<Ol> <Li> He sacrificed a sheep and offered incense at a mountainous ziggurat where he placed 14 sacrificial vessels and poured reeds, cedar, and myrtle into the fire . </Li> <Li> The gods smelled the sweet odor of the sacrificial animal and gathered like flies over the sacrifice . </Li> <Li> Then the great goddess arrived, lifted up her flies (beads), and said </Li> <Li> "Ye gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli (amulet) around my neck, I shall be mindful of these days and never forget them! The gods may come to the sacrificial offering . But Enlil may not come, because he brought about the flood and annihilated my people without considering (the consequences)." </Li> <Li> When Enlil arrived, he saw the boat and became furious at the Igigi gods . He said "Where did a living being escape? No man was to survive the annihilation!" </Li> <Li> Ninurta spoke to Enlil saying "Who else but Ea could do such a thing? It is Ea who knew all of our plans ." </Li> <Li> Ea spoke to Enlil saying "It was you, the Sage of the Gods . How could you bring about a flood without consideration?" </Li> <Li> Ea then accuses Enlil of sending a disproportionate punishment, and reminds him of the need for compassion . </Li> <Li> Ea denies leaking the god's secret plan to Atrahasis (= Utnapishtim), admitting only sending him a dream and deflecting Enlil's attention to the flood hero . </Li> </Ol> <Li> He sacrificed a sheep and offered incense at a mountainous ziggurat where he placed 14 sacrificial vessels and poured reeds, cedar, and myrtle into the fire . </Li> <Li> The gods smelled the sweet odor of the sacrificial animal and gathered like flies over the sacrifice . </Li> <Li> Then the great goddess arrived, lifted up her flies (beads), and said </Li>

What was the reason for the flood in the epic of gilgamesh