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His link to the gods (being two-thirds god and also resisting the overtures of the goddess Ishtar and finally slaughtering her monster bull) and the sheer magnitude of his power and achievements help to elevate him to the status of epic hero. Gilgamesh is regarded as the first epic hero in global literature.

How does Gilgamesh most clearly fit the definition of an epic hero? In conclusion, Gilgamesh is important because it is a classic example of an ancient poem that has influenced people across all cultures over time. But none have reached the same level of popularity or influence as Gilgamesh has.Īlso, this poem is just plain fun to read! It's action-packed, it tells a great story, and there are plenty of poems in here for everyone to enjoy. It predates Homer's Iliad by about 500 years and since then many other stories have been told, some better than others. This image has been very influential in many cultures throughout history.Īnother reason why Gilgamesh is important is because it was one of the first stories ever told. But he fails, his actions have consequences, and he dies a tragic death. Gilgamesh is lord and ruler of everything he views as the epic starts, a crazy, psychotic dictator who believes he can do anything he wants. The importance of this magnificent epic stems mostly from the fact that it depicts a recognized image of an individual's moral development. In conclusion, Gilgamesh is a hero if you believe in strength through courage and justice winning over evil. However, if you believe that evil should be punished and good people should never suffer, then Gilgamesh is a villain because he killed many people without reason or remorse. If you believe that strength comes from strength and that victory belongs to the brave, then Gilgamesh is a hero because he faced his fears and fought against injustice. In addition, there are also hints within the poems themselves that they may not be entirely fictional.Īs far as being a hero or a villain, this all depends on how you view things. Although this story is told through poems written many years after it happened, some details such as this fight between two powerful men do match up with other stories that were told at the time. Gilgamesh is said to have been the greatest warrior who ever lived until he was defeated by a younger man named Enlil, who became king instead. He was a legendary king who lived around 3500 B.C. Gilgamesh is one of the most well-known characters in ancient mythology. He was the King of Heroes, who possessed everything in the world, and whose story is recorded in mankind's oldest epic poem, "The Epic of Gilgamesh," which portrays him as a hero, destined to be king and achieve great challenges, who is driven to fulfill his destiny, confronting these challenges with his best.
