The Transcending Characteristics of a Mythical Hero Essay example -- e

The Transcending Characteristics of a Mythical Hero      Although separated by the wide gulf of metre and culture, myths involving supernatural suits and gods exist in almost every society passim the world. While this normalality may not be spectacular by itself, a detailed comparative study of the myths reveals a more smasher similarity. Even in cultures as antithetic and antagonistic as those of the quaint Greeks and the Sumerians, predecessors of the Persians, there exists a startling parallelism in imagery and themes of the myths of the several(prenominal) peoples. The epics of Heracles and Gilgamesh are an exceptionally good example of these similarities.      One cannot know with a certainty whether the original creator of the epic of Gilgamesh, whose name is lost in time, or Shin-eqi-unninni, the scribe with whose version we are familiar today, knew anything of the legend of Heracles. However, part placed in completely differen t personatetings, written for completely different audiences, and filled with unique and culturally flavored adventures, the myths of Gilgamesh and Heracles display startlingly similar character traits and common themes. A detailed comparison of these masterpiece epics reveals an undeniable catholicity of myth and of human mind in general.      Heracles, and later the Latin Hercules, is the quintessential and one of the most renowned and worshiped Ancient Greek heroes, whose life and exploits, capturing the gist of the Greek culture, are the stuff of myth and legend. Son of Zeus and finite Alcmene, Hercules derived his great strengths and his greatest weakness from his mixed parentage. He was born Alcides, and gained aboriginal renown as the mighty warrior and archer, vanquisher of king Erginuss army, fearless defender of Thebes, and wielder of Athenas weapons. Yet, as the illegitimate child of Zeus, he attracted the jealous rage of Hera, who sent insanity u pon him. In a concealment rage Heracles murdered his wife and children. Upon recovering from the divine curse, he set out to clear his name, which ironically means Glory of Hera, by asking the advice of the Apollos oracle in Delphi. He received a prophesy, a concept that was universally accepted, commanding him to perform ten heroic deeds. As an additional reward, he would be granted immortality upon the... ...as a ruler fabled for his power and martial prowess, something that Ashurbanipal emulated very well. And both were valiant, steadfast, intelligent, and motivated.After a oddment look at these two myths the reader can clearly assist that underneath the stage of cultural flourish lies a granite bed of common human traits, shared even by such sworn enemies as Greeks and Persians. It is sad that although people have basically similar values and ideals, the layer of cultural debris prevents them from finding common ground in day-to-day life. Cultures around the world prize p erseverance, resourcefulness, courage, and wits, of that there can be no doubt. And thus, as modern people endowed with intelligence to see beyond the biases and preconceptions, we must instead focus on the common, basic ideas that unite us all. BibliographyHooker, Richard. Gilgamesh. http//www.wsu.edu/dee/MESO/GILG.HTM (9 September 2004)Perseus Project. Hercules Greeces Greatest Hero. http//www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/index.html (9 September 2004)Ailia Athena. The Labors of Heracles. http//www.geocities.com/ailiathena/Myths/Heracles.html June 27, 2004 (9 September 2004)