The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamish

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamish

Language

en

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Global Grey

Description max 80 words

E. A. Wallis Budge presents the ancient Mesopotamian flood narrative and the Epic of Gilgamish, drawn from cuneiform tablets discovered at Nineveh. This edition offers a scholarly translation of the earliest known flood story, predating biblical accounts, alongside the legendary adventures of Gilgamish and his friend Enkidu.

Summary up to 500 words

E. A. Wallis Budge's *The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamish* compiles the earliest known accounts of these ancient narratives, derived from thousands of cuneiform tablets excavated from the ruins of Nineveh by archaeologists such as Layard, Rassam, and Smith. The text begins by detailing the historical context of these discoveries, including the excavation of the Royal Library of Ashur-bani-pal and the Temple of Nebo, which yielded a unique collection of inscribed clay tablets that form the foundation of Assyriology. The core narrative features the Babylonian Legend of the Deluge. In this story, the god Ea instructs the man Uta-Napishtim to build a massive ship to survive a catastrophic windstorm and flood sent by the god Enlil, who intended to destroy humanity. Uta-Napishtim successfully saves his family and livestock, while the rest of mankind is wiped out. The gods later regret the destruction, and Uta-Napishtim is granted immortality for his survival. The gods debate the disaster, with Ishtar lamenting her role in creating evil and Enlil expressing anger that any being escaped. Ultimately, Enlil blesses Uta-Napishtim and his wife, elevating them to divine status and sending them to dwell at the mouth of the rivers. The second major section recounts the Epic of Gilgamish, a semi-divine king of Erech composed of two-thirds god and one-third man. The story follows his friendship with Enkidu, a wild man created by the goddess Aruru to check Gilgamish's tyranny. After Enkidu's death, Gilgamish is consumed by the fear of mortality. He journeys to the edge of the world to seek the secret of eternal life. Guided by Uta-Napishtim, Gilgamish dives into the sea to retrieve a plant that restores youth. However, a serpent steals the plant while Gilgamish bathes, leaving him to face death. The epic concludes with Gilgamish accepting his mortality and finding peace in his legacy and the enduring nature of his city's walls. The text also explores the afterlife, revealing that the fate of the dead varies based on whether they were honored or neglected.

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• Classics
• History