Over the years there have been several adaptations regarding the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, whether the comedy film starring Steve Carell, or a film narrating the Bible story. However, the adaptation that the majority of people do not recognize is the Bible story itself. The story of Noah and his ark was actually adapted from the eleventh and twelfth tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem that narrates the adventures of a fictional hero named Gilgamesh.1 The reason that Noah’s Ark is an adaptation is due to the many parallels between the two stories. Some similarities include the wrath of a deity upon humankind, as well as the creation of a type of vessel in order to survive the flood.
Before the 19th century, the Bible was believed to be the most credible source of historical information about the Ancient Near East. However,“The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest surviving epic poem in history, dating from about 2500 B.C.E.”2 The discovery of the Epic of Gilgamesh, specifically the tablets containing the excerpts detailing the Great Flood myth, caused turmoil among the ancient historical community, due to the fact that the Great Flood myth was written about a thousand years before the Bible story of Noah.3
The eleventh tablet narrates one of Gilgamesh’s adventures in search for immortality.4 Yet his search leads him to a wise man named Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim then reveals to Gilgamesh how he achieved immortality. He begins to explain how the god Ea informed him of the devastating flood created by the gods in order to extinguish humanity. He was instructed to construct a boat of immense size and to tell the people of Shuruppak to assist him in the building of the boat. Once the boat was complete, he was to load it with every living thing and his family in order to survive. Seven days later the great flood began its reign of destruction upon humankind. During this time, Utnapishtim and his ark ran aground on a mountain peak. He then released a dove in order to find land but the dove returned, not having found land. The same thing happened when he sends a swallow. However, the third time he releases a raven that never returned. Upon reaching land, the gods in heaven realized the great service Utnapishtim had done by saving humankind; thus, they granted him and his wife eternal life.
Much like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of Noah’s Ark conveys a similar destruction tale.5 The book of Genesis narrates how God began to despair over the creation of humankind due to humanity becoming sinful and evil. Therefore, God decided to create an immense flood in order to destroy and cleanse the world. However, God chose a man named Noah due to his immaculate behavior, and He instructed him to build a boat or an ark. Once he completed the ark, he was to load it with a pair of every animal on earth along with his family. For the next forty days, God plunged the earth with devastating rains, causing the earth to be flooded for a whole year. Noah then released a dove and it never returned, meaning that it had found dry land. Once the water receded, the earth was restored and became once again fertile. God made a covenant with Noah promising that his lineage will be fertile and that he will never destroy humanity again by flood.
The parallels between both stories are clear to see, due to the similarity in content and story structure. For example, both narratives include an extremely powerful deity or deities, that form a plan to wipe out humankind by creating a great flood in order to restore the earth, as well as how a single man was chosen by a higher power to save humanity.6 Another parallel is how both individuals were instructed to construct a boat in order to survive the coming flood. The content of both vessels is also similar due to them being loaded with all the living things on earth, even though in the Epic of Gilgamesh it was all living things while in Noah it was the pair of every animal on earth, along with their families. Once the earth was flooded, both Utnapishtim and Noah release birds in order to find out if the land was yet dry. Finally, both men upon reaching land are rewarded by higher powers, due to their involvement in saving humanity, and the creation of a new world.
- Benjamin R. Foster, Douglas Frayne, and Gary M. Beckman, The epic of Gilgamesh: a new translation, analogues, criticism (New York: Norton, 2001), 60-65. ↵
- Jerry Bentley, Herbert Ziegler, Heather Streets Salter, Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History Volume 1 (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Publishers, 2016), 17. ↵
- James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern texts relating to the Old Testament (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1969), 3. ↵
- Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern texts, 273. ↵
- Jerry Pinkney, Noah’s ark (New York : SeaStar Books, 2002), 20-30. ↵
- Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern texts, 10. ↵
110 comments
Oscar Portillo
Good article and good connection of similarities between these two stories. This article is good because it is thought provoking and begs the question as to why these stories are very similar. One could argue that one copied the other or that it came by other means but nonetheless it does throw Christianity in somewhat of a dilemma since if this was the word of God how was it that someone else had a story so similar before the Bible? This is also part of a new debate which sends some skepticism as to the validity of the Bible since it does seem to have parallels to other stories some after and before the Bible was written and published.
Erick Martinez
This is a great article. Having heard the story of Noah’s Ark as a child, I was somewhat familiar with the purpose, how God created a flood to erase the sin of his people at the time. As well as God’s promise to never destroy his people by flood again. However, I was unaware of the connection this story shared with the Epic of Gilgamesh. The many similarities drew and maintained my attention throughout the article.
Aaron Mcglown
Great Article. I’ve heard about Noah and the ark but didn’t realize it was a poem similar to it in the Epic of Gilgamesh. I did not know anything about the Epic of Gilgamesh. You did an outstanding job explaining both the stories. It surprises me that Gilgamesh is not know like Noah is. Overall, you did a outstanding job.
Nataly Solis Chavez
What an interesting topic! I was intrigued all throughout the article because although I have been recited the story of Noah’s ark a hundred times I honestly had no idea it was similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh. You did a great job of summarizing both and pointing out their similarities. The content was strong, clear and concise. Great Job!
Elizabeth Garibay
This was a very interesting article. Me being catholic, in CCD classes I would always learn about Noah’s Ark. In regards, I had never heard of this poem & I find it interesting that these stories are in some way side to side to each other and correspond. Although some things were tough to understand I learned so much about the Ark of Noah and before the time it was written. I believe you did a good job of detailing certain things to make them clear.
Aimee Trevino
Really intriguing article! I have heard of the story of Noah’s ark many times, but never really gotten the full explanation. It is interesting to me to hear of the Gilgamesh poem now, and find out that it actually predates the Bible. Even further interesting is that you can actually point out and see the similarities. Overall, really interesting.
Briana Bustamante
Very interesting, I have never heard of this poem. Being Catholic I was always taught about Noah’s Ark. I find it interesting that these stories parallel with each other. I see how both main characters had tasks to overcome; Noah’s goal is to serve God, while Gilgamesh does it for immortality. With both of these stories I feel that they should not be taken literal but as a figure of speech toward your faith.
Christian Lozano
What a wonderful presentation of these two seemingly parallel stories. It only furthers my faith as I see that more than just the Hebrew People recognize the event in ancient history, whether it be in a poetic form or a Biblical narrative, you can not deny the rainbows that appear even to this day, signifying God’s promise to not flood the earth again.
Aaron Jaramillo
Interesting article. I have always heard about Noah and the ark but did not know that there was a similar poem in the Epic of Gilgamesh. You did an excellent job in explaining the parallels between the two stories. It amazing me that Gilgamesh is not as well known as Noah for saving humanity. Interesting article. Great job.
Maalik Stansbury
I like how educational this article was. I learned so much about the ARk of Noah and before the time it was written and when it was written. The amount of scandis things that could have happened this was pretty interesting. I believe you supplied a wonderful amount of information and made it seem as if we were back there. I think you did a great job overall.