Many stories in the Bible share striking similarities with earlier myths and legends from other cultures and religions, most famously the flood story but also others such as the tales of Lot, the fall of man, and Moses. These parallels suggest either a common ancient heritage or storytelling tradition shared across civilizations, or that biblical writers integrated elements that reflected known myths of their time.gotquestions+2
The biblical flood narrative in Genesis closely parallels stories from ancient Mesopotamia, especially the Epic of Gilgamesh, Atrahasis, and the Sumerian legend of Ziusudra. In all these tales, humanity is destroyed by a vast flood, with a virtuous man (such as Noah, Utnapishtim, or Atrahasis) building a boat to save his family and animals. Details like the construction of the ark, the sending out of birds to find dry land, and post-flood sacrifices appear in each account.thecollector+3
| Story | Culture | Virtuous Man | Boat/Ark | Animals Saved | Bird Sent Forth | Sacrifice After |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis (Bible) | Hebrew | Noah | Yes | Yes | Yes (dove/raven) | Yes |
| Gilgamesh Epic | Babylonian | Utnapishtim | Yes | Yes | Yes (dove/raven) | Yes |
| Atrahasis | Akkadian | Atrahasis | Yes | Yes | Yes (birds) | Yes |
| Ziusudra | Sumerian | Ziusudra | Yes | Yes | Yes (bird) | Yes |
| Deucalion | Greek | Deucalion | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Native American | Ojibwe, others | Various | Yes | Yes | No | Varies |
The biblical story of Lot shares themes with other ancient literature. Lot is seen in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, with key events reflecting broader cultural motifs of destruction for wickedness and escape by a righteous minority. Islamic tradition presents Lot (Lut) as a prophet sent to warn Sodom and Gomorrah against immorality, and the Qur’an preserves a very similar narrative with the destruction of the cities and Lot's wife dying during the calamity.wikipedia
Some scholars note parallels between Lot's escape and other ancient stories where gods warn chosen people to flee impending disaster. There are also literary similarities between the post-destruction behavior of Lot (drunkenness and problematic relations with his daughters) and events in other ancient stories, such as Noah’s post-flood intoxication. These may symbolize vulnerability and flawed human nature following survival from catastrophe.rsc.byu+2
The expulsion from Eden (Genesis) and Pandora's Box (Greek myth): Both involve the first woman, the unleashing of evil, and a note of future hope.gotquestions
Moses’ birth story: Parallels are drawn with the legend of Sargon of Akkad, who was also set afloat in a basket and later rose to prominence.thecollector
Tower of Babel: Similar tales exist in Babylonian myth, likely inspired by ziggurat-building and language-dividing stories.historycollection
These parallels are not seen necessarily as cases of direct copying, but as evidence of shared cultural memories or story archetypes across civilizations. The biblical authors appear to have reshaped these narratives, giving them distinctive theological meanings in the Hebrew context.mattayars+2
Overall, flood stories, Lot's escape, and other biblical events resonate with myths from Mesopotamia, Greece, and other cultures, reflecting the deep interconnectedness of ancient storytelling traditions.livius+3