In the Epic of Gilgamesh, how long did the flood storm last?
Answer
Six days and seven nights
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the flood storm lasted six days and seven nights.
The duration appears in the flood story told by Utnapishtim to Gilgamesh. After the storm, the boat becomes still, and Utnapishtim begins testing whether the waters have receded by releasing birds.
This Mesopotamian account is one of the best-known ancient flood narratives and predates the surviving written form of Genesis by many centuries. Its flood survivor, boat, birds, and sacrifice have features that invite comparison with Noah’s story.
The six-day, seven-night storm should not be substituted with Genesis’ 40 days and 40 nights. Those numbers belong to different traditions and different textual settings.