Upon reading the Epic of Gilgamesh and the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis many comparisons arise. The strongest of these would have to be the globally destructive flood which is caused in both by Gods as a punishment for the behavior of the human race. In the epic Utanapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of his survival during the great flood. “The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the flood.” (Epic of Gilgamesh, 91) The people of Uruk had basically gotten on the nerves of the great gods by making too much noise and this was motivation to destroy everyone. The only person to know of the flood was Utanapishtim and he built a large boat by the commands of Ea, “…Make all living beings go up into the boat. The boat which you are to build…” (Gilgamesh, 91) This situation is comparable to what happens in Chapter 6 of Genesis. In the book God exclaims, “I will wipe out the human race I created from the earth, from human to cattle to crawling thing to the fowl of the heavens, for I regret that I have made them.” (Genesis, 34) God is frustrated with the evil ways that his creations are acting and in order to wipe them out he creates a world-wide flood. Just like in Gilgamesh, God selects a one person, Noah, whom he will save by warning him to create a boat. God commands Noah, “…two of each thing you shall bring to the ark to keep alive with you…” (Genesis, 34) If you notice, the God or Gods in both stories tells their one chosen hero almost the exact scenario and actions to take.
– Amanda Trexler
