Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic - Essay Example

The vast influences of the epic are traceable from the biblical allusions of Noah’s story to the Greek tales of the Titans. Multiple literary features are self-evident in the epic. These include the element of characterization, which stretches the dimensions of the hero's powers to superhuman levels.

The hero in Gilgamesh, as in other related epics, is portrayed as having the best of qualities that any man can aspire to. The element of beauty, strength, and wisdom are stretched in ways that project the hero above the normal character of a human (Jastrow and Albert 52). Gilgamesh is described as exceedingly beautiful and mighty. He easily triumphs in all physical combats against man and beast. The character of the epic influenced the development of other characters such as Achilles and Hector who were equally beautiful and brave fighters for their people.

The Epic of Gilgamesh began the tradition of representing the gods in somewhat fallible perspectives, which portrayed them as equally susceptible to temptations, passions, and folly just like mortals. In this particular epic, the gods rue their earlier decision to destroy humankind through floods and undertake never to repeat such an action (Jastrow and Albert 61). The fact that the gods are capable of making mistakes dethrones them from the high position of invulnerability to folly and reduces them to the levels of humankind with their limited perceptions and poor judgment.

Traces of such influences can be seen in the manner in which the gods in the gods in the Battle for the Titans decide to take sides with mortals and even disagree on the choices of heroes. Such themes continue into other epics that extol the superhuman characters of man and the capacity for the gods to adjust their positions to levels that reduce their majesty and godly characteristics. The fallible aspect of the gods in the epic is also illustrated in the manner in which a goddess lusts for Gilgamesh. Such portrayal of the gods is also represented in the epics and heroes' stories that have emerged in different eras, civilizations, and communities.

Certain themes explored in the epic of Gilgamesh are also consistent in other epics and hero stories. For instance, humankind’s futile search for immortality is a story that continues in many epic traditions. Usually, the search for immortality features a series of puzzles, challenges, and complex situations that often end up in a mistake that retains humankind to the status of mortality. For instance, in this epic Gilgamesh is offered the challenge of staying awake for a whole week if he sincerely aspires for the life of immortality. He fails the test and is instead offered a substance for renewing his youth, which is stolen by the serpent. As such, he becomes contended with the reality of mortality but his displeasure is assuaged by the promise of the endurance of humankind. A similar theme can be found in other stories such as the biblical story of Adam and Eve where a mistake of disobedience assigns them to the condition of mortality.

The kind of symbolism and imagery used in the epic of Gilgamesh features consistently in other epics and hero stories. The snake or serpent is used as the symbol of the deceiver. It is the ultimate antagonist to the plans of humankind to live a full life full of promise and prosperity. In the story of Adam and Eve, the snake is the originator of the plan of disobedience, which costs the two characters the promise of eternity. In the story of Gilgamesh, the serpent steals the magic substance that could be used to rejuvenate aging people back to youthfulness. As such, the unity in symbolism, which runs through the various epics and hero stories, places the epic of Gilgamesh in the position of the progenitor within the genre. The same symbol of the snake and its cunning characteristics are repeated in various Egyptian myths and Greek hero stories.

Gilgamesh and characters such as Achilles and Hector all gain their supremacy through mighty duels in which they must triumph for their survival. One aspect of these duels is that the gods take sides for the hero to prevail. These features recur in many hero stories and epics across times and places. Ultimately, the epic of Gilgamesh contains many literary features, allusions, themes, and symbols that appear in many epics and hero stories that were subsequently authored. This fact credits the view that the epic paved the way for many hero stories and epics.

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