1. The Epic of Gilgamesh
Sumerian Literature

2. The Great Flood
In The Epic of Gilgamesh we read of a great flood that devastated the region.
Any other ancient floods come to mind?

3. COMPARISON OF GENESIS AND GILGAMESH
GENESIS
GILGAMESH
Extent of flood
Global
Cause
Man's wickedness
Man was too loud
Intended for whom?
All mankind
One city & all mankind
Sender
Yahweh
Assembly of "gods"
Name of hero
Noah
Utnapishtim
Hero's character
Righteous
Skilled Craftsman
Means of announcement
Direct from God
In a dream
Did hero complain?
Yes
Height of boat
Several stories (3)
Several stories (6)
Windows
At least one
Outside coating
Pitch
Shape of boat
Rectangular
Square
Human passengers
Family members only
Family & few others
Duration of flood
Long (40 days & nights plus)
Short (6 days & nights)
Types of birds
Raven & three doves
Dove, swallow, raven
Ark landing spot
Mountain -- Mt. Ararat
Mountain -- Mt. Nisir
Reward after the flood
Lived to the age of 900
Lived forever
Blessed after flood?

4. What came first?
The story of Gilgamesh is based on the oral mythology of the region and was recorded about 2,100 B.C. several hundred years before the recorded time of The Old Testament.
One could have inspired the other.
Most civilizations that formed near a river have some sort of flood story. (rivers tend to flood occasionally)

5. Archetypes in The Story of the flood
Covenant- an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.

6. Where have you seen this before?
It is difficult to know the antiquity of the Old Testament, but some significant similarities are in the oldest written story of mankind that we have – the Epic of Gilgamesh The oldest recorded civilizations, the Sumerians and Egyptians, also contain stories that appear in the Old Testament. It is generally considered that stories from these old civilizations were included in the Old Testament.