The Epic of Gilgamesh Chapter Summary & Analysis - Tablet 11 Summary

Tablet 11 Summary

Gilgamesh realizes that the old man is actually Utnapishtim, and is surprised that the immortal man looks so normal. Gilgamesh asks Utnapishtim how he came to be immortal and Utnapishtim says that he will tell Gilgamesh a great secret.

Utnapishtim tells of a time before the great flood. There was a city on the Euphrates called Shurruak where the gods dwelled. The gods, who became aggravated with mankind, met together in secret and vowed to destroy all men with a great flood. The gods made an oath not to warn men, but one of the gods told the secret into Utnapishtim's house so that Utnapishtim would hear the warning in a dream.

The god told Utnapishtim to tear down his house and build a great boat. He gave Utnapishtim the directions on how to build the boat and told him to bring with him the seed of every living thing...
(read more)