homer, and the epic of gilgamesh?

Question

I'm tossing around the idea of comparing and contrasting the grim look of the afterworld, or afterlife, that is portrayed in these two books, yes, i've read both so people don't tell me to just read them and come up with my own ideas,

i'm simply doing this for help and input on ideas

thanks :)

Answer 1

I am not a scholar of Homer, sorry to say, but Gilgamesh is an epic poem. Gilgamesh is searching for an afterlife or immortality You need to re-read the poem. The lovely little snake came along and took the flower that would allow him an afterlife. Remember?

Answer 2

they seem more alike than different to me -- the "underworld" is a physical place where the dead "live", it can be visited by the living in order to petition the dead, and there was no distinction between "good" afterlife and "bad" afterlife (it all sucked, heh)


[edit, see below] maybe i do need to re-read ... i thought Gil was looking for immortality. wouldn't be the first time i've been wrong, heh