Similarities in relationships from ancient times to modern days
No matter what we eat, where we live, what clothes we wear, love and friendship will always guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions. The artwork of life has bright colors of excitement, blue colors of solitude, dark colors of hatred, and light colors of dreams.
Friendship may be spent with excitement, finding purpose, and helping one another. In the story of Gilgamesh, Enkidu helps the wild animals to escape traps set by people. After his friendship with Gilgamesh, they set to make achievements (Epic of Gilgamesh 12). In modern times, friendship is associated with helping one another, setting goals, achievements, celebrations among other things.
There is a longing to spend time with a loved one. Enkidu forgets about the wild animals when he meets a harlot (Epic of Gilgamesh 11). Sappho in Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry narrates that “If I hug her, she’ll drive illness from me” (80). The excitement in love is not confined for any period or age.
The light colors of dreams may be shared by adults as well. In Catullus, he says “how gladly, with what joy I now cast eyes, on you once more” (946).
Material gains find a deeper meaning. In Catullus (946), the narrator shows that toiling in further lands to gain profit is worthless if it is not done on behalf of the loved one. In the modern society, people engage in business risk to gain abundance. They use the acquired wealth to impress their loved ones.
In modern times, people worry less about death if they know that a loved one would inherit the good things they struggled to build. It provides some form of relief that all is not lost.
Praises are sung during weddings in modern times as much as it was in ancient times. Sappho narrates that “they were singing a hymn for Hektor and Andromache like to gods” (640).
In ancient societies, kings could lead their armies to attack other kingdoms for the sake of love. Referring to the story of Helen of Troy, Sappho narrates that “neither her children nor her dear parents had she thought” (638). Her actions led to a war that harmed her relatives. She failed to evaluate the consequences of her actions.
In modern times, people may act irrationally because they overlook the pleasure they derive from spending time with a loved one.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh (24), Ishtar reacts with curses after the rejection from Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh describes her as a “pitch that blackens the bearer… sandal that trips the wearer” (24). In modern times, someone may be rejected if he/she has an experience harming loved ones. The colors of hatred are seen after the act of rejection.
Ishtar mentions gifts she would give to Gilgamesh (Epic of Gilgamesh 24). The use of gifts to win a loved one is elaborated in Sappho’s lines (638). Gifts have been used from ancient times to modern times as a symbol of expressing love.
There is no boredom in being with a loved one. In Catullus, the repetition of the same activities does not create boredom so long as they are done with a loved one. Catullus narrates that “I’d go on three hundred thousand times, and never feel I was getting near my limit” (947).
There is bitterness in losing a loved one. It can be seen in the story of Helen and Menelaus of Greece. Sappho narrates that “I simply want to be dead, weeping she left me” (641). It is also seen when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh spends a week weeping about his greatest loss (Epic of Gilgamesh 30). People mourn the loss of a loved one even today.
Works Cited
“Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puncher. 3rd ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 76-81. Print.
“Catullus.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puncher. 3rd ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 940-959. Print.
“Epic of Gilgamesh”, The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puncher. 3rd ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 10-41. Print.
Sappho. “Poems.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Gen. ed. Martin Puncher. 3rd ed. Vol. A. New York: Norton, 2012. 635-643. Print.