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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A five page paper which looks at the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh and the Greek hero Heracles, in terms of the way in which their narratives fulfill similar cultural roles within their respective societies and the similarities and differences between the tasks which they undergo in their quests for enlightenment.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JL5_JLheracles.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
thousands of years ago but only discovered comparatively recently. Various commentators have noted that it has many parallels with the Old Testament of the Christian bible, particularly with regard to
the myth of the flood: the stories of Gilgamesh and Noah have a number of striking similarities.
However, it could also be said that because of his heroic deeds and the way that they form the major part of his quest for knowledge and self-enlightenment, Gilgamesh
also has parallels with the Greek hero Heracles. In some senses Gilgamesh can be seen as the fore-runner of the mythical Greek character, since many of the trials which he
undergoes are reflected in the story of Heracles, and the ultimate aim of the two heroes is also similar, in the sense that their physical labours are all directed to
an ultimate goal of spiritual growth. However, it is reasonable to assert that there
will always be similarities discovered between all the hero/god figures in different mythologies, particularly as the need to identify with and aspire to the hero will be common to all
cultures. In addition, the kind of difficulties and trials faced by different ancient communities will also tend to be similar. On the one hand, there was the need to combat
and conquer the environment, which would give rise to stories of defeating fierce or poisonous animals, or overcoming natural disasters such as fire or flood. There would also be a
need to relate the hero/god figure to such apparently inexplicable events as weather and climatic conditions, or more dramatic events such as the solar eclipse.
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