Epic Heroes - Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey
Throughout the ages, mankind has had many individuals who have been an inspiration for people, throughout their life time. These individuals have portrayed qualities that have been seen as many as the ideal qualities a person must possess in order to become a hero in the eyes of the larger public. In a true definition of the term 'hero', a hero is any person, who is a role model for other people around him, who stands up for the right and just causes against the evil forces while risking his own life in order to ascertain the safety of the public, who does not seek any personal reward and has no personal agenda but chooses to help the people in the society for their rights to justice and peaceful life at all times. Accordingly, a hero has to be someone who works for the greater good of the society without looking after his own personal interests. A hero responds in the need to ensure that the goodness and its aura prevails in the society and that there is no more existence of any evil power in the society that is capable of threatening the goodness, peace, tranquility and progress of a society.
Although the above definition details the qualities of a hero in a more humanized manner, there are many heroes who are considered to be as role models and saviors of the people because they have been known to possess supernatural powers. These supernatural powers can vary from super strength to exemplary bravery and courage to the ability to fly. Also, it is more commonly understood, that when an individual embarks on the path to become a hero, he is in a position of power and authority, such as a king or a ruler, which allows him to act more responsibly towards the common people. The possession of such positions and qualities by an individual who works for the good causes, while also defeating the evil that negatively affects the people in the society, the...
"Xenia is the Greek relationship between two people from different regions. This [value] allowed for the members of the relationship to safely travel into the other member's territory and receive a place to stay and something to eat" (Biggs et al. 2009). This is one reason why Penelope's suitors in the "Odyssey" are seen as especially brutal, because they violate the principles of being a good guest to a
In the Old Testament, Eden appears as a lush tropical rainforest full of fruit and life. In other words, it is presented as an image of perfection. In the Old Testament, the character of Cain is said to have a mark on him. This mark signifies his breaking of the covenant with God by committing the first murder. In the story of Job, Job suffers by losing everything, from
Hi arrival at Uruk tames Gilgamesh who now leaves the new brides to their husbands (Hooker). Gilgamesh and Enkidu journey to the cedar forest to acquire timber for Uruk's walls (this need for protection indicates both increased prosperity and further urbanization), but before doing so they must defeat Khumbaba, the forest's guardian, a primitive, nature deity. They know fear for the first time, triumphing only with help from the god
Leed (1991) notes another commonality Gilgamesh shares with contemporary society, and that is the habit of travel. In contemporary society for example, millions of people travel far from their homeland each and every day, whether for work, in the pursuit of knowledge, to reclaim new lands or to vacation. Gilgamesh engages in his pursuits in frequent travel, as noted by the questions often queried of him regarding his appearance, "...why
Whereas the perception and description of Gilgamesh changed from rash individualism to a more hesitant and socially conscious figure, the perception of Odysseus -- along with the other Greek heroes -- changed from the rather unflattering view that historical records took of him and became a more important individual with great heroic qualities. This reflects the differences both in the societies and the times and situations that produced both
Gilgamesh epic, 2000 B.C., is a work of three thousand lines, written on twelve tablets that was discovered amid the ruins of Nineveh and relates the adventures of the imperious Glgamesh and his friend Enkidu (Gilgamesh pp). The extraordinary essence of the poem lies not only in its antiquity but also in the quality of the writing and the comprehension of humanity (Jager pp). The Gilgamesh Epic, the first epic bequeathed
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