The Flood: Genesis Vs. Ane
Every human society attempts to explain the origins of the universe. Some stories even parallel each other from the beginnings of man to the perception on reality. The ancient Near East, as well Genesis, both have their accounts of the famous flood story in which each bears obvious similarities and differences.
Both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the flood from Genesis are set out to destroy mankind. However, they differ in respect to why the flood originates. In Genesis "The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth" (Gen 6:5). The Lord God protests that creation has violated the relationship between creature and creator established in Genesis 1. The Lord is frustrated because it's not what he intended. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the gods are frustrated with human overpopulation and noise.
In both accounts the flood symbolizes rebirth and a new beginning for mankind. The heroes in both versions are named, Noah in Genesis, and Utnapishtim, or "Babylonian Noah", in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The flood is decreed by divinity and is announced in both accounts by a forewarning. In Genesis the warning comes from the Lord, "for my part, I am going to bring a flood or waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die" (Gen 6:17). In the Epic of Gilgamesh the warning comes from overhearing the Gods speak of a divine plan to flood the world. "Wall, reflect! Man of Shuruppak, son of Ubar-Tutu, tear down this house, build a ship" (#12: Epic of Gilgamesh, 66). Unlike Utnapishtim "Noah walked with God", as did Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden (Gen 6:9). This righteousness and grace is why God chose Noah to survive the flood. Noah was also given an age, unlike Utnapishtim. "Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of the waters cam on the earth" (Gen 7:6). This was probably mentioned to imply Noah was a man of wisdom.
In both...
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