Conflict Between Gods and Humans in Gilgamesh and "The Odyssey"
Elaborate sacrifices, wonderful feasts, jubilant celebrations, all of which are acts that demonstrate the reverence of humans for the supernatural gods; a common motif in both the ancient Mesopotamia depicted in Gilgamesh, and the ancient Greece of The Odyssey. What seems to be a perfectly harmonious relationship between men seeking protection and Providence from their guardian gods is actually quite complicated and can potentially turn tumultuous. In the aforementioned two epics, the earthly interests of men often clash with the wishes of the gods, and conversely, the gods often act blatantly without regard for humans, resulting in the classic conflict that pit men against gods. The ultimate foundation of this conflict in both The Odyssey and Gilgamesh is ironically a shared characteristic between men and the anthropomorphic gods: human ego and the consequent tendency to place ones own interests above those of others.
In the epic Gilgamesh, the conflict between the protagonist Gilgamesh and the divine gods is the direct result of differences in divergent interests. Gilgamesh is two thirdsgod and one third man (Lawall 13) and consequently he can overpower any mortal as the ruler Uruk. The citizens of Uruk states that Gilgameshs arrogance has no bound by days or night (Lawall 13), an apt description considering the fact that no earthly challenge can stop Gilgamesh. He is free to do whatever he wants on earth as a sort of demigod. Hence, it is only natural for the egotistical Gilgamesh to seek more power in order to strengthen his status and glory, but in the process he must confront the supernatural gods and their interests on three different occasions.
The first occasion involves the creation of and subsequent destruction of Enkidu. For the gods, Gilgameshs unchecked power on earth is a threat to harmony as well as their authority. Consequently, it is in the gods best interest to suppress Gilgameshs growing strength. Hence, the goddess Aruru creates Enkidu, a
In the epic Gilgamesh, the conflict between the protagonist Gilgamesh and the divine gods is the direct result of differences in divergent interests. Gilgamesh is two thirdsgod and one third man (Lawall 13) and consequently he can overpower any mortal as the ruler Uruk. The citizens of Uruk states that Gilgameshs arrogance has no bound by days or night (Lawall 13), an apt description considering the fact that no earthly challenge can stop Gilgamesh. He is free to do whatever he wants on earth as a sort of demigod. Hence, it is only natural for the egotistical Gilgamesh to seek more power in order to strengthen his status and glory, but in the process he must confront the supernatural gods and their interests on three different occasions.
The first occasion involves the creation of and subsequent destruction of Enkidu. For the gods, Gilgameshs unchecked power on earth is a threat to harmony as well as their authority. Consequently, it is in the gods best interest to suppress Gilgameshs growing strength. Hence, the goddess Aruru creates Enkidu, a