1

John, if I can quote you:

“He failed to mention that the earliest recorded writing about Gilgamesh was a story where Gilgamesh
quests for immortality and at one point causes a flood that floods the world. He has like all these animals
and crap. He even does the releasing of birds for evidence of land.”

I didn’t fail to mention Gilgamesh… in fact we did talk about it, although briefly (I have saved all our
conversations). I will elucidate for you somewhat on the age of the stone tablets that the story comes from; they (I
believe there are 11 tablets total) are dated at 700-650 B.C. However, researchers, much like with Biblical texts, can
tell that this was copied from an earlier source (for example: the Magdalen Papyrus [which is Coptic] is dated itself
to A.D. 60, but this was copied from an earlier Coptic portion of Matthew, and that daters to about A.D. 50… so
within 14 years of Jesus death you have Luke, Mark, and Matthew already written – this does away with all the
theories like the Gospels of Q, or Mark as the source, etc).

Of course, the next question to be asked is, “So what?” What is the significance of the various flood
legends? The answer to that question seems fairly obvious: (a) we have over 250 legends that tell of a great
flood; (b) many of the legends come from different ages and civilizations that could not possibly have
copied any of the similar legends (Egyptian, Greek, Hindu, Chinese, Indian, English, Polynesian, Mexican,
Peruvian, Greenland, American Indian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian, Fiji Islands, Brazilian, and Phrygian
cultures, Aboriginal, etc); (c) the legends were recorded long before any missionaries arrived to relate to
them the Genesis story of Noah; and (d) almost all civilizations have some sort of flood story. The
immediate conclusion to be drawn from these facts centers on the idea that some time in the distant past
there was a colossal flood that forever affected the history of all humans and civilizations.

A Quick Synopsis
The Babylonian story is found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, and probably goes back to at least 2000 B.C. In both
stories, there is a hero who is to be saved - Noah in Genesis, Utnapishtim in Gilgamesh. Each is told to build an ark,
with detailed specifications. Then comes the cataclysm. The ark finally rests on a tall mountain. Both Noah and
Utnapishtim release series of birds to see if the water has gone down. Each account mentions a dove and a raven.
Each hero offers sacrifice, but there are great differences:

The biblical flood is a punishment for sin; there is no motive given by the gods in the Babylonian version, it
is mere caprice. In the Babylonian text, the gods cowered in fear of the flood. When Utnapishtim offered
sacrifice after the flood, they came down and “swarmed like flies” around the sacrifice - the gods needed
sacrifices for food. The gods admit Utnapishtim to the ranks of the gods, he becomes immortal. (The
complete text of the Gilgamesh epic can be found in Alexander Heidel, The Gilgamesh Epic and Old
Testament Parallels, University of Chicago, 1949.)

While there are many differences the only way to account for the similarities is that they both go back to a common
source originating in an actual historical event.

Chicken or the Egg 1

The theory has most often been put forward that religion evolved slowly over many millennia, beginning with very
primitive ideas and gradually developing into today’s concepts. Wrapped up in this theory, and an important
element in the thinking of many atheists, is the idea that monotheism (belief in one God) is a comparatively recent
refinement. In the nineteenth century, two anthropologists, Sir Edward Tyler and Sir James Frazer, popularized the
notion that the first stage in the evolution of religion was animism (which involves the worship of spirits believed to
inhabit natural phenomena), followed later by pantheism (the idea that everything is divine), polytheism (belief in a
multitude of distinct and separate deities), and eventually by monotheism.2

However, recent studies in anthropology have turned this scenario on its head and show, for example, that the
hundreds of contemporary tribal religions (including many which are animists) are not primitive in the sense of

1
Much of the following is compiled in John Blanchard’s book, Does God Believe In Atheists?
2
See for instance, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough [1890], which examined the development of human thought with
reference to magic, religion and science.
 2

being original. Writing from long experience in India, and after extended studies of ancient religions, the modern
scholar Robert Brow states, “The tribes have a memory of a ‘High God,’ who is no longer worshipped because he is
not feared. Instead, of offering sacrifice to him, they concern themselves with the pressing problems of how to
appease the vicious spirits of the jungle.”3

Other researchers suggests that tribes “are not animistic because they have continued unchanged since the dawn of
history” and that “the evidence indicates degeneration from a true knowledge of God.”4 After working among
primitive tribes for many years, one modern expert says, “The animism of today gives us the impression of a
religion that carries the marks of a fall,”5 while another bluntly refers to “the now discredited evolutionary school
of religion” as being “recognized as inadmissible.”6

The evidence of modern archaeology is that religion has not evolved “upwards,” but degenerated from monotheism
to pantheism and polytheism, then from these to animism. A finding confirmed by Scottish academic Andrew Lang
in The Making of Religion: “Of the existence of a belief in the Supreme Being among primitive tribes there is as
good evidence as we possess for any fact in the ethnographic region.” 7 In History of Sanskrit Literature, the
oriental expert Max Muller, recognized as the founder of the science of the history of religions, came to the
conclusion:

“There is a monotheism that precedes the polytheism of the Veda; and even in the invocations of the
innumerable gods, the remembrance of a God, one and infinite, breaks through the mist of idolatrous
phraseology like the blue sky that is hidden in the clouds.”8

In The Religion of Ancient Egypt, Sir Francis Petrie, universally acknowledged as one of the world’s leading
Egyptologists, claimed, “Wherever we can trace back polytheism to its earliest stages, we find that it results from
combinations of monotheism.”9 In Semitic Mythology, the Oxford intellectual Stephen Langdon, one of the greatest
experts in his field, said, “In my opinion the history of the oldest civilization of man is a rapid decline from
montheism to extreme polytheism and widespread belief in evil spirits. It is in a very true sense the history of the
fall of man.”10

Does This Matter?

It does matter because the Gilgamesh Epic is entwined deeply with polytheistic concepts, a view, that came after the
monotheism of the ancient Hebrew peoples. I would posit that this is anthropological evidence that both stories are
from an earlier tradition, the monotheistic (Moses) version being closer to the original. In all likelihood the story of
the Great Flood was passed on orally, or preserved in written form.

The probability exists that the Biblical account had been preserved either as an oral tradition, or in written
form handed down from Noah, through the patriarchs and eventually to Moses, thereby making it actually
older than the Sumerian accounts which were restatements (with alterations) to the original.

Gilgamesh appears as the partly divine king of Uruk (the king Erech in Gen. 10:10: “And the beginning of his
kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”). Genesis, then, records the
historical beginning of Babylon, and its king, which is a character within the story. This is another proof of the
Hebrew version pre-dating the Babylonian account.

The best explanation is of a common tradition emanating from a firm historical event, but the versions becoming
more garbled the further they move away in time and geography. We have examined the similarities between the
Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis flood account of the Bible. Although there are a number of similarities between the

3
Robert Brow, Religion: Origins and Ideas, p. 11
4
ibid.
5
Johann Warneck, The Living Forces of the Gospel, p. 99
6
Edward G. Newing, “Religions of Pre-literary Societies,” in The World’s Religions, ed, Norman Anderson, pp. 11-12
7
Andrew Lang, p. 18
8
Max Muller, p. 559
9
Flinders Petrie, p. 4
10
Stephen Langdon, Semitic Theology, vol 5; in Mythology of All Races (Archaeological Institute of America), p. xviii
 3

accounts, the vast majority of similarities would be expected to be found in any ancient flood account. Only two
similarities stand out as being unique – landing of the boats on a mountain and the use of birds to determine when
the flood subsided. However, both of these similarities differ in important details.

In addition, there are great differences in the timing of each of the flood accounts and the nature of the vessels. Why
these details would be so drastically changed is a problem for those who claim that the Genesis flood was derived
from the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Australian Aboriginal Flood Stories – The Bundaba Flood Story

As told by Jimmy Bird – a native Aborigine

Long, long ago there was a great flood. It originated from the fact of some children who found the 'winking'
owl in a tree and plucked out all its feathers. They forced a grass reed through its nose and treated the bird
most shamefully. The bird flew without wings, into the heavens and showed himself to Ngowungu, the
Great Father. Ngowungu became very angry and decided to drown the people.

Later the people saw a small cloud rising which grew bigger and bigger till it spread all over the sky. The
thunder began to roll and crash and the people were greatly afraid.

With the rain and thunder was a terrible wind which broke great limbs off trees and rooted up others.
During this terrible storm there was a noise above the awful crashes of thunder. This noise was coming
from the north. The salt water, the sea, came pouring over the ranges from the north. The flood rose higher
and higher till all the land was covered except the tops of two or three mountains.

From further west a man and his wives with a dog were battling their way in a canoe when a bird with a leaf
in its mouth flew in front of them showing them the way to Mt. Broome. They eventually reached Mt.
Broome and landed there where some other survivors were.

Then Djabalgari, the great left-handed man incised his little finger and let the blood trickle down into the
flood waters. The waters began to go down and eventually disappeared off the country. All other people
were drowned.

Similarities to Genesis
The flood was sent to judge wickedness. God sent the flood to drown all the people. It began to rain. All the land
was covered. A man and his wife in a boat with an animal. A bird with a leaf in its mouth was the sign of dry land.
They landed on a mountain. All other people drowned. There was a sacrifice of blood at the end of the flood.

Efforts have been made to derive the above from the work of Christian missionaries, however, that explanation fails
since in many cases secular anthropologists gathered the stories before missionaries reached these tribes with the
Gospel.

Commonality of Flood Stories Found In Over 270 Ancient Cultures

a) Humans are guilty of transgression.

b) A God sends a flood as punishment.
c) Instructions are sent to an individual to build a craft.
d) The instructions include ensuring the survival of all species.
e) The flood destroys the old race.
f) Most include a bird being sent out prior to “departure.”
g) Most tell of a sacrifice being made to the God who sent the flood
h) After the flood, a new, less sinful race emerges to repopulate the earth.

Australian; Aztec; Algonquin; Assyrian; Andaman; Arekuna (Guyana); Babylonian; Basonge; Bakongo (western
Zaire); Batak (Sumatria); Caddo (Okalhoma, Arkansas); Chaldean; China; Chippewa; Chorote (Eastern Paraguay);
Cheyenne; Cameroon; Celtic; Fiji; Greco-Roman; German; Gunwinggu; Hindu; Hebrew; Hawaiian; Haida (Queen
Charlotte Is., British Columbia); Hopi; Huarochiri; Huichol; Ipurina (Upper Amazon); Ifugaos (Philippines);
 4

Jicarilla (Apache); Jivaran Indian (South America); Kabadi (New Guinea); Kwaya (Lake Victoria); Kammu
(northern Thailand); Kikuyu; Kootenay (southeast British Columbia); Lenni Lenape; Lakota; Lake Tyras (Victoria);
Miao/Yao; Micmac; Mayan; Makiritare (Venezuela); Mandingo (Ivory Coast); Maori (New Zealand); Malorotare;
Netsilik Eskimo; New Hebrides; [North American Indians generally]; [Northern California Coast]; Navajo Pima
(SW Arizona); Nizqualli; Ojibway; Papago (Arizona); Pygmy; Palau Islands; Palau Isles; Quamish; Quechua;
Quillayute; Roman; Shuar (Andes); Sioux; Shasta; Samoan; Skagit; Sumerian; Scandinavian; Tahiti; Toba (Northern
Argentina); Toltec (Mexico); Totonac (eastern Mexico); Tsetsaut; Tahitian; Toltec; Tsetsaut; Wiranggu (Australia);
Yoruba; Yamana (Tierra del Fuego); Yuma; Yakima; Yanomamo; Zoroastrian; ETC., ETC.!

Hawaii: Long after the death of Kuniuhonna, the first man, the world became a wicked, terrible place to live. There
was one good man left; his name was Nu-u [close to Noah]. He made a great canoe with a house on it and filled it
with animals. The waters rose up over all the earth and killed all the people. Only Nu-u and his family were saved.

China: ancient Chinese writings refer to a violent catastrophe that happened to the earth. They report that the entire
land was flooded. The water went up to the highest mountains. One ancient Chinese classic called the “Hihking”
tells the story of Fuhi [close to Noah] whom the Chinese consider to be the father of their civilization. This story
records that Fuhi, his wife, three sons, and three daughters [in-law] escaped the great flood. He and his family were
the only people left alive on earth. After the great flood they repopulated the earth. An ancient temple in China has a
wall painting that shows Fuhi’s boat in raging waters. Dolphins are swimming around the boat and a dove with an
olive branch in its beak flying toward it. The Chinese word for boat is literally a drawing of a boat with eight people
in it.

Toltec: found in the histories of the Toltec Indians of ancient Mexico is a story of the first world that lasted 1,716
years and was destroyed by a great flood that covered even the highest mountains. Their story tells of a few men
who escape the destruction in a “toptlipetlocali,” which means a closed chest. Following the great flood, these men
began to multiply and build a very high “zacuali,” or a great tower, to provide a safe place if the world were
destroyed again. [*Note ~ most of the cultures in the 270 plus stories have a story of all races coming from one
geographical area. All races having the same language, etc.. The commonality of the boomerang, bow and arrow, the
ziggurats, etc., in all cultures are a testament to a common background.] However, the languages became confused,
so different language groups wandered to other parts of the world. The Toltecs claim they started as a family of
seven friends and their wives who spoke the same language. They crossed great waters, lived in caves, and
wandered 104 years till they came to Hue Hue Tlapalan (southern Mexico). The story reports that this was 520 years
after the great flood.

Babylonian: one of the most ancient accounts of the “Great Flood,” also called the Deluge, is a tablet inscription
found in Babylonia. The Tablet referred to an older tablet from which this was copied, but only fragments have been
found of that older copy, which was handed down from a previous king of Babylon. That previous king could very
well have been King Amraphel (Genesis 14:1), who was one of the early kings of Babylon after the flood. The
Babylonian gods told a man to build a boat and fill it with his family, property, cattle, wild beasts, and food [big
boat]. The coming rains would destroy life on earth. After only six days the rain stopped, then this Babylonian
“Noah” sent out a dove, a swallow, and a raven. When he left the boat, he sacrificed an animal.

Greece: in an ancient Greek story a man made a box into which he put all the things necessary for life. When he and
his wife shut themselves in the box, the Greek god Zeus caused a great rain to fall, everyone died except those who
climbed to the tops of very high mountains. For nine days and nights the man and his wife were tossed to and fro on
the sea, finally the box landed and the man and his wife departed.

India: An early story from India tells of a fish that warned a man named Manu [close to Noah] about a flood that
would kill everything. Like the Biblical story, Manu was told to build a boat, and he alone survived the flood.

North America: In North America, the Lenni Lenape Indians told of a time when a powerful snake made all people
wicked. The snake caused water to destroy everything (via his wicked influence). But on an island was a man named
Manabozho, the grandfather of all men [like “grandpa” Noah]. He was saved by riding on the back of a great turtle.

South America: From Peru a story comes about a shepherd and his family. They noticed one day that their llamas
were sad, so they studied to find out why. The stars told about a great flood which was coming. The shepherd and
 5

his family climbed to the top of a mountain. The flood waters came and the mountain began to float. The shepherd
and his family were the only survivors.

The Pacific: Even the islands of the Pacific have flood stories. One of these explains how a fisherman got his
fishing hook caught in the hair of the ocean god. The god awoke and decided that people were evil and should be
destroyed. The fisherman begged for forgiveness, so the god told him to go to an island where he would be safe
from the flood he would send to wipe out all men.

Flood Legends – In Story Fashion

(Greek legend from Syria recorded by Lucian) – “Not one of us now living is a descendant from the original race
of man. We, numerous as we are, are no other than a second race sprung from nucalian (< spelled wrong [this is
the Noah of this legend]). The original peoples were full of pride and insolence. Unfaithful to their promises,
inhospitable to strangers… death to supplicates.”

(Hawaiian legend) – “Long after the time of Kuniuhonna, the first man, the earth became wicked and callous of the
worship of the gods. One man was righteous, Nu-u.”

(Babylonian) – “the god Cronos (< spelled wrong) had come to him [‘Noah’] in a dream that all men would perish
by a flood.”

(Greek legend from Syria recorded by Lucian) – “Nucalian (<spelled wrong) put himself with his wives and his
children in a great chest. And thereupon, there came to him bores and horses and lion and serpent and all kinds of
land dwelling animals. He took them in.”

(Ancient Indians of Cuba) – “an old man built a great ship and went into it with his family and an abundance of
animals.”

(Hawaiian) – “Nu-u made a great canoe with a house on it and stored it with food, taking animals and plants into
it.”

(Aztec legend) – “But before the flood began, god warned the man Nota (< spelled wrong) and his wife Nina (<
spelled wrong) saying, ‘Hollow the great cypress into which you shall enter, the waters shall near the sky,’ and
when god had shut them in…”

(Fiji islands) – “…the angry god gathered the dark clouds together and caused them to burst, pouring streams of
water down upon the doomed earth.”

(Greek legend from Syria recorded by Lucian) – “The earth suddenly opened its lucids (< spelled wrong, I think)
and heavy showers of rain fell… the rivers swelled”.

(Latin poet Ovid) – “The rivers breaking out, rushed through the open plains and bore away together the standing
corn, the graves, flocks, men, houses and temples… floated like trunks of trees the corpses about. Like the spawns of
fish they now fill the sea.”

(Fiji) – “towns, hills, and mountains were slowly submerged”.

(Latin poet Ovid) – “and now the sea and land had no mark of distinction. Everything was now ocean. The wolf
swims with the sheep.”

(Athapascan Indians) – “Every day it rained, every night it rained. The sky fell. The land was not. Animals of all
kinds drowned, there was no land.”

(Ovid) – “The wandering bird having long sought for land where it might be allowed to alight, its wings fail, falling
into the sea”.
 6

(Greek legend from Syria recorded by Lucian) – “Except Nucalian (< spelled wrong), who on account of his
virtue and piety was saved to give birth to a new race”.

(Transylvania) – “After a year, the waters began to recede”.

(Persia) – “A violent wind then came and dried up the ground”.

(Mechoachen Indians) – “He sent out a crow, which at first did not return; staying to feed on the dead bodies. But
afterwards, returned with a green branch”.

(Fiji) – “The persons saved… eight in number”.