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Characteristics Of Gilgamesh

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Written thousands of years ago by the Sumerians, the Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the first recorded works in history and it set the standard at a time when there were no written reports. By being the first epic to ever be written, it became a mirror for epic heroes and traits and the acts they must accomplish to be perceived as a hero. The narrative poem follows Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, who in the beginning is not viewed as a hero due to his ruthless actions as king. Since the beginning of his life, Gilgamesh is destined to be a hero due to his creation as a half man, half god. In result, from an early age, Gilgamesh is perceived to be a great and powerful ruler, but aside from being physically beautiful and strong, he disappoints his people in numerous ways. However, through wisdom, strength, intelligence and acceptance that mortality is unavoidable, Gilgamesh proves to his people and himself that he is the hero he was born to be. By possessing these traits, Gilgamesh truly embodies an epic hero.

The first heroic quality that Gilgamesh possesses is wisdom, which he acquires throughout his journey. Although at the beginning of his story, he is anything but a heroic king, much changes when the gods create Enkidu, a man-beast, made to help Gilgamesh on his journey. Before he met his soon-to-be best friend, the king of Uruk begins to have strange dreams of Enkidu. These dreams baffle him, so he seeks advice from the wisest being he knows, his mother, Ninsun. The goddess

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