has anybody already made connection between tablet VIII of the Epic of Gilgamesh and book 18 of the Iliad, when it comes to the grieveing/crafting structure. both open with achilles/gilgamesh lamenting, laying the body down and covering it as they mourn (with the same famous lioness metaphor being used). obviously they both defile themselves in mourning in the same way. this as all been extensively talked about but i think there's a connection to be made in between the passage describing the building of the statue of enkidu and the (much longer) one describing the building of the arms of achilles. both passages serve as a description of the way they react to their friends' death, gilgamesh tries to immortalize enkidu's image (and himself), while achilles has arms crafted so he can avenge patroclus, and then die himself. idk if this makes sense i just think iliad 18 MAY be adapting/retain traces of a much older theme with the way grieving and crafting are presented and connected in a similar structure.
