There are a number of profound similarities and differences between
             creation myths contained in The Epic of Gilgamesh, Hesiod's Theogony,
             Plato's Symposium, and the biblical book of Genesis. The similarities
             between these works may reflect a great similarity between human kind,
             while differences can reflect cultural understandings and interpretations
             of the outside world. Ultimately, however, the very fact that creation
             stories such as these have been created at such different times and in
             different situations reveals the human desire to understand the origin of
             The Epic of Gilgamesh, like the other creation stories, explores the
             theme of the search for everlasting life. Gilgamesh, a superhuman being
             who is part God, must deal with his mortality, despite his many powers. He
             laments, "There is no permanence" (106), and wonders "How shall I find the
             life for which I am searching'" He visits the one human who has been
             granted eternal life by the Gods, Utnapishtim, and there learns of the
             story of the flood, and receives knowledge of a plant that restores youth.
             It is within this story that there are some significant similarities
             between Gilgamesh and the Biblical story of the serpent and man's fall from
             grace. Gilgamesh journeys to the ocean and finds the magical plant
             described by Utnapishtim, but does not trust that it will work, and decides
             to test it. As Gilgamesh bathes, a snake rises up and devours the plant,
             and then sheds its skin. Here, this snake bears a significant similarity
             tot he snake seen in the Garden of Eden. However, rather than acting as an
             agent of temptation as in the Bible, the snake simply capitalizes on
             Gilgamesh contains a flood story that is similar to the one in the
             Bible. Gilgamesh learns from the wide immortal human Utnapishtim the story
             of the flood. The gods had decided to destroy humanity, but Utnapishtim,
             warned by Ea, ...