Hmmm, not so fast. When I read the Lewis account of his expedition, a study note explained the direction of the river has changed since Lewis’ account. It doesn’t mean his account is wrong. How much more so the Bible?
I’m sure you know that Moses wrote the 1st 5 books, including Genesis. Moses was well after the time of Noah. He wrote what was revealed to him in the context of what he knew and saw. There are many examples of this sort of synthesis in Scripture. I do find it revealing that you are attempting to use the authority of the Bible to show the Bible is in error. Good luck with that. I urge you to continue.
The Epic of Gilgamesh - The Epic of Gilgamesh is the world's oldest surviving epic poem, originating from ancient Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago.
Overview of the Legend:
The King: Gilgamesh was the historical or legendary king of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. He was described as two-thirds god and one-third human.
The Companion: The gods created a wild man named Enkidu to humble Gilgamesh's harsh rule. After an initial fight, the two became close friends.
The Quests: Together, they traveled to the Cedar Forest to defeat the monster Humbaba and later killed the divine Bull of Heaven.
The Search for Immortality: Following Enkidu's death, a grieving Gilgamesh undertook a perilous journey to find eternal life, ultimately learning that human mortality cannot be beaten, though his legacy lived on through his great city walls.
History and Discovery
Cuneiform Tablets: The story was recorded in wedge-shaped cuneiform script on clay tablets.
Rediscovery: The epic was lost for centuries until fragments were excavated in the 19th century at the library of Ashurbanipal in northern Iraq and deciphered.
The Epic of Gilgamesh flood myth is recorded on the famous Tablet XI of the ancient Mesopotamian epic, which was rediscovered in the 19th century and stunned the world due to its striking parallels to the biblical story of Noah's Ark.
The Story on Tablet XI
In the epic, Gilgamesh seeks out Utnapishtim, a mortal who was granted immortality by the gods, to learn the secret of eternal life. Utnapishtim explains how he survived the Great Flood:
The Divine Decree: The high god Enlil decided to destroy humanity with a catastrophic flood because mankind was too loud and chaotic.
The Secret Warning: Ea (the god of wisdom) secretly warned Utnapishtim by speaking to the reed wall of his house, instructing him to tear down his home and build a massive boat.
The Great Vessel: Utnapishtim built a giant, six-deck cubic vessel, sealing it with pitch and bitumen. He loaded it with his gold, his family, craftsmen, and "the seed of all living creatures."
The Tempest: A terrifying storm raged for six days and seven nights, wiping out all of humanity and turning the earth into flat mud.
The Birds: After the boat wedged onto Mount Nimush, Utnapishtim released a dove and a swallow, but both returned because they found no dry land. Finally, he sent out a raven, which did not return, proving the waters had receded.
Immortality Granted: Utnapishtim offered a sacrifice to the gods. Enlil, deeply remorseful for nearly destroying all life, blessed Utnapishtim and his wife, granting them eternal life in a distant paradise.
Direct Comparison: Gilgamesh vs. Genesis
The similarities suggest a shared Near Eastern literary tradition, with the Mesopotamian text predating
the written biblical account by centuries.
