Click on the links below to view short animated snippets from the Epic of Gilgamesh, and ancient adventure story which incorporates even older traditions about the Primeval Flood:
Gilgamesh Pt.8 (YouTube)
Gilgamesh Pt.9 (YouTube)
How directly or indirectly do you suspect such mythic/epic stories and motifs influenced the Bible's Noah and the Ark traditions?
4 comments:
I think that there are some very similar parts to both tales aside from the fact one involves a single God, while the other involves a counsel of Gods.
As far as if such a mythical tale had influenced the Bible's Noah and the Ark traditions, I think there are some direct influences. For example the main idea of both Noah from the Bible and the Ancient One both being warned by one figure, in this case Noah by God and Utnapishtim (the Ancient One) by Ea, about the flood and how they must build a boat and to also put their families, various animals, and other humans on board the boat.
This has nothing to do with the video. I noticed in todays class as we read about Abraham that when it came to his covanant with 'El the number 3 comes up a lot. Three beasts of the earth all of age three. Through those three animals either 'El or 'Els symbol passes to seal the covanant. Then he makes Abraham walk three miles to reach the place where the covanant may or may not be broked. In both events one of the beings involved passed through the number three.
There are parts from the Epic of Gilgamesh that do resemble some story lines in the bible. Since it comes from the Sumarians it could have easily been reinterpreted and reinterpreted to get what we have today. The only difference is the Sumarian culture has God's instead of one God. The general flood story is very similar though.
-Taylor E.
Gilgamesh in the Ancient Near East is sort of a 'Paul Bunyan' character: lots of adventures and tall-tales! His entertainment value surely speaks to his popularity. And yet, he's also a poignant, almost tragic figure, on an impossible quest (for immortality) that's bound to fail. Maybe not surprising, therefore, that the one human being who DID outwit death (Utnapishtim) makes an appearance in the larger epic.
Our Biblical J & P authors are clearly interested in the Noah-like figure of the flood survivor, but don't seem too impressed with a Gilgamesh-type hero... unless there's a subtle nod to that in Genesis 6:1-4, immediately preceding (i.e., the mighty ones of old)??
pdk
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