While in all three of the ancient civilizations death is the final barrier that characters must overcome, the heroes in all three of these myths use different strategies in order to conquer this obstacle. While the heroes in the Popol Vuh use the trickery of resurrection in order to save themselves, resurrection in both Gilgamesh and Isis and Osiris is a capable ability that these heroes are either capable of achieving, or almost capable. Describing resurrection as not only a trait that are heroes are capable of using, and magical ability that only the most powerful can attain places the heroes of these myths on a high pedestal. In Popol Vuh, the heroes trick seven death and one death by using the magic of resurrection in order to kill
In The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis, there are a couple of similarities that they both have in common. For example, they both discussed the story about the God(s) sending the flood to the city in order to destroy the whole civilization, while leaving some of righteous humans alive: Uta-napishti from The Epic of Gilgamesh and Noah from The Book of Genesis. Despite the difference in their backstory, these two characters are both given the same role as the one who tries to recreate their own society with animals and resources that they brought with on the Ark. Another similarity is that they both send out ravens outside of the Ark to make sure the water is subsided and the land is dried after the flood.
Within the flood stories of Gilgamesh and the Bible, there exist both similarities and differences. One commonality is the destruction of mankind. In Gilgamesh, the gods unite to attempt and terminate mankind. Enlil ordered a flood to come and swipe all of mankind. Consequently, Ea betrays the gods and told Utnapishtim their scheme.
The two historical figures, Gilgamesh and Sennacherib, are known for their heroic acts upon the world, which has been recorded in writing systems from long ago. These stories have been passed down since ancient times so that it could reach younger generations, like today’s world. Since those times, the languages and words of the these two stories have changed due to the complex environment that was surrounding. For example, the Epic of Gilgamesh is among the oldest known recordings of heroic events.
The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority. Based on my reading of The Epic of Gilgamesh, I found that influence of the leader in the Ancient Near East, was pivotal in order for the society to function. The Mesopotamian society had three major factors; economics, politics, and a system of values. All of these factors were intertwined, where one factor has influence on all the others. So when someone like Gilgamesh relies on his ability to lead only with authority, the society begins to divide.
They built magnificent temples called ziggurats to honor their deities, and priests played a central role in religious rituals and practices. The Babylonians also had a rich mythology, with stories of gods, creation, and epic tales like the Epic of Gilgamesh. Babylonians worshiped a diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, each associated with specific domains and aspects of life. Some prominent deities included Marduk (the chief god of Babylon), Ishtar (goddess of love, fertility, and war), Ea (god of wisdom and magic), Shamash (god of the sun and justice), and Sin (god of the moon). The gods represented natural forces, celestial bodies, and human qualities.
In the “Epic of Gilgamesh” and “The Odyssey” by Homer, all the gods are portrayed as being very near, and having a very close relationship with the mortals. The authors showed this through their interactions, even though each epic portrayed a unique mode of interaction between the gods and the mortals. For instance, in the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” this interactions are mostly indirect, whereas in Homer’s Odyssey, they are direct. Another thing the authors tried to show is that the gods are limited in their powers, at least some of them. The authors portrayed this through the gods favoring or disfavoring certain mortals.
The Epic of Gilgamesh had the gods who are Anu, Enlil, Ninurta, Ennugi, Ea (line 2-3, p.20). In contrast to The Epic of Gilgamesh, Genesis had the only God according to the whole story. As the omniscient God existed over the world, the God in Genesis naturally controls every field of the world without distributing roles. On the other hand, a number of the gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh can split the roles into parts. For example, Anu is the lord of the firmament, warrior Enlil is the counselor of the city Shurrupak, Ninurta is the helper, Ennugi is the watcher over canals, and Ea is the god of wisdom (line 2-3, p.20).
Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt were two early human civilizations that lived during the bronze age in harsh desert environments located not far from each other. Both civilizations were built around rivers that they depended on for survival. There is evidence that these rivers had great influence on both the societies politics and culture. Egypt was built around the very strong and reliable Nile River. Ancient Mesopotamia was established in the fertile crescent between the less reliable Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
There are many similarities and differences between the early civilizations of the Middle East and India. The early Middle East civilizations will include Mesopotamia and Egypt. Mesopotamia was founded in 3300 BC, and Egypt was founded around 3000 BC. India was founded around 2500 BC. So these civilizations were founded all around the same time.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible have a few similar events and historians think that they may refer to the same event. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible share a similar event, the flood, and a similar character, the serpent. Though there are still several distinctions between the two stories. The Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh both contain a serpent as one of the less significant characters.
It tells the story of mighty hero Gilgamesh, the hero king of Uruk, and his adventures. The Iliad is an epic poem written in the mid-8th Century BCE. It describes the main events in the final weeks of the Trojan War and the Greek siege of the city of Troy. The wrath of Achilles, themes of glory and fate are portrayed in the subject matter of the epic.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest story known to mankind, being written on Sumerian clay almost five thousand years ago (Garone). Since the story was originally known orally, the culture and themes from The Epic of Gilgamesh must have existed long before it was finally inscribed (Mark 4). Having known this, the cultures and themes can be compared to today’s society, discovering about how they have shifted and evolved, and also observe how they are similar. The ancient days of Gilgamesh has brought culture that has greatly influenced today’s society. Because Gilgamesh was set around the time of late Babylonian or early Sumerian society, the Babylonian and Sumerian cultures also play a role in shaping the world into what is is today (Mark).
Gilgamesh book report Part 1: In the introduction, when Mitchell assesses the comparisons and differences between Gilgamesh and Enkidu, he states that Enkidu “is also Gilgamesh’s opposite and mirror image: two-thirds animal to Gilgamesh’s two-thirds divine. These animal qualities are actually much more attractive than divine ones. Where Gilgamesh is arrogant, Enkidu is childlike; where Gilgamesh is violent, Enkidu is peaceful...”
The ideas of shepherd and sheep-pen are used to show the initial contrast between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Enkidu is designed by the gods as a younger counterpart to Gilgamesh as a way to distract the king from abusing his people. Gilgamesh is said to be the “shepherd” of “Uruk-the-Sheepfold”, but he is described as tyrannical to the point that his citizens appeal the gods to do something about his unchecked reign of terror. The people of Uruk live in “the Sheepfold” – the city is meant to be a safe place and their king is meant to be the city’s protector. Although that is the intent, calling Uruk a “sheepfold” causes the city to seem like a holding pen where Gilgamesh can pick and choose which of his citizens he will take advantage of each day.
