The Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh share the same plot

The Iliad presents great thematic similarities with the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Babylonian poem. This comparison unites two half-human half-god heroes sinking into distress after the death of their closest friend, before overcoming their grief by accepting their own mortal condition. This proximity between the Greek text and the oriental writings remains however the subject of lively debates among researchers.