Author Archives: kinga.chutkowska

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a story about the great king of Uruk named Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh “has seen everything” and “experienced all things;” however, he overuses his power to abuse people living in his kingdom (A 59). Consequently, the gods send Enkidu on the earth as form of an animal. After his transformation from an animal to a man, he seeks to stop the unethical practices that take place on earth. He fights with Gilgamesh, but soon after arguments are over, they become best friends forever as they start their journey traveling to Cedar Forest to find Humbaba. As “they stood at the forest’s edge gazing at the top of the Cedar tree and gazing at the entrance to the forest,” they plan how to kill him because he terrorized many people (A 73). Later on, they also kill the Bull of Heaven which indirectly caused death upon Enkidu. As a result of his death, Gilgamesh goes into depression. His best friend’s death inspired him to find a way to become immortal. He starts to travel to see the god Utnapishtim, who is the only one who became immortal. Gilgamesh “reached Mount Mashu” along the Road of the Sun he journey, and traveled “the Water of Death” (A 84-88). Gilgamesh is a man who travels to many places around the world, since he is the one who “has seen everything” (A 59).

The article from New York Times, “6 Days, 6 States, 6 Peaks” by Mark Aiken is about a man inspired by Alaskan claimer who reached the world’s Seven Summits in just 134 days. The author also wants to travel and hike. He says “My challenge would be to hike what I call the Six Summits — the highest point in each New England state.”

Both pieces of writing are about men who visit a lot. Gilgamesh has to travel to many locations in order to kill Humbaba in the Cedar Forest and to meet Utnapishtim in the place of Water of Death. Similarly, Mark Aiken decides to hike six mountains. He travels to  six states in order to pick “the highest elevations”.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/travel/05explorer.html?ref=travel