Which ancient Mesopotamian flood story features the survivor Atrahasis?

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The ancient Mesopotamian flood story featuring the survivor Atrahasis is the Atrahasis Epic.

The Atrahasis Epic is an Akkadian literary work preserved on clay tablets. In its flood episode, the god Enki warns Atrahasis about a planned catastrophe, and Atrahasis builds a boat to preserve life. The story includes a divine decision to reduce or destroy humanity, a vessel, a flood, and survival through divine instruction.

The Atrahasis tradition is closely related to the flood account in the Epic of Gilgamesh. In the Gilgamesh version, the survivor is Utnapishtim, who recounts the flood to Gilgamesh. These similarities have made Mesopotamian flood literature important in comparative studies of the Genesis narrative.

The title refers to the work, not simply to the character. Atrahasis means something like “exceedingly wise,” and the hero is known by that name in the Akkadian tradition.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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