Which Babylonian flood epic features Atrahasis as its human survivor?
Answer
The Atrahasis Epic
Answer
The Atrahasis Epic
The Babylonian flood epic featuring Atrahasis is the Atrahasis Epic.
The Atrahasis Epic is an ancient Mesopotamian composition preserved on cuneiform tablets. Its human hero, Atrahasis, is warned about a destructive flood and builds a boat to survive it. The story includes divine decisions, the preservation of life, and the aftermath of the catastrophe.
The Atrahasis tradition is related to the flood account in the Epic of Gilgamesh. In the Gilgamesh narrative, the survivor is called Utnapishtim, and he recounts the flood to Gilgamesh. These are connected Mesopotamian traditions, but the titles and hero names should not be mixed up.
The Atrahasis Epic is also important for comparative study of Genesis because scholars examine similarities and differences among ancient Near Eastern flood narratives. Similar motifs do not make the stories identical: their languages, settings, divine characters, purposes, and narrative frameworks differ.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026