We never expect to find similarities between ancient epics and the lessons we’re taught initially through religion. Religions and beliefs are so complex in their individuality that it shocks others when we learn that two pantheons share the same tale. The ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ is the oldest poem known to man. Written in 2100 B.C.E and carved into 12 tablets, ‘Gilgamesh’, is one of most beautiful epics of all time. What is astounding is that there are several stories that the Bible and Gilgamesh share. Particularly, even considering the differences between the two cultures, Gilgamesh and the Bible share three stories in common. Both stories include a narrative of a flood wiping out all creation, a story about a plant that grants those everlasting
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A worldwide flood is a significant component to many beliefs in the world. In the Old Testament the flood is explained through the story of ‘Noah’s Ark’ while in Gilgamesh, it is explained as an experience from Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh’s ancestor. In both stories the wrongdoings of man has angered the gods and resulted in the destruction of mankind. In Noah’s Ark, “The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:13) This quote when compared to, “The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel,” the gods determined to exterminate mankind…” (Gilgamesh, Book XI) not only reinforces the common idea that in both stories, humanity's imperfections led to its downfall but also the idea that gods have placed a divine judgement onto humanity as a whole. And in both stories, a man who was deemed worthy by the gods is warned of the impending danger and instructed how to survive and repopulate the Earth. Though done differently, both men were instructed to build a boat for their families and the animals of the earth and that connection shows how similar the two stories are. Then, when waiting for the earth to dry, both men had similar ideas on how to determine if it was safe to leave the boat. After …show more content…
In both stories a magic plant is used to represent immortality and its absence or presence is used to introduce the idea of death and humanity's imperfection. In the story of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve were told by God to not eat the fruit from the “Tree of Knowledge”, while in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh a ‘magic flower’ called “The Old Men are Young Again” that grants an old man immortality. Also, In the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’, Gilgamesh loses his chance at immortality because he decided to not eat the flower right away, while Adam and Eve lost their immortality through disobedience. In both stories (though described more harshly in the Bible) humanity’s immortality is taken away by a human’s mistake and as a result death is then introduced into the world. Additionally, in both the Bible and in Gilgamesh a serpent is the reason why mankind is denied immortality. In both stories the serpent portrayed as a being who causes misfortune; however, the intention of the snakes are considerably different. While in the Bible the serpent is shown to have evil intention, the snake in the ‘Epic’ of Gilgamesh’ is only an animal. In the ‘Epic’ of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has the chance of obtaining immortality, however when a snake smelled the flower, “it stealthily crawled up and carried the plant away.” (Book XI, 197). Here the serpent is
A worldwide flood is a significant component to many beliefs in the world. In the Old Testament the flood is explained through the story of ‘Noah’s Ark’ while in Gilgamesh, it is explained as an experience from Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh’s ancestor. In both stories the wrongdoings of man has angered the gods and resulted in the destruction of mankind. In Noah’s Ark, “The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:13) This quote when compared to, “The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel,” the gods determined to exterminate mankind…” (Gilgamesh, Book XI) not only reinforces the common idea that in both stories, humanity's imperfections led to its downfall but also the idea that gods have placed a divine judgement onto humanity as a whole. And in both stories, a man who was deemed worthy by the gods is warned of the impending danger and instructed how to survive and repopulate the Earth. Though done differently, both men were instructed to build a boat for their families and the animals of the earth and that connection shows how similar the two stories are. Then, when waiting for the earth to dry, both men had similar ideas on how to determine if it was safe to leave the boat. After …show more content…
In both stories a magic plant is used to represent immortality and its absence or presence is used to introduce the idea of death and humanity's imperfection. In the story of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve were told by God to not eat the fruit from the “Tree of Knowledge”, while in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” Utnapishtim gives Gilgamesh a ‘magic flower’ called “The Old Men are Young Again” that grants an old man immortality. Also, In the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’, Gilgamesh loses his chance at immortality because he decided to not eat the flower right away, while Adam and Eve lost their immortality through disobedience. In both stories (though described more harshly in the Bible) humanity’s immortality is taken away by a human’s mistake and as a result death is then introduced into the world. Additionally, in both the Bible and in Gilgamesh a serpent is the reason why mankind is denied immortality. In both stories the serpent portrayed as a being who causes misfortune; however, the intention of the snakes are considerably different. While in the Bible the serpent is shown to have evil intention, the snake in the ‘Epic’ of Gilgamesh’ is only an animal. In the ‘Epic’ of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh has the chance of obtaining immortality, however when a snake smelled the flower, “it stealthily crawled up and carried the plant away.” (Book XI, 197). Here the serpent is