The Babylonian Story of the Deluge as Told by Assyrian Tablets from Nineveh The Discovery of the Tablets at Nineveh by Layard, Rassam and Smith

"The Babylonian Story of the Deluge as Told by Assyrian Tablets from Nineveh" by E. A. Wallis Budge is a historical exploration into the Mesopotamian version of the Great Flood, pieced together from the ancient Assyrian tablets unearthed in Nineveh. The book starts by setting the stage with the story of how these tablets were found during archaeological digs led by figures like A. H. Layard, showing how important Ashur-bani-pal's library was to the discoveries. It then tells the story of the Deluge, as found in the Epic of Gilgamish, where Gilgamish hears the story from Uta-Napishtim, an immortal who survived the flood. The book tackles big ideas such as divine justice, how life was saved by building a massive boat, and the cost of immortality. It highlights that these stories have had a lasting effect on old civilizations, giving readers a peek into the deep philosophical and religious thoughts they bring up.