The Old Testament and the Epic of Gilgamesh both share stories about floods. However, the emphasis and morals derived from the stories tend to contradict each other. In the epic of Gilgamesh, the floods occur as a punishment to the people for the noise they made (Jason Colavito). However, instead of letting humankind to be wiped off by the flood, one of the god’s Ea reveals to Utnapishtim what to do to survive the flood. He is granted the opportunity to start over without the knowledge of the other gods. This depicts the need to do what is right even when it means going against other people for the sake of the doing the right thing. Looking at the old statement, a different moral lesson is derived in the sense that God sets out to destroy all humankind because of disobedience (The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). He, however, tells Noah to make himself an ark and take his family and two of every living thing (The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). From this context, the moral lesson is that the will of God has to be done; this is contrary to the epic of Gilgamesh where a god goes behind the other gods to save humankind. From the epic of Gilgamesh, the emphasis is placed on always doing the right thing irrespective of the opponent or what a person is against. On the other hand, from the flood story of the Old Testament, the emphasis is placed on the will of God being accomplished.
Works Cited
Jason Colavito. "Epic of Gilgamesh." Jason Colavito. Jason Colavito, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://www.jasoncolavito.com/epic-of-gilgamesh.html>.
The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. "Genesis 6:6." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/6.6?lang=eng#5>.
Homer’s The Iliad and the Aristotelian concept of citizenship
Aristotle’s statement that “the man who is incapable of working in common, or who in his self-sufficiency has not need of others, is no part of the community, like a beast or a god,” best sums up the who Achilles is. Achilles is an individual that is entirely self-sufficient and does not depend on anyone. His perception of himself is comparable to how a god could view himself based on the fact that he sees himself at a level higher than that of mere mortals. The Iliad underpins this view where it asserts that “He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong, for one of the Achaeans could wield it though Achilles could do so easily” (Homer). The statement goes on to show his strength and independence. His ability to face challenges and problems by himself made him alienate from the community. By having the capacity and strength to fight alone, Achilles is thus motivated to work individually and shun away from working alongside other people (Homer). He depicts a perfect example of what is entailed in the statement by Aristotle. Women are the only people he seemed to need in his life as the story depicts him as being fond of them.
Works Cited
Homer. "The Internet Classics Archive | The Iliad by Homer." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. The Internet Classics Archive, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/iliad.html>.
Homer’s The Odyssey and “Job” in The Hebrew Bible
The story of Odysseus in Homer and that of job in the Hebrew bible both tell stories of suffering and learning. However a greater similarity can be deduced from the two stories. The relationship between Job and God in the Hebrew Bible can be compared to that of Odysseus and Athena. The comparison goes a long way in bringing to light the similarities between the religious beliefs of the Greeks and Hebrews. Both relationships have an entity that is always trying to help another; in one case, God is bent towards helping Job, and, Athena, on the other hand, always ready to help Odysseus. God focuses on making Job a better person and uses punishment as a way of ensuring that Job gets the point. In Odysseus case, however, Athena changes who she is in order to assist him (Homer). A good example being when she presents herself as Mentes. God’s way in the relationship with Job is through the use of punishments and thus helping him indirectly (Chabad). In as much as Athena’s help to Odysseus appears to be more indirect highlighting the single difference between the two stories, the little element of difference does not, however, eliminate the similarities between the Greek and Hebrew religious attitudes. In both religious attitudes, gods are depicted with the aspect of seeking and trying to help people.
Works Cited
Chabad. "Iyov - Chapter 1 - Tanakh Online - Torah - Bible." Judaism, Torah and Jewish Info - Chabad Lubavitch. Chabad, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16403/jewish/Chapter-1.htm>.
Homer. "Odyssey." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. The Internet Classics Archive, n.d. 17 February 2016. <http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.mb.txt>.
Plato. The Apology of Socrates
Socrates argues that the accusations that have been made against him accrue from the fact that he embarrassed some men who did claim to be wise. The argument by Socrates does reveal his intellectual methods and beliefs. One core factor that can be discerned from his argument is that he believes in the ideology of people being on a constant learning wave. The accusations labeled against Socrates were in relation to his teachings of his ability to walk on air and to corrupt the youth. He was also accused of acting and pretending to know too much or too little. His response; “Well, although I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is – for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows” (Plato); does encapsulate a great deal of his intellectual belief that wisdom could only be possessed by understanding the fact that one knew nothing at all. His thoughts regarding wisdom were being bashed because they were seen as a direct attack at the men who claimed to be wise. It was seen as a challenge to their status and wisdom owing to the fact that nobody had stood up to challenge their beliefs.
Works Cited
Plato. "The Internet Classics Archive | Apology by Plato." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. The Internet Classics Archive, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html>.
Virgil. The Aeneid
The visit of Odysseus and Gilgamesh to the underworld leads to them finding something that they were not looking for. However, Aeneas is lucky enough to find the very thing he was looking for. Odysseus having spent a year with Circe, come to the desire of going back home, he is however directed to the underworld by Circe where he finds the spirit of his mother and in doing so learns of her demise (Homer). Gilgamesh’s journey, on the other hand, is aimed at finding immortality, and he makes his journey see Utnapishtim. His journey is motivated by the fear of death that arises from the loss of his friend Enkidu. The only problem is that the immortality of Utnapishtim is provided by a god and thus does not understand the secrets of immortality (Jason Colavito). Aeneas visit to the Underworld comes from his meeting with Sibyl, a priestess who directs him on how he can find the path to the underworld. He meets his father and gets the answers to his questions (Virgil). The search by the three men in the underworld is motivated by various desires and wants, however, only one of the; Aeneas, finds the answers to his questions.
Works Cited
Homer. "Odyssey." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. The Internet Classics Archive, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.mb.txt>.
Jason Colavito. "Epic of Gilgamesh." Jason Colavito. Jason Colavito, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://www.jasoncolavito.com/epic-of-gilgamesh.html>.
Virgil. "The Internet Classics Archive | The Aeneid by Virgil." The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. The Internet Classics Archive, n.d. Web. 17 February 2016. <http://classics.mit.edu/Virgil/aeneid.html>.
