The reason the flood happened was because drowning was the most "humane" way of killing all of the people who had sinned. The gods chose this over famine, pestilence, or being eaten by a wild animal (wolf, lion).
There is nothing in the epic of Gilgamesh to suggest that the flood was a punishment for sin. In fact, we are not told the reason that the flood was sent. Neither are we told that the slaughter of humanity was a 'humane' act. On the contrary, the flood hero and the gods weep at the senseless destruction, and the chief god is rebuked for his hasty and ill considered action.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, many people die in the flood. However, the main character, Utnapishtim, along with his family and selected animals, are saved by the gods. The flood is sent by the gods to cleanse the earth of humanity's corruption.
There is no explanation given for this decision in the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, the flood story in Gilgamesh is based on that contained in the Epic of Atrahasis. The reason given there is that human overpopulation has resulted in too much noise so that the gods cannot rest.
It is important to note that this decision is criticized strongly by the gods themselves in the Epic of Gilgamesh. It is described as a hasty and excessive punishment and the chief god himself (Enlil) is reprimanded for his decision. Ishtar and the creator goddess Nintu/Belit-ili lament the huge loss of life and Utnapishtim is rewarded with immortality precisely because he has saved himanity from extinction.
Why were Brahma and Vishnu quarreling?
An assembly of gods started the flood in the Gilgamesh flood epic.
Certainly the story of Noah's Flood is remarkably similar to the Flood story of Umapishtim in the much older Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. On that evidence, the Epic of Gilgamesh is the most likely source for the story of Noah's Flood.
Utnapishtim was granted immortality by the gods after surviving the flood, making him the only witness with firsthand knowledge of the event. This allowed him to share the story with Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh.
gilgamesh.
gilgamesh.
The tale other than Gilgamesh's journey is the Flood Story. This is the story of Utnapishtim and how he survived the flood the gods sent.
Both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Noah's flood feature a catastrophic flood sent by divinity as punishment, a chosen hero who builds an ark to save humanity and animals, and a dove sent to search for land. However, the Epic of Gilgamesh is polytheistic, with multiple gods involved in the flood, whereas Noah's flood is a monotheistic event orchestrated by a single God. Additionally, the motivations and aftermath of the floods differ: in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the flood is caused by the gods' annoyance with human noise, while in Noah's flood, God is motivated by punishing human sinfulness.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, gods reveal the coming flood to Utnapishtim, a wise man who built an ark to save creations. Gilgamesh learns about the flood through dreams and seeks out Utnapishtim to learn the secret of immortality.
Utnapishtim, his wife and other relatives, his craftsmen, and the animals.
The Epic of Gilgamesh!