Mythology · 2

In the flood story from the Epic of Gilgamesh, which bird did Utnapishtim release first to check whether the waters had receded?

Answer

A dove

Utnapishtim released a dove first; it found no place to land and returned, echoing the bird-release scene later found in the biblical Noah story.

💡 Did you know?

The Sumerian flood myth predates Noah by over 1,000 years, yet the hero Utnapishtim builds an ark and releases a dove—nearly identical plot details.

Other options people guess

  • A raven
  • A swallow
  • An eagle

Topics

  • flood-myth
  • mesopotamia
  • gilgamesh
  • sumerian

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