The Warriors(‘) Bond: Across Five Millennia Jean-Luc Picard, Captain, Starship Enterprise, Channels Gilgamesh, King, Uruk

Abstract

For almost five millennia, epics have recounted deeds of warrior-kings. Many of those heroes established bonds with others, within and outside their empires. Many have also found themselves in individual combat with heroes representing their enemies. The epic warrior-kings of past millennia long ago became the stuff of literature, read mostly by students in literature classes in high schools or universities. In the 20th century, modern versions appeared in the form of space epics set centuries in the future, for example, Star Trek. In television programs and movies, the warrior-kings have been replaced by commanders of spaceships which travel solar systems and beyond in search of sentient beings and civilizations, beings with whom they could establish peaceful relations designed to enable both to prosper. In Star Trek, Captain James T. Kirk is forced into single combat with the commander of the Gorn spaceship by beings experimenting with concepts of human/Gorn physical, intellectual, and moral strength. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of a more advanced Enterprise is drawn into an effort at mutual cooperation by Dathon, Captain, the Tamarian Starship. What happens to Kirk and Picard are variations on themes part of heroic epic traditions for millennia. Heroes to be discussed will be selected from among the following:

However, the primary focus will be on James T. Kirk/Gorn Commander and Jean-Luc Picard/Dathon at El-Adrel and their forebears, Gilgamesh/Enkidu at Uruk and Darmok/Jalad at Tanagra.