Gilgamesh Vs Genesis
The Flood
In both The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Genesis, a flood is sent down in order to wipe out the human population. In both, the flood has survivors who replenish the human race, but their goals are different. Although a major flood is present in Gilgamesh and The Genesis, it differs in the reasons behind it and why.
The occurrence of the flood is similar in both the Genesis and Gilgamesh. In both, two men are employed to build a boat in the event of an upcoming flood. Noah is advised by God to “Make [himself] an ark of cypress wood” (Genesis 6), and to survive the upcoming floods with his family and two of many livestock. Likewise, Utnapishtim is approached by the God Ea to “demolish the house, and build a boat” (Gilgamesh 89). Both are ordered to build a boat with many compartments to save the animals to repopulate the world after the floods. Both Noah and Utnapishtim’s families are also the only survivors of both floods because of the boats. Another similarity between Gilgamesh and …show more content…
In the Genesis, the reason for the floods is because the human race has become evil. God found that “the evil of the human creature was great on the earth [...] And the Lord regretted having made the human on earth” (Genesis 6). On the contrary, in Gilgamesh, the reasons for the flood aren’t explicitly said, rather, the “great gods decided to send down the Deluge,” (Gilgamesh 88). In the Genesis, the reasons for the flood are because of the corruption of the human, whereas in Gilgamesh, it’s never said why. In addition, the choosing of the saviors in both accounts differ. Noah is chosen by God as he “was a righteous man, he was blameless in his time” (Genesis 6). In Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is chosen by the God Ea who is his master. Noah is chosen because of his character whereas Utnapishtim is chosen because of his status as a king and his role as servant to
In both The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Genesis, a flood is sent down in order to wipe out the human population. In both, the flood has survivors who replenish the human race, but their goals are different. Although a major flood is present in Gilgamesh and The Genesis, it differs in the reasons behind it and why.
The occurrence of the flood is similar in both the Genesis and Gilgamesh. In both, two men are employed to build a boat in the event of an upcoming flood. Noah is advised by God to “Make [himself] an ark of cypress wood” (Genesis 6), and to survive the upcoming floods with his family and two of many livestock. Likewise, Utnapishtim is approached by the God Ea to “demolish the house, and build a boat” (Gilgamesh 89). Both are ordered to build a boat with many compartments to save the animals to repopulate the world after the floods. Both Noah and Utnapishtim’s families are also the only survivors of both floods because of the boats. Another similarity between Gilgamesh and …show more content…
In the Genesis, the reason for the floods is because the human race has become evil. God found that “the evil of the human creature was great on the earth [...] And the Lord regretted having made the human on earth” (Genesis 6). On the contrary, in Gilgamesh, the reasons for the flood aren’t explicitly said, rather, the “great gods decided to send down the Deluge,” (Gilgamesh 88). In the Genesis, the reasons for the flood are because of the corruption of the human, whereas in Gilgamesh, it’s never said why. In addition, the choosing of the saviors in both accounts differ. Noah is chosen by God as he “was a righteous man, he was blameless in his time” (Genesis 6). In Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is chosen by the God Ea who is his master. Noah is chosen because of his character whereas Utnapishtim is chosen because of his status as a king and his role as servant to