The epic poems of Gilgamesh and Ovid’s Metamorphoses contain an almost uncanny resemblance in terms of certain events that take place within both works of literature. Within the poems, one may compare both interpretations of the flood in such a way that could make it difficult to discern their differences. However, despite how comparable the poems may seem, they do pose specific differences that separate them from one another. Although these poems are extremely similar in context, they share differences in terms of cause and effect. Along with this, one must take into account that these poems are separated by two millenniums, which could potentially be a factor. Regardless, the depictions of the flood in these works points to the historical …show more content…
The depictions that this poem contains regarding the flood hold specific details that most individuals could relate to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. However, being that this epic poem is over four thousand years old, the origin of such a familiar story stands in curious position. Within the epic, the gods become unhappy with mankind and decide to send a great flood to wipe out humanity. The god Ea betrays the other god’s intentions by tasking Utnapishtim to act as the Mesopotamian Noah. Ea warns Utnapishtim to abandon his worldly possessions and create a giant ark, stating to “forsake possessions and seek life, belongings reject and life save” (Gilgamesh 143). With this, Utnapishtim follows in suit, gathering his family and friends to board the ark and await the impending flood. This story of Utnapishtim’s journey doesn’t stray far from the depictions we see in the religious texts of today. In fact, the only notable differences between them consist of the time frame in which the flood takes place, Gilgamesh’s polytheistic perspective, the birds used to search for land, and Utnapishtim’s gain of immortality. Regardless, the poem presents such an uncanny similarity that it poses questions towards the overall significance of the event, as well as the influence behind it during that
Gilgamesh, a Sumerian epic, is one of the oldest recorded narratives, yet it still holds relevance today. The epic is composed of 12 stone tablets that were discovered in 1853, and the ancient text lives in a state of flux with many different translations existing today. The text first entered the world stage only once George Smith published the portion of the text that related to the flood from the Hebrew bible. (Mosley Para. 64) The central character, Gilgamesh king of Uruk, is two parts god and one part man. He is handsome, brave, and strong but he is also boastful and filled with pride. He cares very little for his people and “does not leave a girl to her mother” (I, 65). Although he is ultimately perceived as a hero, Gilgamesh has more
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. Benjamin R. Foster. Text. Martin Puncher. New York: W.W and Company, 2013.Print.
Gilgamesh and Odysseus are two heroes from two different time periods that were both in search of the meaning of life. The epics that the two characters are featured in Gilgamesh, was developed from early Mesopotamia and the Odyssey in early Greece. Gilgamesh was a very popular and it was very valuable to the historian of Mesopotamian culture because it reveals much about the religious world, such as their attitudes toward the gods, how a hero was defined and regarded, views about death and friendship.
Njozi, Hamza M. "The Flood Narrative in the Gilgamesh Epic, the Bible and the Qur'ān: The
Odysseus and Gilgamesh are described in the two tales from different periods of time. Both characters are heroic representations of two ordinary men who are searching for the meaning of life. The two literary works portray them as men with certain special strengths even though they both make mistakes and experience the hardships of life. One is said to have metal strength while the other one has physical strength and this special trait helps them to find their own meaning of life through the trials and tribulations that they experience differently. This essay makes a comparison of these two tales using them as mirrors for each other.
Ovid's metamorpheses........The claim of irresistible impulse is a defense in some jurisdictions. The irresistible impulse tests asks if, at the time the crime was committed, a mental disease or disorder prevented the defendant from controlling his or her behavior.
In Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of the flood. When Utnapishtim hits land when there is a flood, he needed to know when the flood was gone. During the end of his story, he says, “When
Whether in Christianity in the form of Noah’s Ark, or through Mesopotamian history in the form of an immortal, the idea of a great flood has proven to be a common story throughout the world. Though Noah’s Ark may be the most popular form of the story, it is not the oldest. Many people believe Noah’s Ark was based on Utnapishnem’s flood story. The two stories are obviously based on the same thing, but one must wonder which one is true or which came first.
The rendition of the historic, worldwide Flood recorded in Genesis of the Old Testament is similar to the account recorded on Tablet 11of the Sumero-Babylonian version of the epic of Gilgamesh, discovered in the 1800’s by British archaeologists in Assyria. Let us compare the two in this essay.
The flood story that is told in The Epic of Gilgamesh has the same principle as the story of Noah told in the book of Genesis in the Bible, but there are some major differences. In the epic, Utnapishtim is immortal and, although Noah was extremely old when he died, he wasn’t immortal. Utnapishtim was a human, but because he saved mankind, Enlil said, “Hitherto Utnapishtim has been a human, now Utnapishtim and his wife shall become like us gods.” (Gilgamesh 11.206-207) In the Biblical story, God told Noah that he was going to send a flood and asked him specifically to make the ark in order to save mankind. In Genesis 6:13-22, God tells Noah why he’s flooding the earth and exact instructions to build the ark. “13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[a] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.[b] 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit[c] high all arou...
In many literary works we see significant transitions in the hero's character as the story is developed. This is also true in the Epic of Gilgamesh with its hero, Gilgamesh. In this narrative poem, we get glimpses of who Gilgamesh is and what his purposes and goals are. We see Gilgamesh act in many different ways -- as an overbearing ruler resented by his people, a courageous and strong fighter, a deflated, depressed man, and finally as a man who seems content with what he's accomplished. Through all of these transitions, we see Gilgamesh's attitude toward life change. The goals he has for his own life alter dramatically, and it is in these goals that we see Gilgamesh's transition from being a shallow, ruthless ruler to being an introspective, content man.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.
The focus of this analysis is on Genesis (chapter 7) and Gilgamesh (lines 1 - 25). These two different passages will be analyzed to relate each document and how the author's worldview shapes his account of the flood.
When two people are so much alike yet so different, it makes a comparison of Gilgamesh and Odysseus an interesting subject. Both the stories of “Gilgamesh” and “The Odyssey” show that the characters were successful warriors with many adventures to be told. Gilgamesh and Odysseus are human with many god-like qualities. Their perception of immortality, as well as regard for death and the influences of the gods in their lives and adventures, are similar; however, the characters have many differences.
Before going any further, the story of Noah and the Flood will be summarized according to the book of Genesis in order to be able to make the comparison later in this paper. The story begins in Genesis chapter 6 describing the then current state of “wickedness.” The descendants of Adam and Eve grew in number and many of them intermarried with anyone of their choosing. God saw in them great “wickedness” and most people only had evil in the...