In comparing the epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible, we will discuss notable events such as Noah’s flood and the garden of Eden in the Bible. Both books revolve around the ideas of supreme beings. There are numerous similarities between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible. The main character in the epic is Gilgamesh. He is an extremely powerful and beautiful man, created by the gods. Abraham was an important character in the book of Genesis. Unlike Gilgamesh, he was born an average human and grew up in the same way. These are notable differences in the stories of the Bible and Epic of Gilgamesh. In the epic, many gods are mentioned and worshiped, such as Ninsun and Shamash. In Genesis, there is mention of only one God, a being that created the earth and skies, as well as humans and wildlife.
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GARDEN OF EDEN AND ADVICE FROM ECCLESIASTES
This section discusses similarities between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible about Enkidu/Shamhat and Adam/Eve. In both, a god creates a man who lives amongst the animals. He is introduced to a woman who tempts him. In both stories, the man accepts food from the woman, covers his nakedness, and must leave his former realm, unable to return. Although there are a few differences in the stories of the Bible and Epic of Gilgamesh, the context is similar. The presence of a snake that steals a plant of immortality from the hero is another point of similarity. The closest parallel between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible is in the wording of several passages in Ecclesiastes. A rare proverb, “a triple-stranded rope is not easily broken,” is common to both Gilgamesh and the Bible.
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COMPARING THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH, NOAH’S FLOOD AND OTHER BIBLICAL PARALLELS
The similarities between the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible are in flood stories as well. They include areas, from the extent of the flood to the physical structures of the boat. In both books, the flood was for all mankind. We see a few differences in the stories of the Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh. These are in terms of the shapes of the boats and means of the announcement by the gods. Some of the similarities are very striking, while others are very general. The event in the epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible are also similar in a historical point of view.
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