Gilgamesh v. Achilles
I must admit, the introduction really slowed down my reading process, but as I got into the story itself, I began to love it. As I began to read the first book, my mind immediately went to the Greek hero Achilles (I love The Iliad and other greek epics). Gilgamesh and Achilles share some similar qualities. First off, they both have some relation to the gods they each worship. Gilgamesh is the son of Ninsun, a wise goddess, and Lugulbanda, protector of the city (he is also called a god). This makes him two parts god and one part human. Achilles is the son of Thetis, a nymph. Secondly, they both seek to be remembered. In The Iliad, Achilles only goes to Troy so he will be remembered as the victor of the battle. He was obsessed with being remembered. The same can be said about Gilgamesh in the second book. He goes to the "country" to make a name for himself "in the place where the names of famous men are written", even after others tell him there is no need to (70). Finally, they both were amazing warriors. Achilles was the best in the time of the Greeks. No man could match him. The same can be said about Gilgamesh, until Endiku, his equal, comes into the picture.
Although the two are similar, there are two big differences that I noticed. Achilles does everything he does out of rage and arrogance. For example, when his cousin was accidentally killed while pretending to be him, he takes his rage out on Hector of Troy. Gilgamesh acts differently than Achilles. He does not just act out in rage when a loved one dies. Sure he is mad, but he wants to make sure that Endiku is honored and mourned by everyone (at least for what we have read so far). Achilles also does not like authority, even from his gods. Gilgamesh, unlike Achilles, prays to his gods and respects them. Because of these differences, I would consider Gilgamesh superior to Achilles.
On another note, when Endiku threw the Bull of Heaven's thigh in Ishtar's face on page 88, and said "if I could lay my hands on you...," I heard it as the most ghetto voice in my head for some reason.
P.S. I commented on Cade and Hannah's post!
Although the two are similar, there are two big differences that I noticed. Achilles does everything he does out of rage and arrogance. For example, when his cousin was accidentally killed while pretending to be him, he takes his rage out on Hector of Troy. Gilgamesh acts differently than Achilles. He does not just act out in rage when a loved one dies. Sure he is mad, but he wants to make sure that Endiku is honored and mourned by everyone (at least for what we have read so far). Achilles also does not like authority, even from his gods. Gilgamesh, unlike Achilles, prays to his gods and respects them. Because of these differences, I would consider Gilgamesh superior to Achilles.
On another note, when Endiku threw the Bull of Heaven's thigh in Ishtar's face on page 88, and said "if I could lay my hands on you...," I heard it as the most ghetto voice in my head for some reason.
P.S. I commented on Cade and Hannah's post!
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