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In the Epic of Gilgamesh, 1000 years before the Hebrew Bible was written
A Mesopotamian God named Ea told Utnapishtim (You - Nap -A - Sha -Tome) to listen
And work with carpenters and reed workers, build a boat 120 cubits, that was Ea's impossible task
Five days passed
And Utnapishtim and his team did exactly what Ea asked!
Afterwards, Utnapishtim loaded the boat with gold, his family and all the species of animals on earth and sealed it tight
His storm was only 7 days long, but also flooded the earth and killed humanity and all life on earth with its might
After the boat landed on top of Mount Nimush (in Iraq), Utnapishtim sent a dove, then a swallow, which both returned
Finally, he sent a raven, which never came back, and Utnapishtim was no longer concerned
It meant that the waters had receded
Proof of dry land was needed
So Utnapishtim left the boat, released the animals, and to the Gods he made each a sacrifice
In exchange for his efforts, the God Ea gave Utnapishtim and his wife the gift of immortal life
Utnapishtim lived at the mouth of the rivers for centuries until he relayed his story to Gilgamesh, as well as immortality’s price.
