Comparison of the Flood Stores in The Bible and Gilgamesh

Both stories suggest that what people want for reward is different, In “The Epic of Gilgamesh” immorality is considered a gift, and in The Bible the flood story concerning Noah suggests that rewards of food and blessings holds the same weight as immortality. Both Noah and Utmapishtim approach their journeys by building a large boat, and boat is built in a specific way. Utmapishtim is chosen to survive the great flood because he is a true worshipper of the god Ea, who warns him about the flood. Because for this God comes to warn him and tells him to build an ark. In Gilgamesh, the god Enlil’s reason for wanting to destroy man is “the uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason the babel. ” (Genesis 6-9 pg 57) God does this because of the wickedness that takes over the earth. In the Bible, God said “And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. Noah is the only man on Earth who finds grace in the eyes of God.

In both stories, mankind are exterminated because their actions become unpleasing and things are getting too chaotic. Although one of these catastrophic flood stories derives from Hebrew culture and the other from Babylon culture, they have similar comparisons.

The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Bible are products of two different cultures. ” (World Masterpieces pg 37) The other gods agreed with this and supported Enlil’s wishes. God chooses Noah to build an ark, save two of each type of animal, and to also restart mankind after the flood. He is the only man who God finds to be good at heart.