A Comparison Of Gilgamesh Vs. Job

Gilgamesh vs. Job: Who’s the Hero?

A hero is someone who has performed courageous acts, attained special achievements, possesses special qualities or nobleness of character that most would regard as an ideal to live up to. If we apply this definition of hero to Gilgamesh and Job who would come out on top? Let’s look at each in turn. Gilgamesh was two-thirds god, one-third man and Lord of Kullab, a part of the city of Uruk. (23) He built the wall of Uruk which help to keep the people of his city safe from invaders. Together Gilgamesh and his best friend, Enkidu, performed many brave deeds including destroying Humbaba, the guardian of the cedar forest. However, when Gilgamesh rejected the advances of Ishtar she killed Enkidu in retaliation.

Gilgamesh begins to search for the answer to everlasting life – immortality – in order to escape the fate of his friend Enkidu as evidenced by the line “Because I am afraid of death I will go as best I can to find Utnapishtim who the call the Faraway, for he has entered the assembly of the gods.” (23) One his journey Gilgamesh endured many challenges that would have made an ordinary man turn back such as the scorpions who stand guard at the gate of the great mountain Mashu – “At its gate the Scorpions stand guard, half man and half dragon; their glory is terrifying, their stare strikes death into men, their shimmering halo sweeps the mountains that guard the rising sun.”

A pious, god fearing man from the land of Uz, Job was a successful farmer with a large number of animals, many servants, as well as the father of seven sons and three daughters. Due to his success, Job was known as “the greatest of all the man of the east.” (36) Job becomes a pawn in a game between Satan and God to test his faith which God has help up to Satan as unwavering. God says to Satan “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (36) Satan challenges God that Job is so unwavering in his faith because God has protected and blessed him to which God answers “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.”