the Book of Genesis, which literally means the book of “birth.” What came before Genesis though, were ancient texts such as Gilgamesh and Enuma Elish, which pre date the stories of Genesis and have many similarities to stories in the Bible. The first ancient near eastern epics is Enuma Elish, which is the polytheistic story about how the world was created. Enuma Elish is sometimes referred to as the “Babylonian creation epic,” which reflects the creation story in Genesis 1-3. Both Genesis and Enuma
Although both the flood in Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh from Tablet XI are from different time eras, one is able to infer about the similarities about both stories and how they are altered to their own respected culture. These similarities and difference of both of these stories provide the reader with an understanding of how through analyzing both of these texts, one is able to see that the flood story gives one an understanding of not only during the respected society during this time, but
the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh was said to be two parts god and one part man. I would describe Gilgamesh as an extremely arrogant, cocky, and selfish King. He used his power to gain control over women and everyone underneath him. He would take advantage of any woman of his choosing. The people below him were said to be sick of his ways and that is where Enkidu comes into play. At first him and Enkidu were set to fight but after fighting the two became very close friends. Gilgamesh is searching
The Epic of Gilgamesh is said to be the oldest written story known to man. The earliest account of Gilgamesh appears to be dated circa 2100 B.C.E. because of the great similarities of the flood accounts in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis many people believe that the flood account in Genesis is the myth itself rewritten. Christians may find interest in the flood account in Gilgamesh because of the significant parallels to that of Genesis however not the rest of the epic. The main reason being that
The Epic of Gilgamesh in the nineteenth century brought to light this long forgotten account. Originally written on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script, these tablets are estimated between 2750 and 2500 BCE. In contrast, the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Qumran caves of the Judean Desert, located in Israel, which harbored one of the oldest known copies of Genesis, is dated between 100- 1 BCE. Literary scholars were astounded to discover that archeologists place the account of Gilgamesh as exceptionally
The epic of Gilgamesh, written somewhere between 1200 B.C.E and 2100 B.C.E, has many similarities to the bible, particularly Genesis. Genesis six through nine is the story of God’s disappointment with humankind and his fondness of Noah. The main synopsis of the Genesis story is the flood God unleashes on the Earth. At the end of Gilgamesh, Tablet XI, Utanapishtim tells Gilgamesh the heroic story of the flood he survived sent down by the Gods. While the two tales of a flood are strikingly similar
can be found in Genesis 1.1-2.4a? In Genesis 1.1-2.4a, God started creating with the command “Let there be light!” separating light and dark, what is now known as day and night. The process took a total of six days and the seventh was a day of rest. Each day God created something new and can be out lined as follows; Day 1 Light, Day 2, Dome, Day 3 land and plants, Day 4 heavenly bodies, Day 5 aquatic creatures and birds, Day 6 land animals and humans. 2. What are the similarities and differences
Middle East, are The Epic of Gilgamesh, 2700 B.C., written in cuneiform on clay tablets and The Book of Exodus, 1400 B.C., written by Moses. Gilgamesh, the main character, the king, and 2/3 god and 1/3 human was physically strong and very wise, but also very conceited. His city-state of Uruk loathed his arrogance and his self interest. Moses on the other hand was very shy and insecure, but well liked by his Hebrew followers because he cared about them. Unlike Gilgamesh, Moses was a regular man chosen
Before those early near east religious texts, especially the Epic of Gilgamesh, were discovered, most Christians believed that the Bible is the revelation of God and is absolutely original. However, after the discoveries of earlier religious documents in regions near Israel such as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece, the originality of Bible has been questioned by more and more people, since there are assignable similarities between Bible and these newly discovered texts. Those texts and the Bible share
times. These stories have influenced our understanding and our belief in a God. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Noah Flood Story (Genesis 69:17) both share the trait of someone being chosen by a God to bring the people and animals to safety by building an ark. Cultures between Mesopotamia and Hebrews are different cultures but share a story of the God(s) and how there is a higher power, they also share a similarity of the God(s) showing compassion towards people. In Mesopotamia, there was more than one