Gilgamesh and Han Solo

I see a little bit of Gilgamesh in Han Solo.  For instance, each of their stories begin in the middle:  at the beginning of (some translations of some versions of) the Epic of Gilgamesh, we are told that Gilgamesh is already famous for his deeds as the king of Uruk.  When we first meet Solo in Star Wars, we learn that he is already an accomplished smuggler with some reputation.

Both Gilgamesh and Han Solo are jerks and reluctant heroes before meeting younger, friendlier companions:  Enkidu and Luke Skywalker, respectively.  A new companion is the stimulus each of these characters needs to hear the summons to go out and be epic.

Gilgamesh and Han Solo both remove great evils and dangers from the world over the course of their journeys.  However, neither has motives as "pure" as those we typically expect from superheroes.  Gilgamesh hunts down Humbaba so that he may become more famous, and kills the Bull of Heaven for the sake of self-presevation.  Solo only rescues Princess Leia because Luke tells him there's money in it, and one could argue that after meeting her, he sticks around looking to get laid.

Gilgamesh and Han Solo both fight and destroy two different monsters.  Gilgamesh tangles with Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.  Han Solo aids in the destruction of two different death stars.  Each has one of his epic battles in the forest, but not two:  Gilgamesh kills Humbaba in the forest, and Solo disables the Death Star's shields in the forests on Endor.

Both Han Solo and Gilgamesh attain, and lose, an artificial state of immortality.  Gilgamesh is given a plant that will make him immortal, which is stolen from him.  Han Solo is encased in carbonite, where he could remain alive indefinitely.  Leia eventually unfreezes him.

Both of these epic characters achieve immortality through the record of their stories.  For many casual (or even serious) fans, Star Wars defines the entire genre of science fiction film, and the Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest story still being re-told today.





(Technically, if you break down their respective tropes, Han Solo is the sidekick, not the hero.  So what?  I like sidekicks.)