True Attributes of a Warrior king to Gilgamesh and Odysseus
The characters Gilgamesh and Odysseus have many attributes that are equal. They are both viewed by the gods as being higher than average people, they are kings that interact with the Gods unlike their people, they both have great strength physically and mentally, and they both have large egos and untouchable pride. Both characters have become so used to their great power that they begin to forget where this power comes from, or they begin to think of themselves as god-like. This is where in both stories the gods begin to interfere. With Gilgamesh his pride and power allows him to rattle the world of his people. “...No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh takes them all. No virgin is left to her lover,...yet this is the shepherd of t
he city, wise, comely, and resolute.” Odysseus loves his people, even though he does not hesitate to kill those who betray him and their acquaintances later in the story. His pride and power is used to conquer other lands and people. The next similarity in the characters comes in the way their lessons are taught to them. The gods in Gilgamesh send an equal to Uruk, this is Enkidu. IT could be said that upon the death of Enkidu the lesson for Gilgamesh is learned. I disagree. If it was the point of the gods to teach Gilgamesh to contain his pride and not abuse his power I don’t believe he would have died. I think Enkidu failed his task. The gods wanted Enkidu to entertain Gilgamesh, to keep him responsible, but instead he ended up using h