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A
Mesopotamian Flood Story
The literature of the ancient Near East includes several different
flood stories. The Sumerian version, of which this text is a small
excerpt, dates from before 2000 BCE. It offers some striking parallels
to the biblical flood story. There is, however, no direct literary
relationship between them. In a later Babylonian version, the gods
send the flood because mankind is making too much noise and disturbing
their sleep.
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At the
same time, the flood sweeps over the cult-centers.
After, for seven days [and] seven nights,
The flood had swept over the land,
[And] the huge boat had been tossed about by the windstorms
on the great waters,
Utu
came forth, who sheds light on heaven (and) earth.
Ziusudra
opened a window of the huge boat,
The hero Utu brought his rays into the giant boat.
Ziusudra, the king,
Prostrated himself before Utu,
The king kills an ox, slaughters a sheep.
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