if cuneiform tablets came before papyrus writing, how could Noah's Ark story not be from Epic of Gilgamesh?

Question

some adamant bible believers say Epic was taken from bible, but I found that Moses took it from existing literature. Funny thing is few could read and write so how could they have known this

in 1800's a young scholar re-discovered stone tablets of poetry which were based on Arcadian stories of 1800 to 2000 BC tales based in what is modern day Iran, Iraq and Syria

check this out...

http://www.tcf.ua.edu/classes/Jbutler/T389/ITHistoryOutline.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR2007030102109.html

George Smith, a self-taught Assyriologist, who one momentous afternoon in 1872 was working at the British Museum, going through a pile of Layard's clay tablets. Suddenly, Smith realized that he was reading about "a flood storm, a ship caught on a mountain, and a bird sent out in search of dry land."

(shaking head in disbelief)

cuneiform became obsolete long before papyrus and was lost

moses wrote on papyrus not cuneiform, trained by egyptian priests

Answer 1

Because the sort of people who believe the bible are also the sort of people who don't believe in evidence, and only believe what their pastor tells them to.

Atheism. You know it makes sense.

Answer 2

First off, I don't believe that Moses wrote the Torah. I believe it was written well after his death. I also find it odd that in the Torah it talks about the death of Moses. I don't think Moses would write about when he died and was buried. Also, it says that Moses was the most humble man on earth. This would not be a statement that a humble man would write about himself. It doesn't make a great deal of sense. Regarding the Epic of Gilgamesh, there are several stories in different cultures that show some sort of flood story. It contains a diety punishing the land, trying to save one family, and some sort of Ark or boat being built. The names change and the regions change, but nonetheless, the story has circulated throughout many cultures. Also, it was not unheardof for authors to borrow things from other books or stories. The idea of copywrite laws is a new invention. Before we desired so much to be given credit for every good thing we did, writings were very much public property. It isn't something that bothers me to say that the story of the flood in the Bible can easily come from another flood story such as the Epic of Gilgamesh or another one. The flood story is in the section of the Torah that is more folk stories than it is actual history of the Jews. The actual history of the Jews starts with the story of Abraham. The first few chapters of Genesis are more than likely campfire stories that should have never been put in scripture. If you cannot tell, I do not believe that the Bible is a perfect book. I think it is the story of a people trying to figure out who God truly is. They are desperately trying to please Him and figure out how to live a life according to His will. I see the humanity of the Bible because I am willing to see the humanity in myself. I know that I miss the mark sometimes. I don't always understand God completely--very much like the Jews. However, I still live a life trying to please God above all else.

Answer 3

If anything the flood story in other cultures stresses the truth of the story. The fact it was rewritten in the Epic of Gilgamesh does not remove the truth from the Bible or make Moses a plagiarist. The story was relayed verbally before it was written. In cultures without writing the story teller, or historian, is held to very strict standards. The story must be retold exactly the same each time. The Hebrews told the story among themselves long before Moses wrote it down. Moses was fully aware of his Hebrew heritage and spent time with the Hebrew while living in Egypt. The ancient Acadians adopted the story to fit their culture and gods since they obtained the story from Israel's family. You can understand this when you realize that Abraham and Israel were around before the Acadian story was written.

Answer 4

Do not confuse correlation and cause! This is the same kind of sketchy nonsense that leads medical science to declare eggs bad for you in one decade and good for you in the next. What changed? Just that they were studying the data from a different angle and found that the cholesterol in eggs was not in fact associated with heart disease. The first studies showed that obese people tended to eat a lot of fried foods, and eggs were among the common foods. Later, it was shown that eggs contain more LDL than HDL cholesterol, so they had to discard the first study.

This study you speak of fails to ask a simple question, does a story with a flood, a ship on a mountain and a bird sent out in search of dry land conclusively prove that its author made it up and that Noah borrowed that story? It is suggestive of this perhaps, but NOT conclusive.

Answer 5

Gilgamesh I believe existed before the Noah story.

Answer 6

The same way most people get their information. They pass it from generation to generation by mouth. Have you ever seen an Eskimo in -40 degrees writing on a tablet.

Answer 7

Since both are hard recordings of verbal communication, maybe somebody wrote it down first on rock and changed the information about Noah to Gilgamesh.

Answer 8

You mention tales from 1800 BC.
The flood of Noah's time pre-dates that.

Answer 9

Maybe the Abrahamic deity was a fan of Sumerian Mythology?

Answer 10

Places around the world that have ancient flood stories in their history. I'm sure some were of oral tradition...before writing.

Index by Region

* Europe
o Greek, Arcadian, Samothrace
o Roman
o Scandinavian, German
o Celtic, Welsh
o Lithuanian, Transylvanian Gypsy
o Turkey
* Near East
o Sumerian
o Egypt, Babylonian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Hebrew, Islamic
o Persian, Zoroastrian
* Africa
o Cameroon
o Masai (East Africa), Komililo Nandi, Kwaya (Lake Victoria)
o Southwest Tanzania, Pygmy, Ababua (northern Zaire), Kikuyu (Kenya), Bakongo (west Zaire), Bachokwe? (southern Zaire), Lower Congo, Basonge, Bena-Lulua (Congo River, southeast Zaire)
o Yoruba (southwest Nigeria), Efik-Ibibio (Nigeria), Ekoi (Nigeria)
o Mandingo (Ivory Coast)
* Asia
o Vogul
o Samoyed (north Siberia)
o Yenisey-Ostyak (north central Siberia), Kamchadale (northeast Siberia)
o Altaic (central Asia), Tuvinian (Soyot) (north of Mongolia)
o Mongolia, Buryat (eastern Siberia)
o Sagaiye (eastern Siberia)
o Russian
o Hindu, Bhil (central India), Kamar (Raipur District, Central India), Assam
o Tamil (southern India)
o Lepcha (Sikkim), Tibet, Singpho (Assam), Lushai (Assam), Lisu (northwest Yunnan, China), Lolo (southwestern China), Jino (southern Yunnan, China), Karen (Burma), Chingpaw (Upper Burma)
o China
o Korea
o Munda (north-central India), Santal (Bengal), Ho (southwestern Bengal)
o Bahnar (Cochin China), Kammu (northern Thailand)
o Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal)
o Zhuang (China), Sui (southern Guizhou, China), Shan (Burma)
o Tsuwo (Formosa interior), Bunun (Formosa interior), Ami (eastern Taiwan)
o Benua-Jakun (Malay Peninsula), Kelantan (Malay Peninsula), Ifugao (Philippines), Kiangan Ifugao, Atá (Philippines), Mandaya (Philippines), Tinguian (Luzon, Philippines)
o Batak (Sumatra), Nias (an island west of Sumatra), Engano (another island west of Sumatra), Dusun (British North Borneo), Dyak (Borneo), Ot-Danom (Dutch Borneo), Toradja (central Celebes), Alfoor (between Celebes and New Guinea), Rotti (southwest of Timor), Nage (Flores)
* Australia
o Arnhem Land (northern Northern Territory)
o Maung (Goulburn Islands, Arnhem Land), Gunwinggu (northern Arnhem Land)
o Gumaidj (Arnhem Land)
o Manger (Arnhem Land)
o Fitzroy River area (Western Australia)
o Australian, Mount Elliot (coastal Queensland), Western Australia, Andingari (South Australia), Wiranggu (South Australia), Narrinyeri (South Australia), Victoria, Lake Tyres (Victoria), Kurnai (Gippsland, Victoria), southeast Australian
o Maori (New Zealand)
* Pacific Islands
o Kabadi (New Guinea), Valman (northern New Guinea), Mamberao River (Irian Jaya), Samo-Kubo (western Papua New Guinea), Papua New Guinea
o Palau Islands (Micronesia), western Carolines
o New Hebrides, Lifou (one of the Loyalty Islands), Fiji
o Samoa, Nanumanga (Tuvalu, South Pacific), Mangaia (Cook Islands), Rakaanga (Cook Islands), Raiatea (Leeward Group, French Polynesia), Tahiti, Hawaii
* North America
o Innuit, Eskimo (Orowignarak, Alaska), Norton Sound Eskimo, Central Eskimo, Tchiglit Eskimo (Arctic Ocean), Herschel Island Eskimo, Netsilik Eskimo, Greenlander
o Tlingit (southern Alaska coast), Hareskin (Alaska), Tinneh (Alaska and south), Loucheux (Dindjie) (Alaska), Dogrib and Slave (Tinneh tribes), Kaska (northern inland British Columbia), Thompson Indians (British Columbia), Sarcee (Alberta), Tsetsaut
o Haida (Queen Charlotte Is., British Columbia), Tsimshian (British Columbia)
o Kwakiutl (British Columbia)
o Kootenay (southeast British Columbia), Squamish (British Columbia), Bella Coola (British Columbia), Lillooet (Green River, British Columbia), Makah (Cape Flattery, Washington), Klallam (northwest Washington), Skokomish (Washington), Skagit (Washington), Quillayute (Washington), Nisqually (Washington), Twana (Puget Sound, Washington), Kathlamet
o Cascade Mountains
o Spokana, Nez Perce, Cayuse (eastern Washington), Yakima (Washington), Warm Springs (Oregon), Joshua (southern Oregon), Smith River (northern California coast), Wintu (north central California), Maidu (central California), Northern Miwok (central California), Tuleyome Miwok (near Clear Lake, California), Olamentko Miwok (Bodega Bay, California) Ohlone (San Francisco to Monterey, California)
o Kato (Mendocino County, California)
o Shasta (northern California interior), Pomo (north central California), Salinan (California), Yuma (western Arizona, southern California), Havasupai (lower Colorado River)
o Ashochimi (California)
o Yurok (north California coast), Blackfoot (Alberta and Montana), Cree (Canada), Timagami Ojibway (Canada), Chippewa (Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin), Ottawa, Menomini (Wisconsin-Michigan border), Cheyenne (Minnesota), Yellowstone, Montagnais (northern Gulf of St. Lawrence), Micmac (eastern Maritime Canada), Algonquin (upper Ottowa River), Lenape (Delaware) (Delaware to New York)
o Cherokee (Great Lakes area; eastern Tennessee)
o Mandan (North Dakota), Lakota
o Choctaw (Mississippi), Natchez (Lower Mississippi)
o Chitimacha (Southern Louisiana)
o Caddo (Oklahoma, Arkansas), Pawnee (Nebraska)
o Navajo (Four Corners area), Jicarilla Apache (northeastern New Mexico)
o Sia (northeast Arizona)
o Acagchemem (near San Juan Capistrano, California), Luiseño (Southern California), Pima (southwest Arizona), Papago (Arizona), Hopi (northeast Arizona), Zuni (New Mexico)
* Central America
o Tarascan (northern Michoacan, Mexico), Michoacan (Mexico)
o Yaqui (Sonoran, Northern Mexico), Tarahumara (Northern Mexico), Huichol (western Mexico), Cora (east of the Huichols), Tepecano (southeast of the Huichols), Tepehua (eastern Mexico), Toltec (Mexico), Nahua (central Mexico), Tlaxcalan (central Mexico)
o Tlapanec (south central Mexico), Mixtec (northern Oaxaca, Mexico), Zapotec (Oaxaca, southern Mexico), Trique (Oaxaca, southern Mexico)
o Totonac (eastern Mexico)
o Chol (southern Mexico), Tzeltal (Chiapas, southern Mexico), Quiché (Guatemala), Maya (southern Mexico and Guatemala)
o Popoluca (Veracruz, Mexico)
o Nicaragua, Panama
o Carib (Antilles)
* South America
o Acawai (Orinoco), Arekuna (Guyana), Makiritare (Venezuela), Macusi (British Guyana)
o Muysca (Colombia), Yaruro (southern Venezuela)
o Yanomamö (southern Venezuela)
o Tamanaque (Orinoco), Arawak (Guyana), Pamary, Abedery, and Kataushy (Purus R., Brazil), Ipurina (Upper Amazon)
o Jivaro (eastern Ecuador), Shuar (Andes)
o Murato (eastern Ecuador)
o Cañari (Quito, Ecuador)
o Guanca and Chiquito (Peru)
o Ancasmarca (near Cuzco, Peru), Canelos Quechua, Quechua, Inca (Peru), Colla (high Andes)
o Chiriguano (southeast Bolivia)
o Chorote (Eastern Paraguay)
o Eastern Brazil (Rio de Janiero region), Eastern Brazil (Cape Frio region), Caraya (Araguaia River, central Brazil), Coroado (south Brazil)
o Araucania (coastal Chile)
o Toba (northern Argentina)
o Selk'nam (southern tip of Argentina)
o Yamana (Tierra del Fuego)