Gilgamesh Myths
Myths and Fables
The Scriptures are full of supernatural events, such as the Creation, Jesus’ crucifixion, and the world-wide flood. It also references many ancient tribes and peoples who were, at the very least, strange— if not, also undeniably supernatural. Not only that, but many stories and legends from ancient times very much mirror the Biblical accounts.
One example of the tribes are the Anakim, a tribe of Canaanites from about the time of Moses and Joshua. The Anakim were the descendants of the Rephaim (a group of giants from Abrahamic times) (Gen. 14:5), and inhabited areas near Hebron, Debir, and Anab, as well as in the mountains of Judah and Israel (Joshua 11:21). It has been speculated that the Philistines, especially Goliath, were …show more content…
From China to Ireland, many stories match almost exactly.
One of the most famous of these stories, the Epic of Gilgamesh, originates from Mesopotamia, and some portions very much mirror the events of the early Torah, especially the Creation and the world-wide flood. The Epic was written about 2100 B.C., with the first part of the epic dealing with Gilgamesh, a Sumerian demigod and the king of Uruk, as well as Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to prevent any further harm and oppression of the people of Uruk. The flood account is described in detail on the eleventh tablet of the twelve found.
On Tablet XI, Gilgamesh seeks out and finds Utnapishtim, a mortal-turned-god, and a man who survived a global flood. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh his story: he was originally the king of Shuruppak (located south of Nippur, Iraq), a grand, beautiful city on the banks of the Euphrates …show more content…
He was a mortal son of Zeus (the god of lightning and the skies and king of the Greek pantheon) and Alcmene (the granddaughter of Perseus, another Greek hero). As such, he had superhuman strength, as well as some dominion over his father’s godly domains.
He led a hectic, dangerous life, as Hera (Zeus’ wife) discovered his existence before he was born. When he was born, she tried to kill him using two snakes; however, Hercules strangled them before they could kill him. Later, when Hercules had grown into an adult, Hera used magic to induce a mad rage. Because of her meddling, Hercules was forced to brutally murder his wife and children. He fled, seeking the aid of the sun god Apollo.
Even though Apollo knew Hercules had not meant to kill his family, he insisted that Hercules make amends. He charged Hercules with twelve labors-- more difficult and dangerous than any other Greek hero had ever endured. The tasks ranged from stealing the belt of an Amazonian queen to capturing a stag with hooves of brass and antlers of gold to defeating the guardian of the Underworld,
The Scriptures are full of supernatural events, such as the Creation, Jesus’ crucifixion, and the world-wide flood. It also references many ancient tribes and peoples who were, at the very least, strange— if not, also undeniably supernatural. Not only that, but many stories and legends from ancient times very much mirror the Biblical accounts.
One example of the tribes are the Anakim, a tribe of Canaanites from about the time of Moses and Joshua. The Anakim were the descendants of the Rephaim (a group of giants from Abrahamic times) (Gen. 14:5), and inhabited areas near Hebron, Debir, and Anab, as well as in the mountains of Judah and Israel (Joshua 11:21). It has been speculated that the Philistines, especially Goliath, were …show more content…
From China to Ireland, many stories match almost exactly.
One of the most famous of these stories, the Epic of Gilgamesh, originates from Mesopotamia, and some portions very much mirror the events of the early Torah, especially the Creation and the world-wide flood. The Epic was written about 2100 B.C., with the first part of the epic dealing with Gilgamesh, a Sumerian demigod and the king of Uruk, as well as Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to prevent any further harm and oppression of the people of Uruk. The flood account is described in detail on the eleventh tablet of the twelve found.
On Tablet XI, Gilgamesh seeks out and finds Utnapishtim, a mortal-turned-god, and a man who survived a global flood. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh his story: he was originally the king of Shuruppak (located south of Nippur, Iraq), a grand, beautiful city on the banks of the Euphrates …show more content…
He was a mortal son of Zeus (the god of lightning and the skies and king of the Greek pantheon) and Alcmene (the granddaughter of Perseus, another Greek hero). As such, he had superhuman strength, as well as some dominion over his father’s godly domains.
He led a hectic, dangerous life, as Hera (Zeus’ wife) discovered his existence before he was born. When he was born, she tried to kill him using two snakes; however, Hercules strangled them before they could kill him. Later, when Hercules had grown into an adult, Hera used magic to induce a mad rage. Because of her meddling, Hercules was forced to brutally murder his wife and children. He fled, seeking the aid of the sun god Apollo.
Even though Apollo knew Hercules had not meant to kill his family, he insisted that Hercules make amends. He charged Hercules with twelve labors-- more difficult and dangerous than any other Greek hero had ever endured. The tasks ranged from stealing the belt of an Amazonian queen to capturing a stag with hooves of brass and antlers of gold to defeating the guardian of the Underworld,