Essay Comparing Noah And The Epic Of Gilgamesh
The Parallels between Noah and the Epic of Gilgamesh
The story of the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh is a well-known parallel to the story of Noah’s ark in the Hebrew Scriptures of Genesis. The flood in both stories destroys mankind by the power of a deity. These floods drowned men, women, children, and some babies and infants, as well as eliminating all of the land animals and birds. The floods represent a new beginning for mankind as well as the gods’ or God’s anger against the humans. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Earth is flooded for six days and six nights because a god, Enlil, was disturbed by the humans when trying to take a nap. In the book of Genesis, God chose to flood Earth for forty days and forty nights not because the humans …show more content…
were nuisances but because they were too evil to live on Earth. (Core 4) These stories compare and contrast in several significant ways. In Gilgamesh, Enlil finds that humankind is too noisy. In Genesis, God notices that man has become wicked and full of sin. Both stories describe Ea and God instructing Noah and Utnapishtim to construct a boat to save their families and themselves. While Noah’s ark was only three stories and rectangular, Utnapishtim’s boat was six stories and square. (Core 2) Both boats only had one door and one window. After the flood, Noah and Utnapishtim both sent out doves to find dry land. Not only did the doves show if the waters subsided, but also were a symbol of peace. (Core 3) The only difference here was that Noah was known to also send out a raven. At the end of both floods, the two main heroes were blessed by their god. (Core 1) The biggest difference between these two stories is the time frame of the floods. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the rain only lasted for six days and six nights. In Genesis, God created the rain for forty days and forty nights. Also, a slight difference between the two stories is that Noah was told by God to take two of each animal, while Utnapishtim was told to take on board the seed of all living things.
Since the Epic of Gilgamesh does not have one god, it shows that the beliefs are polytheistic.
In Hebrew Scripture, Noah believes in only one god making him monotheistic. Another difference between the stories is the reaction of Enlil and God after the flood has taken place. When Enlil discovered Utnapishtim has survived the flood, he is furious and demands to know who is responsible for saving him. Ea takes responsibility and accuses Enlil of bringing about a harsh, unnecessary genocide. In Genesis, things go differently. God takes full responsibility of the flood, admits that it served no purpose, and promises to never destroy all of Earth again.
Gilgamesh traveled a long way to hear the story of how Utnapishtim was granted immortality. Utnapishtim and his wife all became immortal for surviving the flood. Utnapishtim 's immortality is not reflected in the biblical story of Noah because God did not grant immortality to him. Noah was simply blessed for following the orders of God.
The similarities between the story of Noah’s ark and the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh strike enough suspicion in the authenticity of some of the Old Testament tales. One question that comes to mind is if the authors of the Bible reused an older tale. If only we had more evidence, so that we can prove that these stories are both coincidental. (Core
5)
Works Cited
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. N. K. Sanders. Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces.
Ed James Corcoran. Edgewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 23- 26. Print.
“Genesis 6-9 The Story of the Flood.” Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces. Ed James
Corcoran. Edgewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 47-51. Print.
The story of the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh is a well-known parallel to the story of Noah’s ark in the Hebrew Scriptures of Genesis. The flood in both stories destroys mankind by the power of a deity. These floods drowned men, women, children, and some babies and infants, as well as eliminating all of the land animals and birds. The floods represent a new beginning for mankind as well as the gods’ or God’s anger against the humans. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Earth is flooded for six days and six nights because a god, Enlil, was disturbed by the humans when trying to take a nap. In the book of Genesis, God chose to flood Earth for forty days and forty nights not because the humans …show more content…
were nuisances but because they were too evil to live on Earth. (Core 4) These stories compare and contrast in several significant ways. In Gilgamesh, Enlil finds that humankind is too noisy. In Genesis, God notices that man has become wicked and full of sin. Both stories describe Ea and God instructing Noah and Utnapishtim to construct a boat to save their families and themselves. While Noah’s ark was only three stories and rectangular, Utnapishtim’s boat was six stories and square. (Core 2) Both boats only had one door and one window. After the flood, Noah and Utnapishtim both sent out doves to find dry land. Not only did the doves show if the waters subsided, but also were a symbol of peace. (Core 3) The only difference here was that Noah was known to also send out a raven. At the end of both floods, the two main heroes were blessed by their god. (Core 1) The biggest difference between these two stories is the time frame of the floods. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the rain only lasted for six days and six nights. In Genesis, God created the rain for forty days and forty nights. Also, a slight difference between the two stories is that Noah was told by God to take two of each animal, while Utnapishtim was told to take on board the seed of all living things.
Since the Epic of Gilgamesh does not have one god, it shows that the beliefs are polytheistic.
In Hebrew Scripture, Noah believes in only one god making him monotheistic. Another difference between the stories is the reaction of Enlil and God after the flood has taken place. When Enlil discovered Utnapishtim has survived the flood, he is furious and demands to know who is responsible for saving him. Ea takes responsibility and accuses Enlil of bringing about a harsh, unnecessary genocide. In Genesis, things go differently. God takes full responsibility of the flood, admits that it served no purpose, and promises to never destroy all of Earth again.
Gilgamesh traveled a long way to hear the story of how Utnapishtim was granted immortality. Utnapishtim and his wife all became immortal for surviving the flood. Utnapishtim 's immortality is not reflected in the biblical story of Noah because God did not grant immortality to him. Noah was simply blessed for following the orders of God.
The similarities between the story of Noah’s ark and the flood in the Epic of Gilgamesh strike enough suspicion in the authenticity of some of the Old Testament tales. One question that comes to mind is if the authors of the Bible reused an older tale. If only we had more evidence, so that we can prove that these stories are both coincidental. (Core
5)
Works Cited
The Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. N. K. Sanders. Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces.
Ed James Corcoran. Edgewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 23- 26. Print.
“Genesis 6-9 The Story of the Flood.” Prentice Hall Literature World Masterpieces. Ed James
Corcoran. Edgewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 47-51. Print.