What was the name of the Ark’s builder in the Epic of Gilgamesh flood story?

Utnapishtim is the Ark-like vessel’s builder in the Epic of Gilgamesh flood story. In the ancient Mesopotamian epic, the god Ea warns Utnapishtim of a coming flood and tells him to build a large boat.

Utnapishtim’s account appears in Tablet XI of the standard version of the Epic of Gilgamesh. He describes receiving instructions, loading the boat with living creatures and possessions, and surviving a catastrophic storm. After the flood, he releases birds to determine whether the waters have receded.

Utnapishtim is not Noah, and the Babylonian story is not a chapter of the Hebrew Bible. The two narratives share notable motifs, including divine warning, a large survival vessel, preservation of life, birds sent after the flood, and a sacrifice afterward. Their relationship has been widely discussed in the study of ancient Near Eastern literature.

Gilgamesh meets Utnapishtim later while seeking the secret of immortality. Enkidu is Gilgamesh’s companion, and Shamash is a major sun god, so neither is the flood survivor’s name.