Epic of Gilgamesh vs Genesis flood story

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Myths are an attempt by pre-scientific people to explain the environment around them.(Lecture) Oftentimes myths would be started to explain why catastrophes occurred. It was not only easier, but also more entertaining to blame a benevolent being, rather than find the actual source. Myths are commonly confused with legends and fables. Legends are partially based on truth and they are normally started to entertain the masses.(Lecture) Fables, on the other hand, are a way of spreading morality, yet they too contain a level of entertainment.(Lecture) As a way of understanding ancient cultures, historians commonly look at myths. The oldest written myth is The Epic of Gilgamesh, which bares strong resemblance to the Genesis Flood story, written 1500 years before.(Human pg.7) Both stories have very common plot lines and many similarities. Yet, the two stories still have strong differences.

Gilgamesh and Genesis have many similarities. Both tell of mass destruction. God of Genesis and the Gods of Gilgamesh killed all humans on the world except one religious man and his family. In both stories the mass destruction takes place by flooding and an ark is built to hold a pair of all the animals of the world.(Human pg.7) A deity intervenes to save mankind and when given the task of hero, both men complain about the assignment of building the ark. Another similarity is that the hero of both stories sends out three birds. The third bird is the indicator of finding land. Both heroes sacrifice something to their god or gods. Also, both deities seem sorry for the destruction. During this period of time many cities laid on rivers.

As a result of the myths containing flooding, the people were trying to explain a common occurrence. Yet, the people needed security from the fear of a flood wiping out the world. Hence, the gods or god promising to never wipe out the earth. By having a single boat involved the people of a common bond. The knowledge that their ancestors and the ancestors of all the animals in the world going the same ordeal would give the masses a certain respect for every individual. Hopefully, curbing the peoples need for violence and desgressions against others.

A major difference between the two is the fact that the Epic of Gilgamesh is polytheistic and Genesis Flood story is monotheistic. The changing in the times reflects the change in the ethical standpoint of the two stories. The period in Mesopotamia, where the Epic of Gilgamesh was written, was a time of huge change. There were new gods for every city, that the people were forced to worship. Everyone had their own idea of what life should be according to which god they chose. People had no unity in religion other than the tales they told. Since Mesopotamia was such a transient area, people adopted its myths and pasted them on as they moved.(Earth pg.) A passing individual adopted the story of Gilgamesh and altered the tale to project a story that would emphasize what was needed for another culture. Hence, the birth of the ethical monotheistic Genesis Flood story.

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Though the largest difference in the two stories is their theological stand, there are still many other differences between the two. In Gilgamesh, Ut-Napishtim received his instructions indirectly through a dream, but Noah received them directly from Jehovah. This alteration in the myth is trying to give people the idea that they are closer to god than in any other religion. In Mesopotamia to rule you must be considered semi-divine, but if god spoke to you directly that would give you religious power. Another difference in the stories is the length of time each ark was on the water. Noah's ark was on the water for forty days; Ut-Napishtim was on the water for 6 days.(Human pg.7) The interval of time could be relevant to each culture at the time, but today it holds no meaning. The releasing of the birds to find land is another difference. Though both of them released three doves, they chose different birds. Ut-Napishtim sent out a dove, swallow and a raven, Noah sent out a raven and two doves.(Human pg. ) In the Biblical story, the sending out of the dark colored bird and it returning with nothing could show that darkness doesn't avail. Yet the white dove, the symbol of peace, returns with the olive branch.

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