Myths, Supernatural Powers, and Cultural Parallels: Ancient Sumerians and Greeks - Essay Sample

Introduction

Myths concerning characters with supernatural powers exist in almost every culture across the globe. Such fictitious stories transcending physiognomies of mythical heroes and heroines are detached by cultural and time difference. However, such camaraderie is peculiar in mythological tales; an analysis of imaginary fiction exposes a significant similarity. The Ancient Sumerians and Greeks have varied and opposing cultures; however, themes and imagery of their myths signify productive parallelism. It is from such parallelism, antagonism, and uniqueness of mythical tales that this paper intends to examine the story of Hercules and Gilgamesh.

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Similarities in the Personalities and Adventures of Hercules and Gilgamesh

The biographers of the fictitious mythical stories of Hercules and Gilgamesh cannot be alleged to enjoy the knowledge of the two mythical heroes. The setting and audience targeted by the producers of these epic tales are entirely different, comprising of inimitable and aesthetically spiced escapades. The themes and character personas of Hercules and Gilgamesh are shockingly alike.

An assessment of these works of genius epics discloses a certain universality of the human mind and myth in general. Hercules, also referred to as Heracles, was the son of Zeus and worldly Alcmene. Hercules inherited his supernatural strengths and weaknesses from his mixed paternity (Marshall, 2017, p. 182). He is one of the most celebrated and adored ancient Greek idols. The adventures of Hercules and life captured the spirit of the Greek nation. Hercules was a great warrior and archer, defeating the army of King Erginus, and defending Thebes. His mastery in using Athena's weapons endeared him to his people.

However, Hercules is an unlawful child of Zeus, drew the jealous fury of Hera. Hercules became insane from a divine curse and murdered his children and wife. When he recovered from the obscenity, he sought the guidance of Apollo's prophecy in Delhi to purify his name, which paradoxically is called 'Glory of Hera.' Hercules was ordered to complete twelve superhuman feats, a notion that was unanimously recognized (Marshall, 2017, p. 182). The prophecy also allowed him immortality status upon the accomplishment of the tasks.

He received heroic eminence after completing the tasks commanded and serving the treacherous King Eurystheus. Hercules received immortality rank by the grace of deities and the reminiscence of men, which shares similar heroic recognition as Hercules. Gilgamesh was partially god and human, the sagest, and toughest hero of the Sumerian people. He holds similarity with Hercules in that he is also revered and a legendary king of the Uruk (Coombs, 2004, p.155). Gilgamesh builds and ruled the Sumerian city of Uruk.

In the same manner, in which Hera cursed Hercules, Gilgamesh was challenged by a beastly antagonist (the half-animal called Enkidu) sent by the sky-god Anu. Gilgamesh oppressed the people he ruled. Gilgamesh is depicted as an ignorant, arrogant, and proud man. Gilgamesh does not accomplish his leadership anticipations and rapes any female his heart craves. A group of shepherds enlightens Enkidu after being stripped of his roughness by the Sham, a harlot. Enkidu becomes friends with Gilgamesh after challenging him with the sexual exploitation of new brides in Uruk.

Gilgamesh similarly receives prophetic visions and assurances from his divine ancestor to protect his life. Gilgamesh travels with Enkidu to the Cedar Forest in Iraq and subdues the guardian monster. The guardian monster, called Hum baba, curses Enkidu and prophesies his early demise. Ishtar, a goddess, seeks to have Gilgamesh as her husband in the netherworld, a proposal that Gilgamesh refuses. Ishtar's former lovers had undergone grizzly dooms. Enkidu and Gilgamesh successfully slay the destructive beast (Bull of Heaven) send by Anu (Coombs, 2004, p.155). Enkidu dies of a terrible disease after threatening and insulting Ishtar, and this devastates Gilgamesh, who commences a problematic expedition to attain immortality.

Gilgamesh obtains the plant of immortality after risking his life but loses it to the omnipresent snake. He returns to Uruk full of wisdom and knowledge that attainment of immortality is through endeavors in life. Gilgamesh's mythical tale and that of Hercules seem to be unrelated. Hercules's story stresses on the philosophy of the Greek of a mighty warrior-hero. Gilgamesh depicts a Mesopotamian leader who has a lot of wisdom, fearless, and concerned with the welfare of his subjects. Both mythologies contain a ferryman with a boat that cruises over water to deal with the deceased. Charon, in the epic of Hercules, is regularly traveling over the seas of death. Also, Urshanabi, in the story of Gilgamesh, paddles over death waters.

Hercules and Gilgamesh both share a divine parentage enhancing their superhuman powers. The two mythical heroes suffer misery from imposed by various deities. Hercules incurs the wrath of Hera while Anu and Ishtar severally challenge Gilgamesh. Both Hercules and Gilgamesh have deific guardians, Athena, and Shamash, respectively (Marshall, 2017, p. 182). The deities order the two mythical heroes to perform overwhelming tasks after the demise of their loved ones caused by the fury of gods. Hercules accomplishes his last trial while Gilgamesh completes the final pursuit of his career by traveling to the respective underworlds of their cultures.

The two extravaganzas contain similar imagery in that Hercules kills two serpents sent by Hera, whereas Gilgamesh loses the plant of immortality to a snake. It is a conventional and intercultural notion that serpents are associated with life and death. Both legends fight different pan-Euro Asiatic Bull of potency. Gilgamesh and Enkidu battle and kills the Bull of Heaven, while Hercules confines the Cretan Bull. Both the Mesopotamian and Greek cultures taught values of love and reverence to gods.

The epics indicate that deities frequently influence the lives of demigods. Gilgamesh is disappointed by the gods for monopolizing all the immortality and is in constant war with their agents. Hercules, on the other, has conflicts with Hades and Hera. Both Gilgamesh and Hercules are portrayed as rulers who obey their duty, even though it took longer than their friends and parents expected (Marshall, 2017, p. 182). Besides, both the Mesopotamian and Greek mythology has a similar view on death, particularly regarding how to avoid passing away. The mythologies suggest that there is life after death. In both the Mesopotamian and Greek mythology, gods are the only immortal beings.

The goals of the heroes' mission are alike as they seek to achieve immortality. However, the method of attaining them is different. Both heroes significantly possess essential human attributes such as cowardice, anger, and black sadness, yet they were partially divine. Epics represent examples of great legends in our society, admired for their heroic actions as well as for their furies. Hercules was susceptible to paroxysms of drunken frenzies, which are associated with ancient Greek culture (Marshall, 2017, p. 182). Ashurbanipal, a legendary leader, imitated the martial prowess and power of Gilgamesh. Hercules and Gilgamesh were brave, intelligent, courageous, and inspired.

Differences in the Personalities and Adventures of Hercules and Gilgamesh

There are rare dissimilarities between the two heroes. Hercules had the opportunity to be immortal but refused to opt instead to be with his partner. Gilgamesh had a strong desire to become famous but failed to do so when the perennial plant was stolen from him by a serpent. While Hercules is accomplishing his twelve tasks to earn approval from the gods, Gilgamesh is slaying and battling with agents of the gods since he is disappointed with them. Besides, Hercules' right to lead was withdrawn by Hera while Gilgamesh is already a king (Coombs, 2004, p.155).

Gilgamesh is two-thirds god, whereas Hercules is half-god. Mortals around the heroes also view them differently. Gilgamesh seems to be an unrelenting oppressor, as opposed to Hercules, who is seen as a warrior and conqueror with the capabilities of defending and protecting his people. The two ferrymen in the mythologies also depict a difference, in that, Charon is a god while Urshanabi is a mortal. It is also notable that Charon is corruptible and consistently received punishment (Marshall, 2017, p. 182).

On the other hand, Urshanabi lost his role after assisting Gilgamesh. Urshanabi is supported by a wooden crew stakes or 'stone objects' designed by Gilgamesh, whereas Charon is a lone ranger, paddling his boat unaided. Urshanabi had no specific role, whereas Charon had a particular duty of transporting the dead to Hades.

Lord Raglan's Biographical Scheme

Lord Raglan suggested that there is an interconnection between rituals and myths. Such scholars argue that heroic biographies are based on rituals of the lifecycle associated with birth, initiation, and death. Lord Raglan proposed that tales follow specific and predictable patterns. The epics of Hercules and Gilgamesh fit Lord Raglan's biographical scheme, as is highlighted below. The birth of both Hercules and Gilgamesh, their quest during their lifespan, the fear of death, and the afterlife are displayed in the two epic stories (Bauza, 2019, p. 15). Hercules, having killed his wife and children, begins on a journey to appease the gods. His guardian protector, Athena, assists his adventure. Hercules has to fulfill twelve complicated tasks. He accomplishes the trials and is offered immortality status, which he declines.

Besides, Gilgamesh has to battle with several agents sent by various gods to harm him. He is helped by his guardian protector, Shamash, and his companion, Enkidu. After the death of his friend, Gilgamesh sets on a difficult journey to try and attain immortality. Although he fails in his mission, the triumph is that he returns wiser and more knowledgeable. Both the epic of Hercules and Gilgamesh represent mythical heroes who accomplish their mission and emerge victorious as outlaid in Lord Raglan's biographical scheme.

Conclusion

Although the Persian and Greek cultures differ in many aspects, the two myths portray common human qualities. People all over the world share similar ideals and values; however, the debris of culture hinders them from having a common development agenda. Various cultures across the globe promote courage, perseverance, wisdom, and resourcefulness. The current generation should strive to eliminate biases and prejudices and focus on mutual, simple concepts that bring unity among people.

Works Cited

Bauza, Hugo Francisco. "The Myth of Hero, morphology and semantic of heroic archetype, by Hugo Francisco Bauza." Antrocom 15.1 (2019). Retrieved from http://www.antrocom.net/2013/07/the-myth-of-hero-morphology-and-semantic-of-heroic-archetype-by-hugo-francisco-bauza/

Coombs, Nicola. "The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Stephen Mitchell, Profile Books, 2004." Couple and Family Psychoanalysis 1.1 (2011): 155-155. Retrieved from https://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=cfp.001.0155a

Marshall, C. W. "Heracles: The Perfect Piece." A Companion to Euripides (2017): 182. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VzI2DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT4&dq=Hercules+story&ots