Flood Narrative ( Genesis 6-9 ) Vs. Epic Gilgamesh And...

Flood Narrative (Genesis 6-9) vs. Epic Gilgamesh, Tablet XI The Flood Narrative (Genesis 6-9) and the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet XI have certain parallels that are undeniable, yet many noticeable differences. The parallels are strange yet oddly common in any flood narrative and the differences often lie behind the reasons, responses, and decisions made by the main characters. In both texts, each of the main characters, Noah and Uta-napishti, were ordered to build an ark or a boat due to an incoming flood. In Genesis, God tells Noah, â€Å"Make yourself an ark of cypress wood, make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch† (Genesis 6:14). Noah obeys God’s orders and indeed builds an ark. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Uta-napishti†¦show more content†¦This is logical to due to the fact that Noah only had his family and animals on the ark, while Uta-napishti has his family, friends, animals, silver and gold, and all valuables needed to reestablish the e arth once the floods had passed. Once the floods did indeed pass, the Noah’s ark stopped in the mountains of Ararat and Uta-napishti’s boat stopped at Mount Nimush. However, both Noah and Uta-napishti had to wait and make sure that the floods had truly stopped. Genesis reads, â€Å"The waters continued to abate until the tenth month...on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains reappeared† (Genesis 8:5). Similarly, Epic Gilgamesh reads, â€Å"One day and a second, Mount Nimush held the boat fast, allowed it no motion, a third day and a fourth, Mount Nimush held the boat fast, allowed it no motion† (Gilgamesh, XI, 143-145). It’s a coincidence that both of these mountains are located in the Middle East. After enduring a catastrophic flood, Noah and Uta-napishti had to remain in their shelter for days on end. Nevertheless, these men are admirable for their dedication and perseverance. Unfortunately, Noah had to persevere significantly lon ger time than Gilgamesh. In the Epic Gilgamesh, the flood only lasted six days and seven nights: â€Å"For six days and nights, there blew the wind, the downpour, the gale, the Deluge, it flattened the land. But the seventh day when it came, the gale relented, the Deluge ended†Show MoreRelatedEssay on Gilgamesh vs. Genesis1436 Words   |  6 PagesGilgamesh vs. Genesis In our society, which is overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian, students often find it difficult to compare Bible stories with tales from other cultures, because our own belief system is wrapped up in the prior, and it is hard for many of us to go against our traditional faith to evaluate them objectively. But in a comparison of the Biblical book of Genesis with the ancient Sumerian text, Epic of Gilgamesh, many parallels suggest that the same type of spiritual