Similarities Between Gilgamesh And Genesis
The Great Floods: Gilgamesh vs. The Genesis
The epic story of Gilgamesh talks about a great flood that covered the whole world. Isn’t it strange that this story seems to mirror that of the great flood in the Book of Genesis? These two stories contain general similarities but when comparing the minute details, they are very different.
The story of Gilgamesh was written around 2000 B.C., many years before the Genesis story in about 400 B.C. The writers of the bible probably knew of the flood in Gilgamesh’s story but revised it so as to fit with their own worldview and history. They most likely intended the original story with their own mythology. Despite the many similarities between the two stories, the differences are revealed in a number of different lines that distinguish the two versions from each other. …show more content…
“The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reasons of the babel". The reasoning for the flood in Gilgamesh seems very irrational. The Gods decide to destroy mankind because there are too many people in the world and they are making too much noise. It seems that the gods didn't think over their decision wisely. Being they are the gods, one would think they possess the power to come do a different means of resolving this problem instead of just destroying mankind.
In Genesis, there is a much more acceptable reason for God to eliminate mankind. The humans are so wicked and evil that "It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Gen. 6:6). He says: "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. . . " (Gen. 6:7). God destroys mankind because it has become evil and corrupt within. This is not a quick irrational decision on the part of God, but a very well thought out and logical decision. It is definitely much better reason for the destruction of the human
The epic story of Gilgamesh talks about a great flood that covered the whole world. Isn’t it strange that this story seems to mirror that of the great flood in the Book of Genesis? These two stories contain general similarities but when comparing the minute details, they are very different.
The story of Gilgamesh was written around 2000 B.C., many years before the Genesis story in about 400 B.C. The writers of the bible probably knew of the flood in Gilgamesh’s story but revised it so as to fit with their own worldview and history. They most likely intended the original story with their own mythology. Despite the many similarities between the two stories, the differences are revealed in a number of different lines that distinguish the two versions from each other. …show more content…
“The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reasons of the babel". The reasoning for the flood in Gilgamesh seems very irrational. The Gods decide to destroy mankind because there are too many people in the world and they are making too much noise. It seems that the gods didn't think over their decision wisely. Being they are the gods, one would think they possess the power to come do a different means of resolving this problem instead of just destroying mankind.
In Genesis, there is a much more acceptable reason for God to eliminate mankind. The humans are so wicked and evil that "It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Gen. 6:6). He says: "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. . . " (Gen. 6:7). God destroys mankind because it has become evil and corrupt within. This is not a quick irrational decision on the part of God, but a very well thought out and logical decision. It is definitely much better reason for the destruction of the human