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Comarison of the floods in gilgamesh and genesis
Similarities and differences between the flood story in the epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis
Comarison of the floods in gilgamesh and genesis
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Comparison of Flood Stories Is anything in life a coincidence? In the flood stories of Gilgamesh and Genesis, they have extraordinary similarities, but still have the occasional difference between them. However, the fact that the similarities occur frequently and very alike, that these two flood stories cannot be a coincidence. The significance between both stories is that one flood story was adapted to fit other cultures and therefore, the Gilgamesh and Genesis flood stories will have remarkable similarities between them. In the beginning, the flood stories gave a very clear reason for why this flood was supposed to occur- the humans. In the flood story of Gilgamesh, it is stated by the God, Enlil,”’The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer …show more content…
Genesis states that Noah was spoken to by God, telling him of the flood and the gather two of each animal, then build an ark made of wood and covered in pitch. The Gilgamesh flood story states that in a dream, one of the Gods speaks to Utnapishtim, telling him of an impending flood; Utnapishtim is also told to build a boat. Utnapishtim and Noah both had seven days before the flood to build the boats that would protect them and their families from the flood. The flood in Gilgamesh lasted seven days unlike the flood in Genesis, with lasted 150 days- the rain in Genesis fell for forty days and forty nights. Both of these stories sent out bird to see if the flood waters had gone down and that there was land to be found, however in Genesis, there were only two different birds, while in Gilgamesh there three different types of birds. After the flood had dispersed and the humans were all gone, Utnapishtim and Noah both made sacrifices to the Gods and God; the end of the stories involves Utnapishtim becoming immortal and Noah lives to be 950 years
Perhaps the most popular comparison with Noah's Flood is that of an ancient Babylonian story of a similar flood. A quick look at the text does show some key similarities between them however there are also some pointed differences. I will show you both and let you decide whether there is or is not a connection.
I would describe the Mesopotamians ideal of kingship as courageous and a shepherd of the people. The basis of the monarch’s legacy is his arrogance, courage, beauty, and god like self.
Most everyone knows something about the story of Noah and the great flood. It is one of the most illustrated and common stories from the Bible. The knowledge that God was angry, Noah built an ark to carry animals and then there was a flood that killed everything. Though this is the basic picture of the story, it does not capture alone the main point of the story. God’s saving grace is the message. Believe and follow in the path of the Lord and salvation will be yours. All of God’s characteristics and boundaries he conveyed spawn off of the following of this or the ignoring of His omnipotent power and being. Just like in much of the text in the Bible, you have to read between the lines to find the meaning; the same is true for Genesis 5-9.
One difference that backs it up is in The Epic of Gilgamesh the rains that cause the floods only last six days, six nights and in “The Flood Story in Genesis” the rains last forty days, forty nights. A quote that tells about the flood is when Utnapishtim said, “For six days and six nights the wind blew, torrent and tempest and flood overwhelmed the world, tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts (pg. 25).” This quote by Utnapishtim describes how bad the weather, rains, and wind were during the six days and six nights of the storm. On the other hand in “The Story of the Flood” it rained for forty days, forty nights. While God was talking to Noah he said, “For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth (pg. 48 line 4).” This quote describes how long God will have the rain go for. It also says that he is doing it to destroy all of mankind.
The story of Noah’s Ark begins with God being upset at mankind's wickedness. He decides to destroy it with a flood. God new Noah was righteous and told him to build an ark so he would be safe from the rain. Noah did so and took aboard his family and pairs of every kind of animal. It rained for forty days and nights, until the highest mountains were covered. Then God sent a wind and the waters receded, and the...
The Sumero-Babylonian version of the epic of Gilgamesh, after two and a half millennia of dormancy, was resurrected by British archaeologists in the nineteenth century. Amid the rubble of an Assyrian palace, the twelve clay tablets inscribed the adventures of the first hero of world literature – King Gilgamesh, whose oral folk tales go back to at least 3000 years before Christ (Harris 1). Tablet XI contains the story of the Flood. In this essay let us compare this flood account to the more recent Noah’s Flood account in Genesis of the Old Testament.
Gilgamesh and the Odyssey, two epics of parallel parameters, that extend over a thousand years, the heroes Gilgamesh and Odysseus, the two individual paragons of heroism, immortality and the reverence of super natural gods in both tales. The two different cultures illuminate similarities and contrasts between the two texts, The Epic of Gilgamesh depicts the ancient Mesopotamian culture and values through its hero Gilgamesh, as the Odyssey presents its cultural values through the Hero of Homer’s The Odyssey. From Gilgamesh to The Odyssey, the epic heroes constantly have to reinvent themselves to overcome their own weaknesses and shortcomings.
In the story of Gilgamesh, the city of Shurrupak stood on the banks of Euphrates. The gods who lived in the city had grown old and the city was multiplying. The gods thought the town was becoming an uproar. Because of the uproar, the gods thought this mankind was intolerable and sleep was no longer possible. At this point, the gods decided to exterminate mankind. Utnapishtim was warned in dream and was told to build the ark. And that is just what he did. The story with Noah is very similar. God had saw how wicked mankind was becoming and he did not like it one bit. God began to regret that he had made these men on Earth. However, God saw Noah. Noah was a righteous man in god’s eyes. Noah was seen to walk with god. So for this reason, god decides to take trust in Noah to build an ark so all mankind can be wiped from existence. Noah fulfills god’s request and all mankind is wiped out. These stories are like for the whole reasoning all together. The reasoning is that the gods just saw the flood as fit and so that is what they
The roles of Noah and Utnapishtim in the Flood Myths are quite similar. There are several differences regarding the two flood myths, but the general idea behind the two remains consistent. In the Mesopotamian Flood Myth, the Gods were overwhelmed by the amount of humans that existed on Earth and were unable to sleep due to the noise of men. So they decided to "exterminate mankind." While in the Hebrew story of Noah and the Flood Myth, God grew tired of the evil that had plagued mankind and engulfed the earth. So God decided to start the world over to undue the mistakes of man. Both of these stories display an attempt by the Gods to start the world over to cleanse the earth. Both Utnapishtim and Noah were spoken to by Gods and asked to build large boats from which all who were to be spared would seek shelter during the storm. Both men were allowed to spare the lives of their family via the safety of the boats. Also, the method used by the Gods in these myths are the same, the skies would rain down upon the earth flooding the land and killing all who were not ordered onto the boats.
In the books The Iliad, The Odyssey, and Gilgamesh there is a recurring theme. This theme is the supernaturals and how they have the ability to fluctuate and affect our lives in dramatic and life changing ways. The thesis topic of the supernaturals and the thematic message of anything can happen are both related because the gods are able affect anything and everything. In the Iliad the gods drastically affect the Trojan War by prolonging it because they will do whatever they can to make their specific side win. In the Odyssey the gods also affect Odysseus journey because they allow him to leave the island of calypso where he was being held captive. The gods also affect Odysseus journey because Hera helps him out in big turning points in
For as long as storytelling and mythology have existed, legends surrounding heroes have been some of the most celebrated. Although the 1997 Disney movie Hercules is based on ancient legends of the Roman hero, the modern-day rendition has many parallels to a Babylonian poem we studied in class called the Epic of Gilgamesh. Both narratives surround the trials of a hero that is part god and part mortal, and his quest for immortality or god status. The stories utilize some of the same types of myths such as a “heroic quest myth” and a “katabasis myth”. The hero of each also has a close bond with another character, which is a guiding force behind many of their actions throughout the tale. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, this bond
Gilgamesh and The Odyssey are both considered epics because they have a hero who has imposing stature and great historical or legendary significance. The actions of these two heroes also involve deeds of great valor that requires superhuman courage. (Warren, 2015). Some characteristics of a hero may include cleverness, tenaciousness, altruistic, and containing strong leadership qualities. (What is a Hero, n.d.). Gilgamesh is heroic in the eyes of his culture because he is more than any man yet he is not quite immortal. Odysseus is heroic because of his long adventures and the cleverness he exhibited along the way. Analyzing these two characters will demonstrate their beginning similarities as poor leaders and their differences that ended them
The flood story that is told in The Epic of Gilgamesh has the same principle as the story of Noah told in the book of Genesis in the Bible, but there are some major differences. In the epic, Utnapishtim is immortal and, although Noah was extremely old when he died, he wasn’t immortal. Utnapishtim was a human, but because he saved mankind, Enlil said, “Hitherto Utnapishtim has been a human, now Utnapishtim and his wife shall become like us gods.” (Gilgamesh 11.206-207) In the Biblical story, God told Noah that he was going to send a flood and asked him specifically to make the ark in order to save mankind. In Genesis 6:13-22, God tells Noah why he’s flooding the earth and exact instructions to build the ark. “13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[a] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.[b] 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit[c] high all arou...
The flood of Gilgamesh was written before 2000 B.C, while the Genesis story was written in 400 BC Which was much later then the Gilgamesh flood. Biblical writers probably knew of the much older flood but revised it so that it fit with their own history and worldview. They most likely intended the original story with their own mythology. Despite the many similarities between the two stories, the differences are revealed in a number of different topics that distinguish the biblical version of the story from the ancient version.
Comparing each record of the flood can reveal how different cultural and religious backgrounds explain events of the world, and despite the stories differences, their similarities prove