Both The Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Noah’s ark share similar events because it’s possible that they originated from one another.
Both narratives share a common plotline with many similar details. For example, the reason for the gods or God sending down the flood. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, those living on Earth are too loud and the gods are no longer able to sleep. In the text Enil says, “The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reason of the babel.” (25). For this reason he decides to exterminate mankind with a disastrous flood. In the story of Noah’s ark, God begins to see how corrupt the world had become and decided to end all life by sending a flood. In the text it states “When God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its ways on earth,” (45).
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Another similarity between both narratives would be the message that is sent to both Noah and Utnapishtim from the gods or god.
After the suggestion of flooding the earth from Enlil, Ea decides to tell Utnapishtim because of an oath. In the test it states “So the gods agreed to exterminate mankind. Enlil did this, but Ea because of his oath warned me in a dream.” (25). In Genesis it says “God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.”(45). This would imply that God came down and spoke to Noah and warned him of the flood and then gave him the assignment to build the ark. Even though Utnapishtim received his indirectly and Noah received the message directly from God or Yahweh, both received messages pertaining to the
flood. One last similarity between the two similarities would be the ending of both floods. In both narratives after the floods ended both Utnapishtim and Noah had made sacrifices to the gods or God. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, it states, “Then I threw everything open to the four winds, I made a sacrifice and poured out a libation on the mountain top. Seven and again seven cauldrons I set up on their stands, I heaped up wood and cane and cedar and myrtle. When the gods smelled the sweet savor, they gathered like flies over the sacrifice.” (27-28). This line explains how after the flood occurred Utnapishtim set up a sacrifice of meat after the ark landed which the god smelled. In Genesis it states that after the flood, “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking of every clean animal and of every clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.” (48).
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.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and the book of job are similar because they both share themes characters and setting. These two books differ because the book of job because it has a major theme that discusses where humans stand in the world.
The theme in Gilgamesh, Genesis and Sur 11 are comparably the same in that the people in each story were with sin and wickedness. In all three literatures, the people in the beginning were mean and sinful. The people in the Epic of Gilgamesh were evil and when Gilgamesh came to power he did not known what to since it was his first time beinging king. So, he would rule in a stern way to keep the people from sin. On Genesis God wanted to flood the Earth from the people who were sinful. God asked Noah to build an ark and to take his family and two of each animal.
Some of the simpler similarities are that the extent of the flood reaches every part of the earth, the flood is intended to destroy mankind, aside from the heros and their families, Utnapishtim and Noah are found righteous by their God or gods, and they build an ark to certain qualifications. An example of a less obvious similarity is the location of where the arks first touche land. In the general sense, they both landed on a mountain: Noah’s “ ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventh day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 75) and Utnapishtim's “boat stuck fast beside Mt. Nimush” (Gilgamesh 57). Taking this information a Step deeper reveals that Mt. Ararat and Mt. Nimush are about 300 miles apart. Both boats land in a relatively close proximity. Further proving the idea that the Sumerians and Hebrews experience the same event. Utnapishtim’s and Noah’s lives are dramatically changed by the flood. They sacrifice all that is familiar to them in order to receive the blessings of God or the gods. The heroes are both examples of a term I will call the archetypal path of blessing. Utnapishtim and Noah are both comfortable with what they have before the flood, but as Christopher Columbus States “One can never cross the ocean until one has the courage to leave the shore.” Utnapishtim and Noah give up what is ordinary to receive what is great. The blessings of both characters exceed
Mortal and immortal women inspire many of the events that take place in The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh. For example, without the harlot, who “tames” Enkidu, the story of Gilgamesh would not be, as we know it. A chapter entitled, “Women in Ancient Epic” from A Companion to Ancient Epic by Helene Foley compares Ishtar in Gilgamesh to Calypso and Circe in The Odyssey. By comparing the role of immortal and mortal women in both The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh, one will be able to discern how the feminine figures have played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the epic heroes, as well as, understanding the interrelation amongst the female figures of both ancient epics.
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.
You may think Jesus isn't an epic hero or you may ask how is he an epic hero, but his story is more of an epic than you would think. On the other hand, Gilgamesh has the story and the characteristics of a good old fashion epic hero, that was brave, a strong fighter, and didn't back down for nothing. But Jesus never fought his enemies he fought them with love, and he was one hundred percent god on earth but Gilgamesh was only ⅔ god. Gilgamesh and Jesus have a good amount of differences. And in this essay I will be explaining the differences and similarities between these two godly figures abilities, the purpose of their quest,and what makes them very different from all humans on earth.
A good number of people know the famous story of the Genesis flood, but do they know how it resembles to the Gilgamesh flood story? It is mind bending how the main stories are so alike. The main theme is the biggest similarity between the two. They also differ greatly in the smaller details in the events that take place. In both stories the number of days for events are different, but the same basic event takes place. Along with many other similarities and differences. The stories are very much the same, but when comparing the details within they are very different.
Whether in Christianity in the form of Noah’s Ark, or through Mesopotamian history in the form of an immortal, the idea of a great flood has proven to be a common story throughout the world. Though Noah’s Ark may be the most popular form of the story, it is not the oldest. Many people believe Noah’s Ark was based on Utnapishnem’s flood story. The two stories are obviously based on the same thing, but one must wonder which one is true or which came first.
These giants that roamed the earth were long destroyed and there was a clear account that says that there were only men during the flood time. Also in the Gilgamesh story, the reason for the gods’ wrath descending on mankind was not tangible reason enough to cause extermination of the human race… ‘The uproar of mankind is intolerable and sleep is no longer possible by reasons of the babel”. In the Hebrew text however, God was annoyed with man because their negligence and sins were getting out of hand and this is a pretty good reason for the creator of mankind to decide to destroy his creation. Even at that, Noah who was the hero in the Hebrew text found grace in the eyes of God and He decided to spare his
The story of The Great Flood in the bible was written thousands of years after The Epic of Gilgamesh was written by the Ancient Hebrews, the first monotheistic society. One example that shows God is almighty is "the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created...the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights...And all flesh died that moved across the earth." This detail shows just how powerful God is, He decided that humans did not deserve to live anymore and he sent rain and floods to the Earth for forty days and forty nights and kills everything that moved on the Earth. The mood of this story is serious and absolute, there is no changing what God decides, and he decided that humans shouldn't live. An example that shows Gods' mercy is "But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD... And God said to Noah 'I have determined to make an end of all flesh... God remembered Noah... And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided." The Bible characterizes Noah as a good person who has integrity and listens to all that God says. Because of this God is compassionate towards Noah and his family warning them of the flood and telling him to build a boat. God's mercy also shows when he remembers Noah and doesn't leave the Earth covered
How to Treat a God One of the most fascinating aspects of the ancient epic is the window it provides into the relationship between humans and their gods. Just as the hero of the classical epic represents an embodiment of the ideals of that society, observing the interactions between an epic’s hero and his gods, can provide some of the most revealing insights into the fascinating relationship between a given society and their gods. Through careful analysis of The Epic of Gilgamesh and Homers’ The Odyssey, we learn of similarities between the Greek and Sumerian relationship with their gods, in that both the goddesses Ishtar and Circe are revered, feared, and idolized by the hero; and of the differences between the two empires’ divine relationships, as Odysseus treats Circe much more as one would a human, than
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.
Both the flood story from Gilgamesh and from the Bible have a common plot. A god floods the world due the the flaw of humans. Though this is a similarity, the flaw of the humans are different. In Gilgamesh, the god Enlil floods a city because the humans were too loud. In Noah, the flood story from the Bible, God floods the whole world because the humans were corrupt and lawless. In both stories, one man is chosen to survive the storm. In
... of these epics share quite many similarities. For example, the archetypes used, the types of settings, and the themes are a few of plenty of comparabilities found among The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh. However, the most important similarity is that both of these epics are timeless; they have been passed down through generations spanning thousands of years, and they will continue to be read for many years to come.