The Constant Reminder of War and Greed Empires, civilizations, and people are constantly adapting and evolving, but the flaws of human values will always be the core of our reasoning. The struggle for fame, longing for glory, and greedy tendencies have been an immense threat to civilizations since the beginning of time. Thucydides, an ancient Greek historian, shares many of these same ideologies on human nature when discussing the History of the Peloponnesian War. These concepts are also discussed throughout The Epic of Gilgamesh, which are a series of Babylonian stories written on clay tablets regarding a demi-god, named Gilgamesh. Thucydides can connect to and appreciate the story of The Epic of Gilgamesh, through his similar perspective
…show more content…
The people would preach to the Gods regarding the brutalities inflicted upon them by Gilgamesh, often saying, “...by day and by night his tyranny grows harsher,” (3). Similarly, Thucydides discusses “the Hellenic states…” and how they were, “...governed by tyrants,” (45). Thucydides examines city states and how they were controlled by tyrants who only cared about their personal interests, having little to no regard for the people under their control. These people, under the control of cruel and remorseless tyranny, wished for something better. Thucydides then explains, “...the Spartans put down tyranny in the rest of Greece,” (45). The city states later adopted the Spartan system of government, which allowed them to advance and prosper. The idea of putting an end to tyranny aligns perfectly with Gilgamesh, who would kill warriors for pleasure and sleep with a series of women just after they were married. There was an attempt to end tyranny in Uruk, in which the Gods created Enkidu in order to defeat Gilgamesh and remove him from power over people. His removal would ultimately end the debilitating labor and endless suffering the Uruk civilians experienced. Thucydides can connect to the concepts of greed present in the story of Gilgamesh based off his own ideas regarding human nature and …show more content…
Gilgamesh desires to be remembered by the people of Uruk forever, and he believes he can do this through combat and the inevitable battles he will have on his journey. Similar to the way Thucydides mentions the “...Civil War in Corcyra...”, he discusses how, “...there was death in every shaper and farm...people went to every extreme and beyond it,” (241). Through this idea, Thucydides can connect to the Humbaba story in Gilgamesh. Humbaba pleads for his life and promises he will serve Gilgamesh, but despite his dire pledge Gilgamesh executes him anyways. Thucydides would agree, in that his malicious way of combat is not avoidable when there is a conflict, for it is simply human nature. People tend to go over the edge in these situations; just like Thucydides had said before. He further elaborates on the idea that reasons for war are usually disguised by an argument, but that war is, and will remain, inevitable between civilizations (49). Conflict is present throughout the story of Gilgamesh, and whether it be with Enkidu, Humbaba, or The Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh was constantly longing for fame and assertion of power. According to the ideologies of Thucydides, these conflicts were bound to happen, likely resulting in the start of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides can relate to the concept of desire present in the story of Gilgamesh based of his
The people would preach to the Gods regarding the brutalities inflicted upon them by Gilgamesh, often saying, “...by day and by night his tyranny grows harsher,” (3). Similarly, Thucydides discusses “the Hellenic states…” and how they were, “...governed by tyrants,” (45). Thucydides examines city states and how they were controlled by tyrants who only cared about their personal interests, having little to no regard for the people under their control. These people, under the control of cruel and remorseless tyranny, wished for something better. Thucydides then explains, “...the Spartans put down tyranny in the rest of Greece,” (45). The city states later adopted the Spartan system of government, which allowed them to advance and prosper. The idea of putting an end to tyranny aligns perfectly with Gilgamesh, who would kill warriors for pleasure and sleep with a series of women just after they were married. There was an attempt to end tyranny in Uruk, in which the Gods created Enkidu in order to defeat Gilgamesh and remove him from power over people. His removal would ultimately end the debilitating labor and endless suffering the Uruk civilians experienced. Thucydides can connect to the concepts of greed present in the story of Gilgamesh based off his own ideas regarding human nature and …show more content…
Gilgamesh desires to be remembered by the people of Uruk forever, and he believes he can do this through combat and the inevitable battles he will have on his journey. Similar to the way Thucydides mentions the “...Civil War in Corcyra...”, he discusses how, “...there was death in every shaper and farm...people went to every extreme and beyond it,” (241). Through this idea, Thucydides can connect to the Humbaba story in Gilgamesh. Humbaba pleads for his life and promises he will serve Gilgamesh, but despite his dire pledge Gilgamesh executes him anyways. Thucydides would agree, in that his malicious way of combat is not avoidable when there is a conflict, for it is simply human nature. People tend to go over the edge in these situations; just like Thucydides had said before. He further elaborates on the idea that reasons for war are usually disguised by an argument, but that war is, and will remain, inevitable between civilizations (49). Conflict is present throughout the story of Gilgamesh, and whether it be with Enkidu, Humbaba, or The Bull of Heaven, Gilgamesh was constantly longing for fame and assertion of power. According to the ideologies of Thucydides, these conflicts were bound to happen, likely resulting in the start of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides can relate to the concept of desire present in the story of Gilgamesh based of his