Gilgamesh and Achilles were both excellent warriors. They each were part god, and they each lost a very good friend of their's that helped to open their eyes to many of the things around them. This however is where the comparisons end. Achilles killed because he had to it was what was expected of him, not to mention that it was also his lively hood. Gigamesh went out with Enkidu on great adventures for fun. It was almost as if they were going out and killing these things, whatever it might have been just because they had nothing else better to do.
The main differences between these two heros is shown best after they each lose a loved one. The way that these two react is very different. Gilgamesh mopes around and feels sorry more for himself than the friend that he just lost. He realizes that he is going to die, so he goes looking for immortality.
The Wrath of Achilles, by François-Léon Benouvil...
English: Achilles in Corfu Achilleion
EnkiduAchilles on the other hand doesn't feel sorry for himself at all. He misses his friend immensely and becomes so enraged that the only thing on his mind is to avenge the death of a friend.
The lessons that each hero teaches is also very different. Gilgamesh teaches us that we can't live forever, but that with the time that we do have we should streach our human limitations and live life to the fullest. Achilles on the other hand does say that we should live life to the fullest, but he also believed that he could gain immortality through his family and the glory that he would recieve in battle.
Achilles also remindes us about how important family should be to us. I think that is the most important lesson that he could have ever taught. The reason that I say this is because since I have left home and started to live on my own and taking on all of the responsibilities of college I have begun to realize how much I took my family for granted how important they really were to me then and now.
The Education of Achilles (ca. 1772), by James Bar...
Achilles and Briseis
English: Picture 47 of the Ambrosian Iliad, Achill...