A COMPARISON OF THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH AND THE BOOK OF GENESIS

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

BONNIE KUHNS

ENGL 221-D01

NOVEMBER 23, 2015

A Comparison of the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis

In today’s society, it can be difficult to decipher what is truth and what is false. The

internet has provided an endless supply of knowledge, but how much of it can be considered

truth or even dependable? This is same for ancient knowledge. For example, the Epic of

Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis are both ancient texts with many similarities as well as many

differences; but did one come from the other? To trust that all ancient writing is word-for-word

truth is often difficult for most. The fact is that when reading ancient texts such as these, the best

way to understanding what is truth; is looking for these similarities and differences and then

comparing that with the known truth of history. When conducting a parallel study of the Epic of

Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis, many similarities are seen that suggests the possibility that

Genesis is a rewritten version of Gilgamesh. Both texts show that culture is based on concern for

the origin of life and how lives should be based on the nature of the Creator. The comparison of

these two stories leads to some notable similarities and differences in the actions of the heroes

and the beliefs in the Gods that proves Gilgamesh is not the source of Genesis. It is but a

representation of historical events that has undergone many generations and cultures of change.

The Epic of Gilgamesh represents a group of gods that are the source for mankind. They

have made mankind but also choose to live among them. One of them being Gilgamesh, who is

said to have been endowed with the beauty from the sun, endowed with courage from the storm,

and terrifying like that of a great bull. “Two thirds they made him god and one third man”,

Gilgamesh acts like a god, but also acts as human[CITATION Dav \p 48 \l 1033 ]. Throughout the

story, Gilgamesh is seen as the perfect being, getting everything he desires, but by the end of the

story his limitations are exposed. Not only are Gilgamesh’s limitations exposed but the world’s

as well. In the time of Gilgamesh, the presence of god’s on earth are thought to be true. These
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gods have become angry with their creation and wish to destroy the world they have created.

“The uproar of mankind is intolerable”, is the statement made by the god’s of

Gilgamesh[CITATION Dav \p 72 \l 1033 ]. They have become tired of the noise that the humans

make and wish to distinguish this noise. In which Gilgamesh is sent out to find the one being that

the gods have granted immortality, Utnapishtim.

In contrast, the story of Genesis is set with a different tone. The world in which one God

has created and man in his image has become wicked and evil. In Genesis 6:6, God is said to be

“grieved at his heart”. God did not destroy the earth because mankind had become unruly or

misbehave; he destroyed it because it had become a corrupt, evil place that had broken His heart.

Unlike the gods in Gilgamesh, the decision to destroy the world was not made from an illogical,

rash decision because mankind had become unruly. It was well thought out, logical decision

based on the needs of mankind and its creator. The story of Gilgamesh represents one superior

man that seems to represent the perfect being from multiple gods, while in Genesis there are

numerous beings that represent the goodness of its God. The story of mankind begins with

Abraham and his blessings and moves to Noah and his family’s pureness that God intends to

save. While the story of Gilgamesh, begins with one being, supposedly perfect, that ends up not

being the hero, instead Utnapishtim is chosen to save mankind.

Above all, the differences in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Book of Genesis are none

more than the destruction of the earth, the flood. One difference lies in where the water

ultimately comes from. In the story of Gilgamesh, the rain comes from the tears of the gods, “the

great gods of heaven and hell wept”[CITATION Dav \p 73 \l 1033 ]. The flood of Genesis is brought

forth by the divine power of God. This flood was “upon the earth forty days and forty nights” in

Genesis 7:12, while the flood of Gilgamesh only lasted six days and six nights. The duration of
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the flood is not the only difference found within each story. The amount of times the main

characters, Noah and Utnapishtim, send out their birds is also different. Utnapishtim has to send

out three types of birds to find dry land, whereas, Noah only has to send two different birds. The

birds have meaning, in Genesis the dove brings an olive branch back to Noah which represents a

peace offering from God to Noah and all of mankind. This is not the case in Gilgamesh, the

raven sent brings no offering of peace from the gods.

In spite of these differences in the two stories, the ending is somewhat similar. The main

characters of each story, Noah and Utnapishtim, find favor with their god or gods and are

rewarded for their actions. In the end of Genesis, God makes a covenant with Noah and the

future of mankind and seals this with a rainbow. The ending of Gilgamesh brings a similar fate

for mankind symbolized with a necklace, but not the same peace. There still seems to be some

anger among the gods, especially Enlil, since he wanted all of mankind to be destroyed. And yet,

Utnapishtim has survived, eventually Enlil is lied to and convinced that Utnapishtim has

survived because of his will and thus is granted immortality. Whereas, Noah and the future of

mankind is sealed with the promise and blessing of God. In the end, both stories end with the

same result. The gods or God will not destroy mankind again by way of a global flood.

In conclusion, the broad similarities of the stories of Gilgamesh and Genesis are many

indeed. However, the key differences in the events of the stories is what sets them apart. Each

story represents a major difference in cultures and philosophies. Both stories represent the same

basic ideas of the origin of life, the destruction and rebuilding of mankind, and the promises

made from the creator. However, the differences in the smallest of details is what represents the

deeper meanings of each story. In the end, the key differences of the stories are the reason for the

ultimate destruction of mankind, the main character chosen to save mankind and why he was
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chosen, the duration of the rains and how they came to be, and ending with the promises for

mankind’s future. In view of these differences and similarities, one must focus more on the more

important, unique similarities. Those being the landing of both boats on the mountain and the

birds that were sent out by the main characters to find dry land. However, there must also be a

realization that the key differences in these accounts are also of vital importance. The possibility

that Genesis is a rewritten story of Gilgamesh is not a viable explanation for the similarities of

these two stories. The only explanation that is remotely possible is the events occurring in both

stories are true, but have been passed down through the generations of different cultures. Along

the way changes were made and even the smallest of details transformed. In comparison, the

story of Gilgamesh seems trivial compared to logical story of Genesis.

Reference
Davis, et al. The Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern World (Beginnings-1650). . Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009.