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The Chaldean Account of the Deluge
The Chaldean Account of the Deluge
by George Smith
A historic article in which the discovery of the Babylonian Deluge account was announced, an episode from the Gilgamesh myth.
"This paper, which was read before the Society of Biblical Archaeology in London on Decmber 3rd, 1872, caused a sensation. George Smith (1840-76), an engraver by trade, was self-educated in Biblical and Near Eastern archeaology, mostly by studying the exhibits at the British Museum. He joined the museum as a 'repairer', piecing together fragments of tablets from Ninevah, a job which he excelled at. In 1886 he was appointed Assistant, and in 1871 he published The Phonetic Values of the Cuneiform Characters, a key reference work for reading Assyrian.
Smith started to find bits and pieces which suggested an account of a flood. In 1872, Smith found a large fragment covered with a thick deposit which, when removed, revealed a large part of the flood narrative. Reportedly, he exclaimed, "I am the first man to read that after more than two thousand years of oblivion," put the tablet on a table, and ran around the room manaically, taking off his clothes!
The tablet had the story of a deluge, which resembled the account in Genesis, but which was obviously older than the Bible. Today, we know this as the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh epic. As a result of this discovery, Smith got funding to go into the field in 1873, funded by a London newspaper, the Daily Telegraph. Smith uncovered more tablets with fragments of the Deluge story. In 1874 and 1876 he returned to the Middle East, under the Aegis of the British Museum. He tragically died at the age of 36 of dysentery in Aleppo, Syria, on August 19, 1876."
About the
"Smith, George, Assyriologist, born at London; trained as a bank-note engraver, but attracted the attention of Sir Henry Rawlinson by his interest in cuneiform inscriptions, and in 1867 received an appointment in the British Museum; acquired great skill as an interpreter of Assyrian inscriptions, published "Annals of Assurbanipal," and in 1872 discovered a tablet with the "Chaldean Account of the Deluge"; carried through important expeditions (1871-3-6) in search of antiquities in Nineveh and other parts of Assyria, accounts of which he published; wrote also histories of Babylonia, Assyria, Sennacherib, &c. (1840-1876)."
by George Smith
A historic article in which the discovery of the Babylonian Deluge account was announced, an episode from the Gilgamesh myth.
"This paper, which was read before the Society of Biblical Archaeology in London on Decmber 3rd, 1872, caused a sensation. George Smith (1840-76), an engraver by trade, was self-educated in Biblical and Near Eastern archeaology, mostly by studying the exhibits at the British Museum. He joined the museum as a 'repairer', piecing together fragments of tablets from Ninevah, a job which he excelled at. In 1886 he was appointed Assistant, and in 1871 he published The Phonetic Values of the Cuneiform Characters, a key reference work for reading Assyrian.
Smith started to find bits and pieces which suggested an account of a flood. In 1872, Smith found a large fragment covered with a thick deposit which, when removed, revealed a large part of the flood narrative. Reportedly, he exclaimed, "I am the first man to read that after more than two thousand years of oblivion," put the tablet on a table, and ran around the room manaically, taking off his clothes!
The tablet had the story of a deluge, which resembled the account in Genesis, but which was obviously older than the Bible. Today, we know this as the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh epic. As a result of this discovery, Smith got funding to go into the field in 1873, funded by a London newspaper, the Daily Telegraph. Smith uncovered more tablets with fragments of the Deluge story. In 1874 and 1876 he returned to the Middle East, under the Aegis of the British Museum. He tragically died at the age of 36 of dysentery in Aleppo, Syria, on August 19, 1876."
About the
"Smith, George, Assyriologist, born at London; trained as a bank-note engraver, but attracted the attention of Sir Henry Rawlinson by his interest in cuneiform inscriptions, and in 1867 received an appointment in the British Museum; acquired great skill as an interpreter of Assyrian inscriptions, published "Annals of Assurbanipal," and in 1872 discovered a tablet with the "Chaldean Account of the Deluge"; carried through important expeditions (1871-3-6) in search of antiquities in Nineveh and other parts of Assyria, accounts of which he published; wrote also histories of Babylonia, Assyria, Sennacherib, &c. (1840-1876)."
36 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2010
About the author
George Smith
51 books13 followersGeorge Smith was a pioneering English Assyriologist who first discovered and translated the Epic of Gilgamesh, one the oldest-known written works of literature.
Smith's earliest successes were the discoveries of two unique inscriptions early in 1867. The first, a total eclipse of the sun in the month of Sivan inscribed on Tablet K51, he linked to the spectacular eclipse that occurred on 15 June 763 BC, a description of which had been published 80 years earlier by French historian François Clément (1714–1793) in L'art de vérifier les dates des faits historiques. This discovery is the cornerstone of ancient Near Eastern chronology. The other was the date of an invasion of Babylonia by the Elamites in 2280 BC.
In 1871, Smith published Annals of Assur-bani-pal transliterated and translated, and communicated to the newly founded Society of Biblical Archaeology a paper on "The Early History of Babylonia", and an account of his decipherment of the Cypriote inscriptions.
Smith's earliest successes were the discoveries of two unique inscriptions early in 1867. The first, a total eclipse of the sun in the month of Sivan inscribed on Tablet K51, he linked to the spectacular eclipse that occurred on 15 June 763 BC, a description of which had been published 80 years earlier by French historian François Clément (1714–1793) in L'art de vérifier les dates des faits historiques. This discovery is the cornerstone of ancient Near Eastern chronology. The other was the date of an invasion of Babylonia by the Elamites in 2280 BC.
In 1871, Smith published Annals of Assur-bani-pal transliterated and translated, and communicated to the newly founded Society of Biblical Archaeology a paper on "The Early History of Babylonia", and an account of his decipherment of the Cypriote inscriptions.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 4, 2018
Quite fascinating and makes me want to have learned cuneiform or other tablet languages. Amazing all the flood stories in cultures.
Would still love to climb Mount Ararat as an aside.
Would still love to climb Mount Ararat as an aside.
July 20, 2025
I throughly enjoyed exploring the parallels between the Chaldean account of the deluge and the biblical narrative of Noah's Ark. It helped deepen my appreciation for the interconnectedness of ancient mythologies and the timeless truths that transcend cultural boundaries. Through these stories, I am reminded of the transformative power of faith, the enduring nature of God's grace.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews