087 Atrahasis Flood Legend

Museum Description: The Babylonia Story of the Flood

Room: 56/Case: 22/Number: ME 78941

Scripture: Genesis 8:20

Containing a flood legend from Babylon, the story of Atrahasis tells how he was warned about the flood by the god Ea.  He then built a vessel based on measurements given to him.  After he survived, he made a sacrifice to the gods. 

If we are all descendants of Noah after the flood, it should come as no surprise that a flood legend occurs in all the major cultures of the world.  Hundreds of them are known.  There are often common elements, such as a Divine cause, a warning given beforehand, at least some humans spared, the animals being spared, and the survivors being preserved in some sort of vessel.  The Genesis account was referred to by Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul and Peter, and even by Jesus Christ himself.  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.