A good number of people are familiar with the Biblical Genesis flood narrative, but they probably are not aware of how similar it is to flood myth in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The similarities between the two flood accounts are quite stark. The biggest thing that makes them so alike is their main theme. Then again, the smaller details of the events that occur in both stories are considerably different. The parallels between both narratives have also been recognized by secular scholars. However, others simply label these connections as nothing but shared mythology (Graves). The question remains: Is the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Biblical Genesis flood narrative really that similar to each other they seem to be.
The Epic of Gilgamesh was written prior to 2000 B.C., while the Genesis of the Bible was “completed in 280-400 B. C.” (Dolo), which means that it was written considerably later than the Epic of Gilgamesh. This makes it all the more probable that Biblical writes were aware of flood myth in the Mesopotamian poem and revised it for the Bible so it would fit with the history and worldview of the time. Although some of the more precise details related to the flood and how it occurs are different in both accouts, however, comparing and contrasting the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis reveals that the ancient and biblical accounts of the flood have far more underlying similarities than differences.
The first underlying similarity between the two versions is that God and the “great gods” cause the flood out of anger. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the five “great gods” seem to cause the floor because they claim that, “[t]he uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reasons of the babel” (Sandars 12). However, it seems that the gods decide to destroy mankind on the highly unreasonable grounds that they are making too much noise. In Genesis, God’s decision to cause the flood seems to be wiser since he has a more logical reason to destroy mankind. Mankind had become so evil and wicked that, “it repented [God] that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” ("Genesis 6:6"). So he decides to destroy his creation from the face of the earth (Gen. 6:7). Despite this difference, the extent of both floods was Global and they were intended for all of mankind.
Some major similarities surface between the Gilgamesh and Biblical accounts when the righteous hero of each story is informed of the flood that is going to take place. Both Utnapishtim from Gilgamesh and Noah from Genesis are righteous men by character, and that is why the gods and God decide not to destroy them. Although Ea, one of the “great gods” warns Utnapishtim of the flood in a dream while God directly converses with Noah to warn him of the flood, but in both accounts, this is an example of Ea’s and God’s grace and mercy to allow the good in mankind to survive. In both accounts, the righteous part of the mankind is given a chance to survive so that the human race may have a future.
Another stark similarity between the Gilgamesh flood narrative and the Biblical flood narrative is how both the gods and God choose a similar means of keeping the living being alive. Both Utnapishtim and Noah are ordered to build a boat or ark, and the boat/ark is constructed in a similar manner too, with a rectangular/square shape, a pitch outside coating and at least one window. After finishing the boat/ark, both men and their family, along with every species of animal on earth, board the vessel and prepare for the flood. In both accounts, as the people and animals safely board their respect boat or ark, it begins raining heavily, which ultimately leads to the flood. Similarly, in both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis it is stated that the storm was frightful, although the storm only six days and six nights in Gilgamesh while it lasted for forty days and forty nights in Genesis.
Again, once the storm stops, both Utnapishtim’s and Noah’s actions mirror each other. Both men throw open a mirror on their boat/ark and they can see nothing but water when they look out. They release several birds into the air as a test, and ultimately it is a raven that helps both men determine that dry land exists. Finally, in the aftermath of the flood in both the Gilgamesh and the Genesis account, both the “great gods” and God are regretful of their actions. Both the gods and God realize that it was wrong of them to destroy most of the human race, and as a sign of their grace they form a rainbow in the sky in both narratives.
In conclusion, it is recognizable that the two accounts have a lot in common. Indeed, there are also many precise details, not mentioned here, that are different between the two accounts. However, this only suggests that it is possible that most of the major details from the flood account in the Book of Genesis were borrowed from the flood myth from the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Works Cited
"Genesis 6:6." King James Bible Online. King James Bible Online. Web. 17 May 2013. <http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-6-6/>.
Graves, Robert. The Creek Myths, Volume 1. London: Penguin Books, 1960. Print.
Sandars, N. K. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1972. Print.
