Obvious relationships definitely exist between the two flood accounts of Gilgamesh and Genesis. Both stories begin by introducing the hero, Utnapishtim and Noah; they were considered righteous and true followers of their God. Instructed by their God or Gods to build a ship so that they may survive a flood that will destroy all mankind. The men obeyed their God or Gods by building a huge ship that will save them, their family and all species of animals. The flood includes both rain and water from the surface that covered the highest mountaintop. Utnapishtim and Noah's boat came to rest on a similar mountain; and birds were released to test and see if the waters had receded. Finally, out of the boat, their God or Gods reward both men. Even though there may be so many similarities that exist between the two stories, there are some very destined differences in comparing both sides (Comparison of the Babylonian and Noahic Flood Stories).

Utnapishtim was chosen to survive the great flood because he was a true follower of the Gods, and had great knowledge and wisdom (Lorey). God Ea instructed him in a dream, to build a boat. God Enlil's reason for the flood, as he explai

account had been preserved either as an oral tradition, or in written form handed down from Noah, through the patriarchs and eventually to Moses, thereby making it actually older than the Sumerian accounts which were restatements to the original" (Lorey). If these flood stories are indeed true, it definitely says something about the impact that this event had on the world during this time.

They each approached their journey by building a large boat. The boat dimensions and styles are quite different. Utnapishtim's boat is a cube, "The ground-space was one acre, each side of the deck measured one hundred and twenty cubits, making a square" (Sanders, 42). He took seven days to build his boat. While Noah builds the ark: "the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits" (Genesis 6). The boat represents the safety and barricades built around the lives chosen to restart mankind after the flood.

"Genesis." The Norton Anthology World Masterpieces. Seventh Edition. Volume One. New York: Norton, 1999: 55-56.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1020
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)