In the Epic of Gilgamesh, who built the ark to survive the great flood?

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim built the ark to survive the great flood.

Utnapishtim is warned by the god Ea, who instructs him to build a large boat and preserve life. The flood story appears in Tablet XI of the standard version of the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the most important surviving works of ancient Mesopotamian literature. After the waters subside, Utnapishtim sends out birds to determine whether land has emerged.

The Mesopotamian account shares several recognizable motifs with Genesis, including divine warning, a giant boat, preservation of living creatures, birds, and a post-flood sacrifice. It is not the same story, however. Its characters, gods, measurements, and theological setting differ. Utnapishtim is also the figure who tells Gilgamesh about the flood; Gilgamesh himself does not build the ark.