Untnapishtim explains to Gilgamesh that all that he did was obey the gods, in return the gods gave him immortality. Utnapishtim than gives Gilgamesh a three obstacles in order to receive immortality. “As for you, Gilgamesh, who will assemble the gods for your sake, so that you may find that life for which you are searching? But if you wish, Come and put it to the test: to Prevail against sleep for six days and seven nights.” (Gilgamesh, 511) Gilgamesh accepts Utnapishtim’s test but fails within hours and lies about his outcome. Utnapishtim’s wife feels sympathy for Gilgamesh, giving his another test in return for ever lasting life. “There is a plant that grows under the water, it has prickles like a thorn, like a rose; it will wound your hands, but if you succeed in taking it, then your hands will hold that which restores his lost youth to a man.” (Gilgamesh, 512) Gilgamesh accepts the test once again and actually succeeds but tying rocks to his feet in order for him the sink to retrieve the
Gilgamesh, Beowulf and Achille are heroes who possess extraordinary powers. Gilgamesh and Achilles are the products of divine mothers. Their divine blood gives them unrivaled strength and skill needed to be outstanding warriors. As a hero, Gilgamesh is admirable in the same measure as he is arrogant and tyrannical. He saves his people by preventing catastrophic outcomes to the people of Uruk by fighting the beast. He also makes sacrifices when he engages in a battle with Humbaba. Moreover, He deems himself an equal by establishing friendship with Enkidu who is just a commoner but calls him a ‘brother’ and grieves at his death. This shows that he has...
True love and immortality in life would be a dream come true to many people. To spend time with a special someone; the person one feels closest to; the so-called soul mate and to never have that high feeling of emotion end mentally and physically would greatly appeal to most people. But when death steps into the picture, even with all the pain and devastation, one starts to re-evaluate themselves and realizes the important things in life and puts it all into perspective. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the main character, Gilgamesh, is a powerful, arrogant king and part god. Enkidu, Gilgamesh’s partner, is animal-like but later takes on more humanistic traits such as his contemplation’s of death. The friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu is a very powerful, loving friendship. Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s soul mate, not only acting as his friend but as a lover too. Enkidu’s presence in Gilgamesh’s life allows Gilgamesh to see what is truly good in life and to accept his mortality much easier.
Utanapishtim explained to Gilgamesh how he didn’t believe he was worthy of immortality; he then challenged Gilgamesh to a challenge he failed terribly at. After Utanapishtim sends off Gilgamesh he tells them to come back and explains to him about a plant that can make the person who eats it young again. He eventually finds the plant but after a series of unfortunate events he realizes that he cannot live forever. He comes to accept this and returns home and has an awakening. He understands that he may not be able to live forever but his legacy can. He learns that being a great, caring and selfless leader is the way to live in history forever. His citizens loved the new Gilgamesh and he went down in history as a great leader and his story is still told to this
Utnapishtim explained to Gilgamesh that man cannot achieve immortality because it requires too much sacrifice, which is simply unattainable for any human, but he still gave Gilgamesh a chance to prove himself. However, Gilgamesh failed miserably and was told to return home (page 97-99). But before he left, at the request of Utnapishtim’s wife, he told Gilgamesh about a plant that will make him young again. After acquiring the plant, he decided to the elderly in Uruk to see if it truly worked. Unfortunately, Gilgamesh lost his chance toward immortality when a snake took the plant while he was bathing. Gilgamesh learns that being human entails accepting one’s fate of death and not trying to run from it. This allows him to be content with what he has and understand that his city and the people are what matter not fame. As Gilgamesh is telling Ur-shanabi about Uruk he is saying it with pride and joy, unlike in the beginning of the epic where the tone of the description was as if the city of Uruk wasn’t good enough and he needed to accomplish more to leave a legacy behind (page 99). We can tell he is content with what he has and that he has transitioned to a hero-king by taking pride in his
This is the beginning of a vicious cycle that Gilgamesh goes through. He gets his hopes up. Then they are destroyed, only to be brought up again. The cycle continues when Gilgamesh finally reaches Utnapishtim. Gilgamesh thinks he is very close to eternal life, but Utnapishtim destroys that hope when he tells Urshanabi to bring Gilgamesh back across the sea of death. The final spin in the cycle starts when Gilgamesh gets the thorny plant from the river floor. To Gilgamesh, this plant is much more than hope. It symbolizes the purpose of his life: to resurrect Enkidu. At this point, Gilgamesh thinks he has finally won. He has the key to eternal life. When the serpent eats the flower, Gilgamesh is devastated. All that he worked so hard for is taken from him.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the greatest works of ancient Mesopotamia that was originally written in cuneiform around 2100 B.C.E. Gilgamesh was not written by one specific character but evolved gradually over the long span of a millennium (Foster 95). The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic that tells how a friendship was formed between Gilgamesh, who is the king of Uruk and Enkidu after they engage in a fight. The love and friendship that Enkidu and Gilgamesh have for each other causes Gilgamesh who was once an arrogant, oppressive, and brutal ruler (96). To become a more loving civilized man who finally understands the true value of friendship.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur. From the ancient Mesopotamia, the poem is set where modern day Iraq is today. Composed of five Sumerian poems about Bilgamesh, which is Sumerian for Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is two parts God and one part Man who is a hero. Gilgamesh encounters many challenges and situations during The Epic of Gilgamesh that cause him to evolve into a better king. Consequential, Gilgamesh recommences his position in Urk and evolves as an improved king.
Boredom causes Gilgamesh and Enkidu to make another bad choice. Gilgamesh decides to make a name for him. Gilgamesh wants to go to the great cedar forest and cut down all the cedar trees. In order to do this they need to kill the Guardian of the Cedar Forest, Humbaba. Enkidu has seen this demon and initially tries to dissuade Gilgamesh. Enkidu is not the only one trying to discourage this adventure. The elders and Ninsun also try to discourage the adventure. Gilgamesh is given many opportunities to make a different choice, but does not choose to. He continues on to make a name for himself. Even in the midst of the battle Gilgamesh is given the opportunity to spare the life of Humbaba. Once again Gilgamesh makes a choice, he chooses to slay the great demon. Humbaba then curses Enkidu. Sometimes a choice may not only affect the one that makes the choice, but others also. Gilgamesh chooses to kill Humbaba. Enkidu even tries to talk Gilgamesh out of it, but in the end it was Gilgamesh that is cursed.
Death and Immortality in The Epic of Gilgamesh The search for immortality has been a major concern for many men and women all throughout history. True love and immortality in life would be a dream come true to many. To spend time with a special someone, the person one feels closest to, and never have to say good-bye would greatly appeal to most people. But when death steps into the picture, even with all the pain and devastation, one starts to re-evaluate themselves. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh explores the possibility of immortality following the saddening death of his friend and brother, Enkidu.
Gilgamesh was king of Uruk, and also who was a third god and one/third human. He constructed glorious ziggurats, or sanctuary’s or towers, enclosed by his city with large walls, and laid out its groves and grounds. Gilgamesh was really attractive massively solid and very smart. However since Gilgamesh was superhuman in the appearance and mind, he then started his reign as a mean ruler. He used his people in his land, and then took advantage of woman by sexually abusing several women whom hit his attention, nevertheless if she was a wife of his warriors or either the daughter of a patrician. Gilgamesh created his large building missions with involuntary employment, and his tired people in land cried during this brutality. The gods then heard that his people cries and then agreed to Gilgamesh in check by forming a uniquely man named Enkidu who was a wild creature who was almost as great as the great Gilgamesh. Enkidu after time then became Gilgamesh’s friend, and then Gilgamesh’s life was hurt when Enkidu died of an sickness caused by the great gods.
The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh, is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a god. Throughout the story, many things cause Gilgamesh to change. He gains a friend, he makes a name for himself by killing Humbaba, and he tries to become immortal because of the death of Enkidu. Through these main actions his personality changes and he becomes a better person.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is generally regarded as the greatest literature about tales of a great king. The Epic of Gilgamesh served to show us a lot of things. The time period of BCE is very blurry, and this story attempts to describe many different things in not only Sumerian beliefs, but also Sumerian's culture as a whole. Like many stories from BCE the truth itself is questionable, even though a lot of the information is fact. The factual information that Gilgamesh teaches us about Sumerian Civilization is that had had many craftsman and artistic skills, and also a strong belief in Gods.
Things are not created to last forever; they are created to serve a temporally purpose. Utnapishtim debated this theme of no permanence to Gilgamesh and said to him the following “Do we build a house to stand for ever, do we seal a contract to hold for all time? … Does the flood-time of river endure? He wanted to make Gilgamesh see that what he seeks it is not achievable that things are not mean to last forever because what purpose would you serve by lasting forever. Also it is mention how human’s destinies are created by god’s who give you full disclosure but death is kept a secret to humans. Therefore because of this uncertainty Gilgamesh wanted to skip deaths and achieve immortality and be release from his
Gilgamesh is an example of someone who had many flaws and faced many struggles but, in the end, changed his attitude and became a better person. In the beginning of Gilgamesh, he is described as doing whatever he wants and being juvenile in a way. For example, in the text it says, “he was their shepherd, yet powerful, superb, knowledgeable and expert, Gilgamesh would not leave young girls alone, the daughters of warriors, the brides of young men.” With his second half, Enkidu, they entered into the first step in becoming a hero according to Campbell, the separation, by going on an adventure. At this point in the story, Gilgamesh is very arrogant. While traveling to Cedar Forest, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu, “let me go in front of you, and your voice call out: ‘Go close, don’t be afraid!’ If I should fall, I should have won fame. People will say, Gilgamesh grappled in combat with ferocious Humbaba… ensure fame that will last forever.” Next is stage two, the initiation, of the Campbell’s hero journey. Gilgamesh undergoes a trail to begin his transformation, he must fight the Bull of Heaven. Gilgamesh’s supportive side is starting to show when he tells Enkidu that they will win if they fight together. After killing the Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh’s confident attitude is shown once again. The next trial he faces is the death of Enkidu. He starts to show emotion when he says, “for you Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains… I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care… and I myself will neglect my appearance after your death.” At this point his character has been greedy and then he showed his fear and supportive side. The last stage in the hero’s journey is the return. Enkidu’s death sent Gilgamesh on an adventure to fight death. From this adventure he learned his biggest lesson from Utnapishtim. He learns to appreciate life, and
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a moving tale of the friendship between Gilgamesh, the demigod king of Uruk, and the wild man Enkidu. Accepting ones own mortality is the overarching theme of the epic as Gilgamesh and Enkidu find their highest purpose in the pursuit of eternal life.