Compare and Contrast Gilgamesh and Aeneas in Virgil\'s the Aeneid

Gilgamesh and Aeneas

The Epic of Gilgamesh and Virgil's Aeneas exemplify ancient epic poetry. Both works trace the psychological evolution of a semi-divine male hero who meets with immense personal trauma and hardship. Gilgamesh mourns the loss of his only companion, Enkidu, while Aeneas experiences the loss of his family, his people, and his homeland. In both cases, the pain transforms the hero into a wiser, more human leader. The ability to overcome personal loss and sacrifice becomes the hallmark of Gilgamesh and Aeneas. Each character must travel far from home to undergo their transformation into an ideal hero. During the course of their journeys, they encounter monsters and other supernatural forces that either assist or thwart their efforts. Throughout the course of the epics, both Gilgamesh and Aeneas exhibit typical heroic traits such as physical prowess, bravery, and leadership. They are both portrayed as possessing human weaknesses coupled with godlike powers. However, as leaders and as men, Gilgamesh and Aeneas differ on many counts. Gilgamesh starts out as an egotistical, brazen king who oppresses his people, while Aeneas begins as a more reluctant and just leader. Therefore, Gilgamesh learns to temper his self-centeredness with humility; Aeneas must build self-confidence and faith in his destiny. Gilgamesh and Aeneas emerge as ideal heroes not only because of their birthright, brawn, and bravery, but also because of their ability to overcome enormous personal loss, tragedy, and grief.

Gilgamesh and Aeneas leave their homelands for entirely different reasons. Gilgamesh sets off on a personal quest, not knowing that the outcome will be a renewed vision of his homeland and his role as leader. Sick of their tyrannical ruler's antics, the oppressed people of Uruk pray to the gods for assistance. The divine response is to create an equal for Gilgamesh, one who rivals him in physical strength. Enkidu thus becomes Gilgamesh's trusted friend and companion throughout their odyssey. Initially Gilgamesh seeks personal glory by seeking out the monster Humbaba in the Cedar Forest. With Enkidu, Gilgamesh demonstrates his fearlessness: even the powerful Enkidu cowers at taking on Humbaba. Gilgamesh takes on Humbaba in spite of warnings and portents. On the contrary, Aeneas reluctantly embarks on a seafaring journey to find a new homeland after the sack of Troy. Unlike Gilgamesh, who travels in search of personal glory and gratification, Aeneas seeks only to preserve his heritage and provide a safe home for his people. Aeneas is concerned with respecting the past and making foundations for the future. The Trojan left his homeland forcibly, as a result of the vengeful Juno. Aeneas possesses none of the arrogance exhibited by Gilgamesh. Yet although Gilgamesh and Aeneas embark on their journeys for different reasons, both end up benefiting themselves and their people through their trials. Having to sacrifice the past, their homeland and their people, Gilgamesh and Aeneas emerge as classic heroes.

Their physical and psychological makeup also defines Gilgamesh and Aeneas as heroes. Gilgamesh is actually more divine than human: "The bigger part of him was made in heaven / and the smaller part somewhere on earth," (Tablet 1, column 2). Aeneas is the son of the goddess Venus and a noble Anchises. However, the two heroes perceive their roles differently. At first, Gilgamesh takes full advantage of his regal heritage by continually boasting his powers. In fact, his desire to show off indirectly causes Enkidu's death, the main cause of his grief and subsequent transformation. Aeneas, on the other hand, almost tries to deny his destiny. He is "compelled by fate, an exile out of Troy," (Book 1). Aeneas often struggles with his role as leader in spite of the divine and human support he receives. Portrayed as "so brave, so just a man," Aeneas's task is to become more aware of his heroism. While Gilgamesh demonstrates equal bravery and courage, his struggle is more with humility than with self-confidence.

Gilgamesh also seems more detached from his homeland, his family, and any type of support network than Aeneas does. Enkidu, who was newly created, is his only friend. Before Enkidu's death, Gilgamesh takes his homeland for granted. Only after his hardship-strewn journey did Gilgamesh learn to appreciate and love Uruk, symbolized by his newfound admiration for the city walls in Book 11. The king advises the boatman to examine the walls: "Study the base, the brick, the old design. / is it permanent as can be?

Does it look like wisdom designed it?" Finally, at the end of his traumatic journey, Gilgamesh contemplates the necessity of wisdom in his role as king. He was forced to sacrifice ego and vainglory to become a more just, ideal king. Aeneas struggles less with vanity and more with anger as he struggles to become the leader of his people. Like Gilgamesh, Aeneas has a preconceived idea of his place in the world. However, instead of feeling proud of his personal destiny as leader of the Trojan people, Aeneas tries to shun his role and his fate. While Gilgamesh left Uruk with eagerness to slay Humbaba, Aeneas left his homeland "with sighs and tears," (Book 3). He follows his fate because he has no other choice: "the crew, my father, and the fates obey," (Book 3). Gradually, Aeneas begins to accept his role and his abilities as a leader. After leaving Dido, Aeneas seems to gain a greater sense of purpose in leading his people to a new promised land. Aeneas's trip to the underworld further solidifies his destiny and determination, for he becomes inspired by both the past and the future. Aeneas quests to find a new home for his wayward people, while Gilgamesh journeys to find new meaning in his original kingdom.