The Flood Tablet

7th century BC · Assyria

Tablet eleven of the Epic of Gilgamesh, from Ashurbanipal’s library at Nineveh, telling of a great flood. When George Smith read it in 1872 it stunned the world.

Date

7th century BC

Civilization

Assyria

Found at

Nineveh

Where it is today

British Museum, London

Related pieces

• 
  c. 700–625 BC

  Head of a female worshipper from the Ishtar Temple, Nineveh

• 
  c. 668–627 BC

  Relief fragment: Assyrian soldier conducting captives across the water

• 
  7th century BC

  Omen tablet on city life (Shumma alu)

• 
  c. 645–635 BC

  The king kills a lion

• 
  c. 645–635 BC

  Ashurbanipal on horseback spearing a lion

• 
  7th century BC

  Circular star-map tablet (planisphere)

All museum pieces