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What Makes Gilgamesh An Epic Hero

283 Words2 Pages
The Epic of Gilgamesh, written by ancient Sumerians, is the epitome of an epic hero poem. Gilgamesh is described as being two-thirds god and one-third man. Gilgamesh may already be the king or Uruk, but what makes him a true hero? Epic heroes all share similar characteristics. In some cases, the hero must complete a long and dangerous journey or compete in an epic battle that illustrates his magnitude. In regards to Gilgamesh, his journey to find Utnapishtim is a heroic feat in itself. As the tavern keeper warned Gilgamesh, “The crossing is perilous, highly perilous the course, and midway lie the waters of death, whose surface is impassable” (77). This impossible journey illustrates the heroic qualities of Gilgamesh and through fortitude
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