t of the ark, every living thing on earth. I will maintain My covenant with you: never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.(Genesis pg. 174) This is Gods way of letting Noah know that he will never again flood the earth again. In Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is chosen to survive the great flood because he too is faithful to his lord, God Ea. They each prepare for their journey by building a large boat, and bringing with them two of every animal and their families. Noahs ark is thirty cubits high, and three stories while Utnapishtims boat is two hundred feet tall, with six stories. When asked to build this huge ship Gilgamesh replied: When I had understood I said to my Lord, Behold, what you have commanded I will honor and perform, but how shall I answer the people, the city, the elders?(Gilgamesh pg. 146) This proves that Utnapishtim, like Noah, was true to his Lord, God Ea, and was willing to do whatever he was asked to do. Utnapishtim didnt know what to tell his people about where he was about to go so Ea responds: Tell them this: I have learned that Enlil is wrathful against me, I dare no longer walk in his land nor live in his city; I will go down to the Gulf to dwell with Ea my Lord.(Gilgamesh pg. 146) This quote tells Utnapishtim what to say to his people about where he is going without letting them know what is about to happen. When on board the ship he sends out a dove, swallow, and a raven in hopes of finding dry land somewhere beyond. In Genesis, Noah sends a raven and three doves in hopes of an end to the great flood.In conclusion there is an obvious relationship between the two flood accounts of Gilgamesh and Genesis. The widespread nature of flood traditions throughout history has become part of the human race. Dating from the earliest accounts of Gilgamesh that are assumed to be older than those from Genesis. Although, the Biblical account had b...
