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Similarities Between Gilgamesh And The Bible

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The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible have a few similar events and historians think that they may refer to the same event. The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible share a similar event, the flood, and a similar character, the serpent. Though there are still several distinctions between the two stories. The Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh both contain a serpent as one of the less significant characters. In both stories the serpent is depicted as a negative force. It is the thing that denies humanity of immortality or some pleasure. In the Bible the serpent is a sign of temptation. The serpent convinces Eve to eat fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. This was after God had told her and Adam that they were not allowed …show more content…

God told one man, Noah, to build an ark and to take two of every creature onto his ark. God allowed Noah to bring his wife, his sons and his sons wives with him on the boat. The flood lasted for forty days and forty nights. When it stopped raining, Noah and his family released a raven and three doves to see if there was any dry land to live on. As a reward for surviving the flood, Noah was granted an extended life. In the Epic of Gilgamesh there was a man who gained immortality because he survived the flood that the gods sent. The story says that a god told Utnapishtim “O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubar-Tutu, demolish the house, and build a boat! Abandon wealth, and seek survival! Spurn property, save life! Take on board the boat all living things’ seed!” (Epic of Gilgamesh, XI 23-27). Utnapishtim then brought all animals onto his boat for the Deluge. The Deluge lasted for six days and seven nights. When the rain stops, Utnapishtim releases a dove, a swallow, and a raven to see if there is any land that the people can live on. These two events are similar in regards to the plot and the major details. The main differences between the two are the length of the flood and what birds were released after the rain

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