Gilgamesh listens to the story of Uta-napishti, which in short goes along the lines of this:
Uta-napishti was instructed by the god Ea to build a great boat in order to escape the wrath of Enlil, who thinks that he needs to wipe out mankind so they will not become immortal like him. He plans to do this through a great flood (or Deluge), that even the gods will be threatened by. After given precise measurements, Uta-napishti builds the boat with some other men. He is instructed to also salvage the creatures of earth by bringing "one of each seed".
After this story, Uta-napishti tells Gilgamesh to test whether he is ready for immortality, he must stay awake for a whole week without sleep. Instead, Gilgamesh sleeps for all seven days, with loaves of bread to prove and to symbolise his failure. After this failed attempt he is instructed to get a plant that will give him immortality. He loses the plant when a snake eats it, he did not trust its potency and wanted to bring it back to Uruk for the old men to try. After these failed attempts, he realises that he will never achieve eternal life, and goes back to Uruk with this new wisdom.
What significance does this "flood" myth hold for you in the context of the Biblical story? Do you think "The Epic of Gilgamesh" serves as proof for the Biblical flood or otherwise? If so, how does it function as proof? How would you defend your claim? Do you think the interview we watched between Tolkien and Lewis might help you formulate a response to this difficult questions? If so, how and why? (Food for thought!!)
ReplyDeleteExcellent job on keeping this on-line reading blog, Luke. I always look forward to reading your posts and your writing demonstrates your careful reading of the text.
ReplyDelete