Which earlier Mesopotamian flood epic features the hero Atrahasis?

The earlier Mesopotamian flood epic featuring the hero Atrahasis is the Epic of Atrahasis. It was written in Akkadian and preserves a flood story in which the god Enki warns Atrahasis to build a boat and preserve life.

The best-known Old Babylonian version is recorded on clay tablets from the second millennium BCE. The narrative begins with divine labor and conflict, then explains why the gods decide to reduce humanity. A devastating flood follows, and Atrahasis survives by following Enki's instructions.

The Epic of Atrahasis is important for studying the literary background of later flood narratives, including the flood episode in the Epic of Gilgamesh and comparisons with Genesis. Similar motifs include divine warning, a specially built vessel, survival of living beings, and a post-flood offering.

Atrahasis should not be confused with Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim is the flood hero in Gilgamesh, while Atrahasis belongs to a separate Akkadian composition, even though the stories overlap substantially.