In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim built a vessel before the deluge.
Utnapishtim is the flood survivor in the best-known Babylonian version of the Mesopotamian flood tradition. The god Ea warns him of a coming flood and instructs him to build a large boat, preserve living creatures, and bring aboard family members and skilled workers.
After the flood, Utnapishtim releases birds to determine whether the waters have receded. He eventually offers a sacrifice, and the gods grant him and his wife exceptional, immortal status. These details make the episode an important comparative text when studying the Noah narrative.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is not a retelling of Genesis in the modern sense. Its flood account belongs to Mesopotamian literature and has different names, gods, plot details, and theological purposes. Scholars compare the stories because they share broad motifs, including a warned survivor, a vessel, preservation of life, birds, and a post-flood sacrifice.