Abstract
This paper discusses the Gilgamesh epic from Babylonia, which is believed to be the oldest known work of literature, written approximately in the year 2500 BC. The paper describes Gilgamesh, the demigod who ruled Uruk on the River Euphrates in the third millennium BC. The paper further describes the epic's account of the Deluge, similar to the Flood of the Bible, the artifacts it discusses, which are associated with Agga and Enmebaragesi of Kish, and its descriptions of the nature of heroism.

From the Paper
"Gilgamesh is two-thirds god and one-third human and the strongest superhuman who ever lived (Kovacs 1989, Hooker 1996, Wikipedia 2006). The gods are disturbed by the extent of his might and his people, by his harshness and abuses, so that the gods send the wild man Enkidu to rival and handicap him. But Enkidu loses his strength by giving in to the seduction of the temple harlot Shamnat, who introduces him to a civilized life in Uruk, instead. There Enkidu engages into a losing fight with Gilgamesh when Enkidu tries to champion the rights of the people against their leader. But in the end, the two become friends. Gilgamesh goes on a victory spree and now wants to cut down cedar trees to construct the gate of his city. In order to do so, they have to combat and eliminate the guardian of the cedar forest, the demon Humbaba, which Gilgamesh is able to do with the help of Enkidu and the god Shamash. Despite Humbaba's appeal, Gilgamesh cuts off Humbaba's head on the prompting of Enkidu. But before dying, Humbaba curses Enkidu (Kovacs, Wikipedia, Hooker)."

Tags:Sumerian, demigod, legend

Abstract
This paper explores the ancient Greek warrior and king of Ithaca Odysseus, the Indian deity and prince Rama, and the ancient Mesopotamian demigod Gilgamesh, who are all heroes involved in epic 'quests.' The paper gives a brief synopsis of each epic poem, describing what the hero must overcome to achieve his goal. Then, the characteristics of each hero are compared and contrasted. These are often seen in a cultural context. Additionally, the wives of Odysseus and Rama are discussed, particularly in light of how they help their husbands. Although Gilgamesh is not married, the paper describes his profound loss at the death of his friend.

From the Paper
"Although favored by his patron goddess Athena, Odysseus must leave his home to fight in the Trojan War. He is condemned to further years of wandering because he blinds Poseidon's son the Cyclops. As a wanderer, he is forever a strange man in a strange place, always looking for home. The Greeks greatly valued home as a physical place and home as an existential concept--the Greeks were known for calling all non-Greeks barbarians, by virtue of not being Greeks, and within Greece there were frequent civil wars between different city-states because of local pride. However, hospitality towards strangers was demanded by the Greek sense of fear of being placeless."

Tags:Odysseus, Gilgamesh, Rama, Penelope, Sita

Abstract
This essay discusses these two stories as a pair of ancient myths written into yesterday's newspaper which are meant to plausibly present us with the rise and fall of freakish demigods at the hand of a mundane world. In both stories, the protagonists are portrayed as freaks of nature, in accordance with the gothic stereotype.

From the Paper
This essay discusses these two stories as a pair of ancient myths written into yesterday's newspaper which are meant to plausibly present us with the rise and fall of freakish demigods at the hand of a mundane world.In both stories, the protagonists are portrayed as freaks of nature, in accordance with the gothic stereotype.

Tags:genre, reader, physically, horrific, deformed, window, human, soul, metaphor, linking, human, consciousness, material, sensation