A Weaker God:The Iliad,Odyssey&Gilgamesh
Submitted by on January 1, 1997
Category: Literature
Words: 1401 | Pages: 6
Views: 489
Popularity Rank: 191
Report this Essay
JOIN OR LOGIN TO VIEW THE ENTIRE ESSAY. IT'S FREE!
The Oxford English Dictionary defines god as “1. A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient ruler and originator of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheist religions. 2. A being of supernatural powers, believed in and worshipped by a people.” The first definition reflects Modern America’s connotation of the word god. The latter recalls the Ancient Greco-Sumerian ideal of a being greater than man. While both definitions are equally valid in literature, many perceive the word only in the first view. However, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Epic of Gilgamesh portray gods with limits and weaknesses.
The contemporary Christian god is able to demand things of his followers, readily expecting wholehearted and unquestioning obedience. This was not the case with his ancient counterparts. Rather than exacting demands upon their followers,...