UTNAPISHTIM AND THE PRESERVER OF LIFE

The mythological so-called "biblical flood stories" are based upon the Babylonian version of a much older Sumerian original, written in Akkadian cuneiform scripts pressed upon baked clay tablets, illustrating the famous, extremely archaic Epic of Gilgamesh.

According to Ancient Mesopotamian mythology (written circa 2500 BCE), Utnapishtim (the biblical equivalent of Noah) was the heroic survivor of a "Great Flood."  His extraordinary tale was fully depicted in the aforementioned saga, representing the source of some biblical narratives, including Judeo-Christian myths, such as Noah and his purported Ark.

In conformity with this Babylonian transliteration, however, the Great Flood was cast upon the world by the Sumerian god Enlil (in Akkadian Elil), simply because mankind was too noisy, thus precluding him from sleeping at night.

Enlil - the Mesopotamian God of Wind and Breath

Upon hearing about such dreadful plans, his younger brother - the god Enki (in Akkadian Ea), always deemed as humanity’s main protector, secretly informed Utnapishtim - via a dream - of the upcoming devastation, along with detailed instructions vis-à-vis the construction of a special, massive vessel (named the Preserver of Life).

Upon conclusion of such craft, and immediately prior to the foretold inundation, this celestial selected hero was poised to gather his family, along with a pair of each existing beast, bird, and insect to be rescued, do that the Earth could be duly repopulated…  Moreover, consistent with his divine directives, Utnapishtim also included an accomplished sailor among its crew, so that the "Preserver of Life" could be duly steered.

By and large, the successful execution of his convoluted task, considering his valiant efforts, Utnapishtim and his wife were granted the gift of immortality, in recompense for his great deed.