Flood Stories in Epic of Gilgamesh and the Genesis Flood of the Christian Bible :: Epic Gilgamesh essays

Comparison of the downpour Stories in Gilgamesh and the Bible The two stories closely parallel each other, though Gilgamesh was write down before 2000 BCE and the version in Genesis was compiled ca. 400 BCE. scriptural writers probably knew of the much older fiction but revised it so that it fit with their own history and worldview. They intended it to fit with their own mythology. disrespect the servicemany similarities between the two stories, this difference in intention is revealed in a number of motifs that distinguish the biblical story from the ancient myth Gilgamesh Genesis 1. Flood is caused by the fickle nature of the gods We are told in 11.1 lines 14-17 that the gods who were reclining at Shuruppak, up the constant Euphrates, sent the flood by intent. 1. Flood is sent by God to destroy his creation, which has become corrupt and shabbiness The humans are so wicked and wretched that it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart (Gen. 66). He says,I will destroy man whom I have created from the represent of the earth. . . (Gen. 67) 2. On earth one can still keep demi-gods and great heroes, like Gilgamesh This is a Golden Age, like that described by Hesiod, when heroes walked the earth and humans and gods commingled. 2. Earth once had giants and heroes, but they became part of the evil These giants in the earth (Gen. 64) were the sons of God and of the daughters of custody, but they were only men of renown in the old days (Gen. 64). There is no Golden Age at the time of the flood. 3. One good man is saved (Utnapishtim), who obeys the gods orders to build a boat Ea warns Utnapishtim (11.1 lns. 26ff.) to build a cover boat to save himself and the seed of all hell need (11.1 ln. 34), to Reject the corpse-like malodour of wealth (11.1 ln. 28) and live a charitable life of moderation. U. agrees to do this to take note god (l1.1 n. 39), but he will tell people he does so because E nlil hates him and he must flee by boat to where Enlil waits to vote out him.