In both The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis, a flood takes place. The flood in both stories destroys most of creation. These floods are a symbol. They represent rebirth and a new beginning for creation, as well as the powers that god or the gods have at their disposal. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the gods decided to destroy mankind by flooding earth for six days and six nights. Utnapishtim was chosen to build a boat in order to restart mankind after the flood. In Genesis, God decided to flood the Earth for forty days and forty nights. God chose Noah to build an ark to save two of each animal and resurrect life after the flood. In both The Epic of Gilgamesh, and Genesis, a story of a flood occurs; these stories compare and contrast in several important ways.
             In both stories mankind was exterminated because the state of affairs was becoming chaotic. In The Epic of Gilgamesh the god Enlil's reason for wanting to destroy man was "the uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel" (108). The other gods agreed with Enlil's declaration. In Genesis, God also observed that the wickedness of man had taken over the Earth.
             Utnapishtim was chosen to survive the great flood because he was a true worshipper of the god Ea, who came to warn Utnapishtim about the flood. In Genesis, Noah was the only man on Earth who found grace in the eyes of God and was really good. Because of Noah's conviction, God came to him to warn of the forthcoming flood and tell him to build an ark. Utnapishtim and Noah approached their individual journeys by building a large boat, and bringing their families, as well as two of every animal, on board. Utnapishtim's boat was two hundred feet tall, with six stories. Noah's ark was thirty cubits high, and three stories tall. Utnapishtim and Noah both survived by staying on their respective boats throughout the duration of the flood. From
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