The ancient Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest works of literature still extant. One important episode features a man named Utnapishtim, who:
A) Attacked and slew a three-headed dog at the gate of hell B) Built an ark to save himself from a flood sent to destroy humanity ü C) Caused disaster by misusing his ability to turn all things to gold D) Drove the sun-god’s chariot across the sky
When the god of rain, Enlil, decided to send a destructive flood (because mortals were making too much noise), another god warned Utnapishtim of what was to happen and instructed him to build an ark for himself and his family. As in the biblical story of Noah, Utnapishtim found a place to land with the aid of a bird. He and his wife were eventually rewarded with eternal life by Enlil himself.
