Epic Heroes: Gilgamesh and Achilles Achilles, from the ancient Greek epic of the Iliad, and Gilgamesh from the ancient Sumerian epic has many similarities as powerful god-like heroes. Achilles was seen as arrogant, and Gilgamesh was viewed as ruthless. However, Both Gilgamesh and Achilles hold on to this grief and rage for their loved ones and in both epics we see this factor blind both men as they hold on to death and loss. In Homer’s Illiad Achilles is grief stricken by the death of his extremely close friend, Patroclus. Homer described Achilles’ reaction to the death of Patroclus, “Both hands clawed the ground for soot and filth, he poured it over his head, fouled his handsome face...Overpowered by all his power, sprawled in the dust,