NOAH'S ARK

NOAH'S ARK

Ziusudra is the man’s Sumerian name. He is Utnapishtim in the Babylonian version. Atrahasis is his Akkadian name and Noah is his name in Hebrew.

The account of Ziusudra, Utnapishtim, and Atrahasis, who were able to endure a devastating deluge that devastated a significant portion of the world, is a popular narrative in early Near Eastern literature. It is remarkable how this story closely resembles the Bible's Noah's Ark tale, which also portrays a flood and an ark built to rescue humans and animals. Nonetheless, the two narratives contain dissimilarities that reflect their cultural and historical backgrounds.

The two stories share a significant similarity in that they depict a catastrophic flood that causes widespread destruction. The flood is viewed as a punishment from the gods for the sinful deeds of humanity, reflecting a common cultural belief in divine retribution that underscores the prevailing spiritual and religious values of the time. This notion of a great flood as a form of divine punishment was not limited to the ancient Near Eastern peoples, as it also appears in various other cultures across the globe, such as the Greek myth of Deucalion and Pyrrha and the Hindu myth of Manu.

Regarding the similarities among the three Near Eastern flood stories and the Bible's Noah's Ark account, one of the most prominent similarities is the key role of the flood in all of the stories. The flood is portrayed as a catastrophic event which causes destruction to the majority of human beings and almost all living beings on the planet in each story. This similarity implies that the concept of a universal flood might have held significant cultural significance for ancient societies.

All of the main characters in these stories are directed by deities to construct huge boats to survive a flood. Ziusudra and Utnapishtim are told to build by the god Ea, while Atrahasis is warned by the god Enki. Noah, however, is commanded by God. They are all given the task of constructing a huge boat to rescue themselves, their loved ones and the animals. The flood in all accounts lasts for a substantial period - seven days in the Bible and six days and seven nights in the other narratives. Eventually, the vessels come to rest on mountains or highlands after the waters subside.

Although these stories share certain similarities, there are also noticeable distinctions in the way they are narrated. For instance, in Mesopotamian folklore, the gods are often depicted as being impulsive and erratic, while in the Bible, God is presented as being fair and compassionate. Moreover, the Mesopotamian tales frequently highlight the concept of human morality and the boundaries of human existence, while the Biblical story leans more towards the notion of belief and submission to God.

Additionally, all three stories depict floods as a means of punishment for human wrongdoing. In the Bible, God sends the flood to wipe out a corrupt human population, while the gods in the other two stories use flooding as a way to reduce the population of humans who have become too numerous, disrespectful, and noisy.