Did the Bible(re: Noah and the flood) copy Sumerian (legend of Ziusudra) and Babylonian(Gilgamesh)?

Question

Both accounts written down..and long before the OT was written (even if you believe the first five books were written by Moses in the 14th c BC,that's still MANY years after these two accounts).

Both mention a great flood...Gilgamesh has far more detail.....quite similar to what is in the Bible.

Lived in close proximity....would have been very possible to have heard these stories re: the flood.

Answer 1

Most, if not all, cultures have a flood story. Which lends to the probability that it actually did happen. But, which one is true?

You could explore the idea that they all came from the same source -- eye witnesses. Abraham was born only a few years after Noah died. Noah's children and grandchildren were still around.

The story got passed down and out to all peoples as time went on. And like the game of telephone, the story got distorted and embellished the further from the source it got.

The version of Gilgamesh that I heard seemed full of embellishments, although there was also a more homey, less worldwide devastation aspect to it.

Given that the flood most probably is a true story, there is no need for any culture to copy it from anyone else. To say such, is baseless.

Answer 2

Yes, they were copied from the older religions. Please note in classical art how much alike Zeus/Jupiter, Odin and God appear. Like identical triplets. Hummm.....
And how many pagan holidays were incorporated into Christian celebretions. Yuletide carols? Christmas trees? Easter eggs? Bunny rabbits (those rabid reproducers)?
Take Saint Bridget of Ireland, who just happens to share a name with one of the BIGGEST old European pagan goddesses? And how interesting is it that the Devil has horns and cloven feet just like the old pagan god of the hunt? And lets not forget that Yule is when the old pagan god dies and is reborn as his own son during the shortest day of the year. Yule is December 22 and Christmas is December 25. And Jesus, who was gotten on Mary by God, was born then too! What a coincidence. Or is it?
And Hell is from the Nordic goddess Hel who had some business with the underworld, as a guardian maybe. (Sorry, I can't find my reference right now.)

You should check out Barbara G Walker for some interesting reading. She has written both on religion and knitting, so make sure you get the right books.

I think Christianty is as valid as the next religion. I also think that it is a huge almalgamation of many religions, like the Mississippi is a mixing of many other rivers. I do not believe it's roots are as 'untainted' as so many want to think they are. Perhaps if they would acknowledge, honestly and truthfully, it's many orgins, it would become a truly great religion. The Mississippi does not deny the contributions of the Missouri and it hasn't blown up or decended into some hell.
(Well, humans are polluting it, but I hope you get my meaning.)

Answer 3

Good evening kissmybum. I wont lie, but you pic got my attention. As I read on though, the topic (spirituality...) is in my mind one of the more worth while things to ponder. So.... the question: No it didn't. Either you believe or you dont in the origin or source of the Bible. I believe that the Bible was written or dictated by the One Above. Also there is recent scientific findings that show that a 'great flood occured in the same period (I believe) the bible says it happened. So, where do you live? I live in New York. email me if youre interested: [e-mail]

Answer 4

You are assuming that the Sumerian legend and the Babylonian rendition super cede the Holy Bible's (Biblical) account. Most Geologists use the Bible when they are doing mid-eastern searches for "lost" cities or location identification. The Hebrew university in Israel is an excellent example of this for one. For example: a great debate of the 1930s - 1949 was whether Pontus Pilate (Roman governor of Jerusalem [Judah]), actually existed. Many of the skeptics of that time thought that the Biblical account was "another Jewish fairy tale". Some thought by denying Pilate's existence, it would cast doubt upon Jesus Christ's Crucifixion event . In 1950, one of the locals was walking around just outside of Jerusalem, and came upon a stone plate which was customarily used by the Romans, as an identity marker of a particular region. In Latin it was carved in the stone Governor Pilate ruler of Jerusalem. The archaeology world was in awe of this find and the skeptics had "egg" all over their faces. (Yes; the stone marker was Carbon-dated for authenticity.)

Answer 5

Since Abraham came from Ur and did not hear God's call to later in life, it is very possible Terah, Haran, and Nahor, along with Abram knew of the Gilgamesh legend.
Linquistic analysis of the Ugaritic and early Hebraic show many developmental dependencies.
I don't think "copy" is the word so much as perhaps "reshape".
Glad you are into a fascinating field. A good OT commentary will show you some of the word dependencies etc. I use ANCHOR>

Answer 6

or you can look at in another way, that being the fact that seems every culture seems to agree that it actually happened, its MORE likely to be true. imagine if the bible was the only document that said a flood had happened, and nobody else had any clue of it. wouldn't that discredit the bible more than if other nations all agreed? and flood stories are common to most cultures, not just in the middle east.

that said, its very doubtful that a flood on that scale actually happened. i'm just pointing out that saying it must not be true because other cultures ALSO say it is kind of a flawed argument.

Answer 7

Yes, I actually saw a special on the History channel today about the Illuminati and the Vatican. A portion of the documentary/investigation dealt with the bible. They called the bible a 'hodge podge' of oral tradition; essentially they are saying that many stories in the bible are taken from older stories from older cultures. Its really not hard to believe. At the time of the Christian church's foundation, many Europeans were fascinated by ancient Egyptian culture because they believed it held the lost knowledge of humanity. Egypt was greatly admired so its easy to understand why Christians borrowed stories from that land, but told it in their own way.

Answer 8

After God confused the language of the people building the Tower of Babel,the people scattered and moved to different parts of the earth,taking the story of Noah's flood with them.That is why many lands have stories of a world wide flood occuring

Answer 9

interesting, very interesting question. we learn every day and your inquiry makes no exception. yes or no i could not verify your story -- it is worth looking at it -- by historians and research people. you are right -- in general -- to mention that some stories look alike or have some resemblance. I have no doubt. Hammurabi codes or laws -- preceded the 10 commandments -- a case in point -- whether they have a direct link -- too far away for the normal reader to judge and put his final judgment. I like to read about the subject and leave the judgment to experts in the field. hope it helps in your query.

Answer 10

Possible. But the Earth has had more than one so called world flood. Noahs being the last known one.