The story of the mythological king and worldwide flood is known as the Epic of Gilgamesh. It is an ancient Mesopotamian poem that dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. The poem tells the story of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, who searches for immortality after the death of his friend Enkidu. During his journey, Gilgamesh encounters Utnapishtim, a survivor of the great flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of the flood and how he was instructed by the god Ea to build a boat to save himself and his family. The Epic of Gilgamesh is considered one of the oldest and most significant works of literature in human history.