The Epic of Gilgamesh has many similarities to the Bible, especially in Genesis and it’s not just that the both begin with the letter “g”’! One major similarity being the flood story that is told in both works. The two stories are very similar but also very different. Another being the use of serpents in both works and how they represent the same thing. A third similarity being the power of God or gods and the influence they have on the people of the stories. Within these similarities there are also differences that need to be pointed out as well. 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... ... middle of paper ... ... Meaning of The Epic of Gilgamesh: An Interpretive Essay." Journal of the American Oriental Society 121.4 (2001): 614-23. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. . Gilgamesh, The Epic of. Vol. A. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner, et al. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2012. 95-150. Print. New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. Mar. 2011. Ziolkowski, Eric. "Ancient Newcomer to Modern Culture." World Literature Today 81.5 (2007): 55-57. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. .
Puchner, Martin. "The Epic of Gilgamesh." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2012.
The rendition of the historic, worldwide Flood recorded in Genesis of the Old Testament is similar to the account recorded on Tablet 11of the Sumero-Babylonian version of the epic of Gilgamesh, discovered in the 1800’s by British archaeologists in Assyria. Let us compare the two in this essay.
The story of the great hero, Gilgamesh, fulfills the requirements of an epic. Gilgamesh is consistently relevant to society and it conveys timeless themes and messages. It is in human nature for people to want to excel in life and strive to make a name in this world for themselves. We want to be remembered by name or for something we have done. Most, who actually succeed, are forgotten about in a matter of years. However, some are remembered for tens, hundreds, and even thousands of years, because of their great intellectual achievement to feats of outstanding skill.
Even though The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis: Noah and The Flood have similar details they both differ dramatically, because of the religious aspects, their different views of destroying mankind , and the importance of the arc.
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
There have been numerous flood stories identified from ancient sources found all around the world. Two of these flood stories come from The Epic of Gilgamesh and Hebrew Scripture. The Epic of Gilgamesh follows a Sumerian King, Gilgamesh, who searches for immortality and finds the answer from a man named Utnapishtim. The flood story in the Hebrew Scriptures follows a man named Noah. Although they bear some minor similarities, the differences between The Epic of Gilgamesh and Hebrew Scripture are clearly evident.
“Gilgamesh." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
Before I explore all the differences between The Flood of Noah Vs. The Flood of Gilgamesh; I would like to discuss the similarities. First off, the God’s chose to males to take on this position. The God’s both chose Uthapishtim and Noah to be heroes because they are righteous. The Gods demanded both of the heroes to build their boat. Noah and Uthapishtim only could build one door for the ark. In both stories, the heroes had to put all species of animals on
They are both stories centered on a great flood that the God(s) send down, and they have chosen an individual (Utnapishtim and Noah) to build this boat and save life on earth because of its wickedness. Both arks were huge, although there shapes differed. Noah’s was rectangular; Utnapishtim’s was square. Some differences are that the biblical flood lasted for 40 days and night, while the Gilgamesh flood was six days and nights. In addition, in both stories birds were released to find land. In ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’, Utnapishtim received his orders in a dream while Noah received his from God. A major difference is the presence of great heroes during this time. When Gilgamesh story takes place, the gods allow half-god/half-human being to exist on earth. This was apart of the ‘Golden Age’, and in Genesis, the ‘Golden Age’ was done. Therefore, no more heroes were still alive on
The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis have many similarities, or parallels, that connect the two great works. It is amazing how two stories were written at completely different times, yet have so many things in common. Drawing parallels can even help you understand the stories more. So, what do Gilgamesh and Genesis have in common? Using a bird to see if the flood is gone, making a sacrifice to God/ the gods, and the serpent in each story causes the main characters not to have immortality are only a few examples of connecting the stories together.
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.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey both are held in high respect by literature analysts and historians alike for the characterization of the hero and his companion, the imagery brought to mind when one of them is read, and the impressive length in relation to the time period it was written in. The similarities that these two epics share do not end with only those three; in fact, the comparability of these works extend to even the information on the author and the archetypes used. However, The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh contrast from one another in their writing styles, character details, and main ideas. Both epics weave together a story of a lost man who must find his way, but the path of their stories contrast from one another.
"Epic of Gilgamesh." Academy for Ancient Texts. Ancient Texts Library. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. .
---. “The Development and Meaning of the Epic of Gilgamesh: An Interpretive Essay.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 121.4 (2001): 614-622. JSTOR. Web. 28 Feb 2014.
The stories of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Noah’s Ark were written during similar time