Closely parallel to these two variant Biblical accounts of the flood are the two Babylonian versions, which have fortunately been almost wholly recovered.  The older Babylonian account is found in the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh epic, which comes from the library of Asshurbanipal.  This great conqueror lived contemporaneously with Manasseh during whose reign Assyrian influence was paramount in the kingdom of Judah.  In his quest for healing and immortality Gilgamesh reached the abode of the Babylonian hero of the flood.  In response to Gilgamesh’s question as to how he, a mortal, attained immortality the Babylonian Noah recounts the story of the flood.  It was brought about by the Babylonian gods in order to destroy the city of Shurippak, situated on the banks of the Euphrates.  The god Ea gave the warning to his worshipper, the hero of the flood, and commanded him: 

  Construct a house, build a ship,
  Leave goods, look after life,
  Forsake possessions, and save life,
  Cause all kinds of living things to go up into the ship. 
  The ship which thou shalt build,—­
  Exact shall be its dimensions: 
  Its breadth shall equal its length;
  On the great deep launch it. 
  I understood and said to Ea, my lord: 
  “Behold, my lord, what thou hast commanded,
  I have reverently received and will carry out.”

A detailed account then follows of the building of the ark.  Its dimensions were one hundred and twenty cubits in each direction.  It was built in six stories, each of which was divided into nine parts.  Plentiful provisions were next carried on board and a great feast was held to commemorate the completion of the ark.  After carrying on board his treasures of silver and gold he adds: 

  All the living creatures of all kinds I loaded on it. 
  I brought on board my family and household;
  Cattle of the field, beasts of the field, the craftsmen,
  All of them I brought on board.

In the evening at the command of the god Shamash the rains began to descend.  Then the Babylonian Noah entered the ship and closed the door and entrusted the great house with its contents to the captain.  The description of the tempest that follows is exceedingly vivid and picturesque.

  When the first light of dawn shone forth,
  There rose from the horizon a dark cloud, within which Adad thundered,
  Nabu and Marduk marched at the front,
  The heralds passed over mountains and land;
  Nergal tore out the ship’s mast,
  Ninib advanced, following up the attack,
  The spirits of earth raised torches,
  With their sheen they lighted up the world. 
  Adad’s tempest reached to heaven,
  And all light was changed to darkness. 
  So great was the havoc wrought by the storm that
  The gods bowed down, sat there weeping,
  Close pressed together were their lips.

For six days and nights the storm raged, but on the seventh day it subsided and the flood began to abate.  Of the race of mortals, however, every voice was hushed.  At last the ship approached the mountain Nisir which lay on the northern horizon, as viewed from the Tigris-Euphrates valley.  Here the ship grounded.  Then,