Comparing Gilgamesh And Achilles

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Dating back to Ancient Greek mythology, heroes have been known for their victories and defeats, foe their courageous acts of bravery, and for simply being epic. The stories of these heroes have been passed down from generation to generation. Two epic heroes that have comparable stories are Gilgamesh and Achilles. To each man’s culture, the heroes are considered epic due to their long, dangerous journeys and bravery. Just like every story, both Gilgamesh and Achilles experience conflict during their journey. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the story of a king named Gilgamesh who is one-third man and two-thirds god. Gilgamesh was described as being extremely wise and visually elegant. He ruled his people in a rather harsh manner, taking advantage of the women and forcing labor onto his people. Gilgamesh had a great friend named Enkidu, and after he passed, Gilgamesh was heartbroken. Enkidu’s death sparked Gilgamesh’s journey to seek the truth about the after life. The Iliad tells the events of the Trojan War. Achilles is described as being prideful and ruthless. He is also described as being one of the boldest and greatest warriors on the battlefield during the war. When his pride is hurt, he withdraws from battle, where his close friend Patroclus takes his place. When Patroclus dies in battle, Achilles becomes raged and filled with anger. He demands …show more content…

To begin with, both Gilgamesh and Achilles were born to a kind and a goddess. Gilgamesh was the son of Ninsun and King Lugalbanda. Achilles was the son of Thetis and Peleus. The heroes also both possess what you could considered a “sidekick”. Enkidu was created in order to help humble Gilgamesh. Patroclus was Achilles best friend and lover. Both characters were seen as epic heroes to the people in their culture. They both set out on a journey, each for a different purpose. Gilgamesh and Achilles have similar stories with different

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