The book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible has many similarities to the poem “The Epic of Gilgamesh” translated by Danny P. Jackson. These two pieces of literature originate as creation stories. The book of Genesis tells the story of how Yahweh created man and the earth. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” tells the story of the quest for immortality. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” dates back many years before the Bible and the book of Genesis, but many of the stories are similar. The book of Genesis and the poem both involve temptation and a flood that wiped out civilization. These two characteristics allow one to compare and contrast the two stories and their background. In the book of Genesis, Eve tempts Adam by making him eat from the tree of knowledge (New King James Version, Genesis 3:6). Then when God, or Yahweh, comes to the garden and calls for Adam,
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In Genesis, the flood lasted for forty days and nights, whereas in “The Epic of Gilgamesh” the flood only lasted seven days. The book of Genesis states “and God said unto Noah, 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. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch” (Genesis 6:13-14). In “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Utnapishtim hears from the assembly of Gods through a dream, “Arise and hear my words: Citizen of Shuruppak, child of Ubaratutu, abandon your home and build a boat… be moderate as you flee for survival in a boat that has no place for riches” (Jackson 78). Another difference between these two are the types of birds released while on the boat. Noah releases a dove and a raven in search of dry land on day forty-one, only the dove returns (Genesis 8:7-10) Utnapishtim released a watch bird, a raven, and a swallow, only the watch bird returned (Jackson
In Genesis, the flood lasted for forty days and nights, whereas in “The Epic of Gilgamesh” the flood only lasted seven days. The book of Genesis states “and God said unto Noah, 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. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch” (Genesis 6:13-14). In “The Epic of Gilgamesh” Utnapishtim hears from the assembly of Gods through a dream, “Arise and hear my words: Citizen of Shuruppak, child of Ubaratutu, abandon your home and build a boat… be moderate as you flee for survival in a boat that has no place for riches” (Jackson 78). Another difference between these two are the types of birds released while on the boat. Noah releases a dove and a raven in search of dry land on day forty-one, only the dove returns (Genesis 8:7-10) Utnapishtim released a watch bird, a raven, and a swallow, only the watch bird returned (Jackson