Utnapishtim is the ancient Mesopotamian flood hero often compared with Noah.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is warned by the god Ea that the gods intend to send a devastating flood. He builds a large boat, saves living creatures and members of his household, and releases birds to investigate whether the waters have receded. These features create clear parallels with the Genesis account of Noah's Ark.
The stories are not identical. Utnapishtim's vessel is described differently, the divine motives differ, and the surrounding mythological worlds are distinct. The Epic of Gilgamesh also presents Utnapishtim receiving immortality after the flood, whereas Noah's Genesis story focuses on covenant, human conduct, and the promise symbolised by the rainbow.
The comparison is part of the broader study of ancient Near Eastern flood traditions. Similarities do not by themselves prove a single direct source, but they show that flood narratives circulated widely in the region.