In the Epic of Gilgamesh, bitumen seals the flood hero’s boat. The hero, Utnapishtim, is instructed to build a large vessel and coat it with bitumen and pitch so it can withstand the flood.
The episode appears in the flood narrative told by Utnapishtim to Gilgamesh. Utnapishtim explains that the god Ea warned him about the coming catastrophe and instructed him to construct a boat, bring aboard living creatures and provisions, and preserve life.
Bitumen is a naturally occurring petroleum product that was widely used in the ancient Near East as a waterproofing material. Its presence in the story reflects practical building traditions in the region, where bitumen could be collected and applied to boats, walls, and other structures.
This account is related to, but not identical with, the Genesis story of Noah. Genesis also mentions pitch as a coating for the Ark, but the names, divine instructions, boat design, and narrative setting differ between the two traditions.