Flood Tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh from the Library ofAshurbanipal (Nineveh, 600s BC).Gilgamesh w

Flood Tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh from the Library ofAshurbanipal (Nineveh, 600s BC).Gilgamesh was the semi-legendary king of Uruk who probably reignedsometime between 2500 and 2800 BC, during the Early Dynastic Periodof Mesopotamia.  In the Epic of Gilgamesh, he sets out to findUtnapishtim and gain immortality.The Epic of Gilgamesh is the longest piece of literature in theAkkadian language (spoken in Babylon and Assyria at this time).  Itwas known across the Ancient Near East, and older versions have beenfound at Hattusa (Hittite capital), Emar (in Syria) and Megiddo (inthe Levant).This is the 11th tablet of the Epic, and the mostwell-known.  It describes Gilgamesh’s meeting with Utnapishtim.Utnanishtim had been forewarned by Enki (god of wisdom and water)about the gods’ planned destruction of humanity.  He built a boat ofsolid timber, and loaded it with his precious possessions, hisfamily, domesticated and wild animals, and skilled craftsmen of everykind.The flood was six days long and destroyed all of humanity except forthose on the boat.  Utnanishtim then landed on a mountain calledNimush (Mount Nisir).  He released a dove and swallow, but they foundno land to rest upon, so they returned.  Finally he released a raven,and it didn’t return, which meant that the waters had receded.George Smith was an assistant at the British Museum when he cameacross this tablet in 1872 AD.  According to a colleague, on readingthe text, he “jumped up and rushed about the room in a great stateof excitement, and, to the astonishment of those present, began toundress himself.” -- source link

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