A Comparative Study of the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey of Homer

Gilgamesh is the first epic in the world that the most fundamental human issues can be find in it. The Homeric community of Greece was familiar with and influenced by Eastern and Mesopotamian culture via the Mycenaean and eastern Greeks; therefore Gilgamesh has clearly influenced Homerchr(chr('39')39chr('39'))s Odyssey. Comparative literature enables us to have a deep understanding of texts. This paper compared to investigate the similarities between the two epics of Gilgamesh and Odyssey Homer by descriptive-analytical method. The two epics have common motifs such as supernatural creatures, alike gods, and philosophies. They also have characters who are similar in their functions. Holy woman and Nausicaa in love with the hero. Ishtar and Circe are capable of transforming humans into animals. Gilgamesh and Ulysses fight monsters. They have missed opportunities by neglect, crossed the sea, have a great personality, are complacent, have traveled to the underworld and to unknown lands, endured suffering to get help from the guide, mutinied, disappointed, killed the friends of gods and holy cow and slept inopportune.