The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible
             In comparing the Epic of Gilgamesh to the Bible, it is best to
             analyze The Book of Genesis. These two works have many similarities, and
             their basic ideas are very similar. Some of the smaller details in the
             works are also remarkably similar to one another. However, when they are
             analyzed closely, readers who pay strict attention to the differences in
             the two works, instead of just the similarities can easily tell that they
             are really not about the same event after all.
             The snake is one of the representations that appear in both of the
             stories. In Gilgamesh, the snake confronts him while he is looking for
             everlasting life, which is contained within a flower. Even though he finds
             the flower, he drops it when the snake appears. The snake also confronts
             Adam and Eve in The Bible, and Eve is tempted by the snake to eat the fruit
             that makes her aware of sin. Adam also eats the fruit, and because of
             them, sin has continued through all generations, even to this day. This
             sin and wickedness is what eventually causes God to flood the earth with
             Gilgamesh talks of being instructed by the gods, whereas Genesis
             speaks of only one God. He is believed to be the only God that exists, and
             he talks to Noah and requests that Noah build a ship of exact
             specifications so that he and his family can avoid drowning in the great
             flood that God is sending over the whole earth. Gilgamesh builds a ship in
             his story as well, and many of the basics are the same. The rain comes,
             and the earth floods with water. Eventually, in both stories, the flooding
             ceases, and the ship comes to rest up against some land.
             Also in both stories, a bird is sent forth to look for dry land. When
             the bird finally does not return, everyone in the ship knows that it is
             safe to leave because dry land is available. While both stories use birds,
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