Atrahasis

Ancient deluge hero

Atrahasis is a figure from ancient Mesopotamian mythology, a wise man who survived a great flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity.

The name means "exceedingly wise" in Akkadian.

The *Epic of Atrahasis* is among the oldest flood narratives, predating and likely influencing the biblical story of Noah.

Atrahasis appears in various Babylonian texts as the archetypal flood survivor who preserved human and animal life by building a boat at divine instruction.

mythology

flood

Overwhelming water overflow

delugeSevere overflow of water
survivalRemaining alive against odds
arkLarge rescue vessel

gods · immortality · humanity · creation · destruction · wrath · divine · salvation · chosen · warning

epic

cuneiform

Stylus-impressed ancient script

tabletFlat portable computing device
poemMetrical literary composition
narrativeAccount of events

scribe · Assyrian · library · Nineveh · fragments · colophon · recension · literature · composition · verses

parallels

Noah

Biblical vessel builder

UtnapishtimImmortal deluge survivor
GenesisFirst biblical book
GilgameshMesopotamian epic protagonist

universal · archetype · syncretism · borrowing · tradition · comparative · biblical · antediluvian

character

hero

One admired for courage

survivorOne still alive after
piousFaithfully devoted to worship
wiseShowing good judgment

obedient · builder · patriarch · mortal · favored · devout · righteous · faithful · listener · craftsman

Atrahasis

flood

cuneiform

Noah

hero

Atrahasis

Opposites

Categories