The extinction of humanity has always been a topic of discussion in literature throughout the ages and still even in modern works. Humanity being wiped out by a great flood is an archetype that frequently appears throughout classical literature. In both “Noah and the Flood” and “The Epic of Gilgamesh” a man is tasked with building an ark to be the last of humanity and save all other life with him. This tale of a flood wiping out humanity was originally the same story, but over time has been altered by different cultures as it was passed down from generation to generation as shown in the events leading up to the flood, the ark itself, and the events during and the end of the flood. Leading up to the flood in “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, the god Ea knew of the god Enlil’s actions that would lead to humanity’s destruction by a flood
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Both versions of the ark were measured in cubits, covered in pitch, and had great amounts of space for all of the animals that were to be taken aboard. Even more similar is the timeframe they were built. In “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, Utnapishtim and his family built the entire ship in only seven days shown here “In the first light of dawn all my household gathered round me, the children brought pitch and men whatever was necessary… On the seventh day the boat was complete.” (“The Epic…” 146-147). Similar to “Noah and the Flood”, when God warns Noah again a week in advance so he can build his ark, shown here “For in seven days’ time I will make it rain upon the earth… And Noah did just as the lord commanded him.” (“Noah…” 172) The events that happened during the flood were also similar in both stories. Noah’s Ark “came to rest on the mountains of Ararat” (“Noah…” 173), quite similar to Utnapishtim’s version where “On the mountain of Nisir the boat held fast, she held fast and did not budge.” (“The Epic…” 147). Then after the ark comes to rest on the mountain, Noah tested out the
Both versions of the ark were measured in cubits, covered in pitch, and had great amounts of space for all of the animals that were to be taken aboard. Even more similar is the timeframe they were built. In “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, Utnapishtim and his family built the entire ship in only seven days shown here “In the first light of dawn all my household gathered round me, the children brought pitch and men whatever was necessary… On the seventh day the boat was complete.” (“The Epic…” 146-147). Similar to “Noah and the Flood”, when God warns Noah again a week in advance so he can build his ark, shown here “For in seven days’ time I will make it rain upon the earth… And Noah did just as the lord commanded him.” (“Noah…” 172) The events that happened during the flood were also similar in both stories. Noah’s Ark “came to rest on the mountains of Ararat” (“Noah…” 173), quite similar to Utnapishtim’s version where “On the mountain of Nisir the boat held fast, she held fast and did not budge.” (“The Epic…” 147). Then after the ark comes to rest on the mountain, Noah tested out the