There are many stories in real life that can compare to the Epic of Gilgamesh. One article is “Nadal Savors His Latest Role: All-Courts Player” from September 15ths New York Times.
In the Epic, Gilgamesh is victorious. Along with his best friend Enkidu, he takes down the mighty Humbaba on his quest to the Cedar Forest, and kills the Bull of the Heavens when it tries to go after him. Rafael Nadal is just as victorious. This past week, he won the United States Open, a very competitive tennis tournament.
There is no one as strong and triumphant in Uruk than Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The Epic states,
“We grappled with and killed the Bull of Heaven,
we destroyed Humbaba who lived in the Cedar Forest,
we slew lions in the mountain passes!” (p87, lines 47-49)
The same is for the world of tennis. Nadal, along with Andre Agassi are “… the only men to have won the four majors, the Davis Cup, and the Olympics.” (B16) There is no one else like these two tennis players.
