Genesis – Gilgamesh

The story of the Flood is one of the most intense scenes in both “Genesis” and the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, which proves an obvious connection between the two works.

In Genesis, the monotheistic God decides to destroy humankind due to the people’s wickedness: “every scheme of his heart’s devising [is] only perpetually evil” (p.34). On the other hand, the polytheistic Gods of the Shuruppak, without any particular reason other than the excessive human noisiness, have their hearts “moved … to inflict the flood” (p. 91), so there will be “no man … to survive the annihilation” (p. 94). By pure luck, Utanapishtim is chosen by the God Ea to survive the flood. However, the God in Genesis purposely cautions Noah as he is the only righteous and blameless man on the Earth. The two survivors are given directions and measurements on how to built the ark, they are also advised what kind of species to bring with them. Both Noah and Utanapishtim take on the boat their wives and children, as well as two of each animal. Unlike Noah, Utanapishtim also takes with him the craftsmen that will preserve the knowledge of the human civilization and will help to rebuild it. After “six days and seven nights” (p. 93) in the Epic and “hundred and fifty days” (p.35) in Genesis all human beings are “wiped out from the earth” (Damrosch, p. 35) and “turned to clay” (Damrosch, p. 93) (the material that both Enkidu and Adam are made of).

However, feeling guilty for diminishing the people, the Gods of Shuruppak reward Utanapishtim and his wife with immortality and make them like Gods. Similarly, as the Lord in Genesis smells the odor of the sacrifices, He also thinks that He “will not again strike down all livings”. The Lord blesses Noah and his family and tells them to be fruitful and multiply. So, it is obvious that the story of the Flood in both works represents a symbol of the endless powers of Gods and the weakness of humankind.