Noah VS. Utnapishtim

In world literature there are multiple accounts of an historic and great flood covering the land.  Two of the stories that have descended from this tale are that of Utnapistim of the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and Noah from the book of Genesis in the Hebrew bible.

Comparison

Do you remember when you were a kid and you played the game called telephone? This was the game where one person would start with a statement, and as it was whispered from child to child, each duplication of the statement or story would be slightly transformed into something different?  While reading the articles and stories about Utnapishtim and Noah, I came to my own conclusion about these stories.  I believe that not only these two, but all accounts of a great flood are derived from one event.  Just like in the game telephone, as the story was passed down from generation to generation and location to location, bits and pieces were changed.  Even with these changes, many of the same points have stood the test of time: o        Flood occurs in the Mesopotamian plain o        Both picked to carry on human life o        Both were warned of the flood o        Both built an ark to escape flood waters o        Pairs of every creature taken upon each ark o        Each boat came to rest on a mountain o        Ravens & Doves released to search for land o        Sacrificial offerings were given to God/gods