An iconic representation of Noah's ark by Edward Hicks.
Where are the whales?
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian poem, considered one of the earliest surviving works of literature. It was composed in ancient Sumeria, with the oldest surviving tablets dating back to the 18th century BCE. The epic includes a flood story that bears striking similarities to the biblical account of Noah's flood, indicating a common origin or influence between these narratives.
| Aspect | Epic of Gilgamesh | Bible (Genesis) |
|---|---|---|
| Main character | Utnapishtim | Noah |
| Divine decision | The gods decide to destroy mankind with a flood | God decides to destroy the earth with a flood due to human wickedness (Genesis 6:5-7) |
| Warning | "Man of Shuruppak, son of Ubar-Tutu, tear down your house and build a boat!" (Tablet XI) | "So make yourself an ark of cypress wood" (Genesis 6:14) |
| Boat dimensions | A perfect cube, 120 cubits on each side | 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, 30 cubits high (Genesis 6:15) |
| Passengers | Utnapishtim, his family, craftsmen, and animals | Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives, and animals (Genesis 6:18-19) |
| Duration of flood | Six days and seven nights | 40 days and nights of rain, 150 days of flooding (Genesis 7:12, 24) |
| Landing place | Mount Nisir | Mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4) |
| Bird sending | Dove, swallow, raven | Raven, dove (Genesis 8:6-12) |
| Sacrifice after flood | "The gods smelled the sweet savour" (Tablet XI) | "The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma" (Genesis 8:21) |
| Divine promise | The gods promise not to destroy humanity again | God promises never to destroy the earth by flood again (Genesis 9:11) |
| Reward for the hero | Utnapishtim and his wife are granted immortality | Noah and his descendants are blessed and given a covenant (Genesis 9:1-17) |
If the Genesis flood story is taken literally, these questions become problematic:
An iconic representation of Noah's ark by Edward Hicks.
Where are the whales?