Before science or rational thought, primitive peoples used stories and myths to .
provide an explanation to everyday occurrences that they could not comprehend. This would then .
filter into every story or thought from that time. This precept holds true for The Epic of Gilgamesh .
and The Old Testament. The occurrence being referred to is the version of the great flood referred to .
in each tale. Each has its own grouping of similarities and differences that presents it as a common .
history in uncommon narratives. .
Although told in two different narratives the flood has similar qualities in each. This is, as .
stated, in part thanks to the necessity for human beings to understand the world that surrounds them. .
This inquisitive nature causes many stories to be repeated through time. Often reproduced to fit a .
certain generalized topic, such as The Bible.
Each text contains a set of similar qualities that lead to each flood. Mainly the gods, or God .
was unhappy with the actions of the people they had created or reigned over. This lead them to .
destroy their creations in order to attain an ideal they could not see in the situation at the time. Also, .
in each account a single man was warned of the coming flood in order to prepare for it and continue .
the existence of the human race. .
Although each account had a few similarities there are many differences. Such as the reasons .
for each of the floods. The specific events leading up to each were vastly different. The reaction of .
the people warned and those who experienced it were different in each account. Finally the specifics .
of each similarity was different. The length of time the flood lasted was the largest discrepancy of .
all.
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In the case of The Old Testament God, Yahweh, was unhappy with the way people began .
acting. He was upset about their inclination towards evil. He was saddened watching them sink .
deeper and deeper into depravity and self indulgence.
