The definition of a hero to me is a legend, a man, god like, often of great heritage, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. In looking at the stories of Gilgamesh, the Old Testament and Joseph, and the Odyssey and Odysseus they all fall into this definition of a hero.
             In Gilgamesh not only did the Gods favor him but also they created him. In fitting with the definition the god of storm Adad "endowed him with great courage" (pg.19). The strength that he hold in unmatched " a goddess made him, strong as a savage bull, none can withstand his arms" (pg.19). Gilgamesh was a legend, but for the reason that he was created by the gods. In the definition of a hero it says often of great heritage but I wouldn't put Gilgamesh in this area because heritage is your background and Gilgamesh did not really have one. Also a hero wouldn't be a hero without some battles and victories under his belt. In having battled in war and so forth people do remember the achievements of a hero, who one has killed, etc. And when Gilgamesh goes talks to Siduri she asks him " If you are Gilgamesh who seized and killed the Bull of Heaven, who killed the watchman of the cedar forest, who overthrew Humbaba that lived in the forest, and killed the lions in the passes of the mountain." (pg.38). You know you're a hero when the people know what you have accomplished and they remember you for that. Gilgamesh also in a way built the city he was king in, which was Uruk and being a king sometimes put you in that sense of being a hero because people look up to you. When Gilgamesh dies a hero is gone and missed. The people of the city do not just sit there and do nothing " the people of the city, great and small, are not silent, they lift up the lament, all men of flesh and blood lift up the lament." (pg.46). They did what anyone would do for a king or hero. "They weighed out their offer
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