The Flood In The Epic Of Gilgamesh

The story of the flood in The Epic of Gilgamesh has been influencing Christians ever since its discovery in the mid-nineteenth century. (Lorey 1) The epic was found on one of many large stone tablets that date to around 650 B.C., but some copies of the epic were found as early as 2,000 B.C. (Deem 2) Liberal scholars place the story of Genesis around 1500-500 B.C., very close to the time that The Epic of Gilgamesh was written. (Deem 2) Although the rest of the epic may have little value to Christians, the flood story stimulates their attention because of its close relation with the flood of Genesis. (Lorey 1) The flood in The Epic of Gilgamesh influenced the biblical story of the flood because both characters were warned to build a boat as method of escape, and both characters were told to save himself, his family, and a sampling of animals, and both boats come to rest on a mountain. (Deem 2) …show more content…
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim warned Gilgamesh that the gods had planned a great flood in their future. Together, Gilgamesh, his family, and Utnapishtim construct a boat in preparation for the storm. After he and his companions endure the storm, Utnapishtim releases a dove into the air. The dove returns. He then releases a swallow. The swallow also returns. Utnapishtim then releases a Raven and the Raven does not return, signaling that it has found land. Likewise, in the story of Genesis, God warns Noah that he is going to destroy the world by water. When Noah survives the flood, he also releases a dove. The dove Noah releases first returns with good news, and on its second traveling returns to the ship with an olive leaf in its bill. (Genesis 8:4-14) Also signifying that it has reached land. Although Noah may have built the ark by himself, the similarities between the two stories are