Table of Contents
The Epic of Gilgamesh book is one of the oldest known literary works in human history, originating from ancient Mesopotamia. Written in Akkadian on clay tablets, this epic poem recounts the adventures of Gilgamesh, the semi-divine King of of the Ancient city of Uruk. It explores themes of friendship, heroism, mortality, and the quest for eternal life. The tale begins with Gilgamesh as a tyrannical ruler whose arrogance leads his people to pray for relief. In response, the gods create Enkidu, a wild man who becomes Gilgamesh’s close companion. Their friendship transforms Gilgamesh, leading them on various quests, including the search for immortality.
- The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known pieces of literature, originating from ancient Mesopotamia.
- The earliest stories about Gilgamesh date back approximately 4124 years ago, around 2100 BCE, during the Third Dynasty of Ur.
- Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk, and the city is described in great detail, particularly its impressive walls and the Eanna temple complex dedicated to the goddess Ishtar.
- These stories were later compiled into the Old Babylonian version of the epic around the 18th century BCE.
- The most complete version is known as the Standard Babylonian version, was compiled by the scribe Sîn-lēqi-unninni between the 13th and 10th centuries BCE​
Prologue of the Epic of Gilgamesh
(Rewritten in Epic Style)
He who has seen all, I shall make known to the lands,
I will tell of him who experienced all things,
Alike in splendor and woe,
Anu bestowed upon him the entirety of knowledge.
He perceived the Secret, uncovered the Hidden,
He brought forth the lore from the time before the Flood.
He embarked on a distant journey, pushing himself to the brink,
And found solace in the end.
He inscribed his labors on a stone tablet,
And constructed the mighty walls of Uruk-Haven,
The sacred walls of Eanna, the holy sanctuary.
Behold the walls that gleam like copper,
Examine the inner walls, unmatched by any!
Grasp the ancient threshold stone,
Approach the Eanna Temple, dwelling of Ishtar,
Such as no later king or mortal has equaled!
Ascend the walls of Uruk and walk around,
Inspect the foundation, examine the brickwork thoroughly.
Is not even the core of the brick structure made of kiln-fired bricks,
And did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plans?
One league of city, one league of palm gardens, one league of lowlands, the open area of the Ishtar Temple,
Three leagues and the open area of Uruk it encloses.
Find the copper tablet box,
Open the lock of bronze,
Undo the fastening of its secret opening.
Take and read from the lapis lazuli tablet
How Gilgamesh endured all hardships.
Part | Passage (Tablet and Lines) | Meaning and Significance |
---|---|---|
Introduction | Tablet I, Lines 1-28 | Introduces Gilgamesh, the powerful king of Uruk, and sets the stage for his journey. It highlights his divine-human heritage and his initial tyranny. |
The Creation of Enkidu | Tablet I, Lines 50-100 | Describes the creation of Enkidu by the gods to balance Gilgamesh’s power. Enkidu starts as a wild man living with animals, symbolizing untamed nature. |
Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s Friendship | Tablet II, Lines 1-50 | Chronicles the meeting and bonding of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, leading to their deep friendship and mutual respect. |
Journey to the Cedar Forest | Tablet III-V, Multiple Passages | Details the heroes’ quest to the Cedar Forest to defeat Humbaba, the guardian, symbolizing their courage and desire for eternal fame. |
The Slaying of Humbaba | Tablet V, Lines 85-200 | Narrates the confrontation and eventual defeat of Humbaba, showcasing themes of heroism and the consequences of defying the gods. |
The Bull of Heaven | Tablet VI, Lines 1-80 | After rejecting the goddess Ishtar, Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven sent by her, leading to Enkidu’s death as punishment by the gods. |
Enkidu’s Death | Tablet VII, Lines 1-160 | Describes Enkidu’s illness, his visions of the underworld, and his eventual death, which profoundly affects Gilgamesh. |
Quest for Immortality | Tablet IX, Lines 1-30 | Gilgamesh’s journey to find Utnapishtim in search of immortality, driven by fear of his mortality after Enkidu’s death. |
The Great Flood | Tablet XI, Lines 1-200 | Utnapishtim recounts the story of the great flood and his granted immortality, paralleling the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. |
Return to Uruk | Tablet XI, Lines 310-320 | Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, accepting his mortality and resolving to leave a lasting legacy through his city’s greatness. |
Gilgamesh Book
The Gilgamesh book, often referred to simply as “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” has been translated into numerous languages and remains a fundamental piece of world literature.
It is not just a story but a collection of ancient Mesopotamian values, myths, and beliefs.
The narrative is composed of several tablets, with the most complete versions found in the library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh.
Modern readers can explore the epic’s profound themes and its influence on later literary traditions.
Summary of Passages with illustrations
Introduction (Tablet I, Lines 1-28):
- Introduces Gilgamesh as a powerful, but tyrannical king.
- Highlights his divine heritage and exceptional abilities.
- Sets the stage for his transformation and quest for wisdom.
The Creation of Enkidu (Tablet I, Lines 50-100):
- Enkidu is created by the gods to be Gilgamesh’s equal and counterbalance.
- Initially lives among animals, embodying the untamed natural world.
- His creation is a divine response to Gilgamesh’s oppressive rule.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s Friendship (Tablet II, Lines 1-50):
- Gilgamesh and Enkidu meet and become close friends.
- Their bond is central to the epic, driving much of the action.
- Their friendship humanizes Gilgamesh and marks the beginning of his transformation.
Journey to the Cedar Forest (Tablet III-V, Multiple Passages):
- The duo sets out to defeat Humbaba, seeking glory and eternal fame.
- This journey symbolizes their bravery and desire to make a name for themselves.
- Highlights the themes of heroism and the quest for immortality through deeds.
The Slaying of Humbaba (Tablet V, Lines 85-200):
- Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeat Humbaba, despite his pleas for mercy.
- This act of defiance against the gods leads to dire consequences.
- Reflects the themes of human ambition and the limits of divine tolerance.
The Bull of Heaven (Tablet VI, Lines 1-80):
- After rejecting the goddess Ishtar, Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the Bull of Heaven.
- This act leads to the gods decreeing Enkidu’s death as punishment.
- Emphasizes the themes of defiance and retribution from the divine.
Enkidu’s Death (Tablet VII, Lines 1-160):
- Enkidu falls ill and experiences visions of the underworld before dying.
- His death profoundly impacts Gilgamesh, sparking his fear of mortality.
- Marks a turning point in Gilgamesh’s journey, leading him to seek immortality.
Quest for Immortality (Tablet IX, Lines 1-30):
- Gilgamesh embarks on a quest to find Utnapishtim, seeking the secret to eternal life.
- Driven by the loss of Enkidu and his fear of death.
- Represents the universal human quest for understanding and overcoming death.
The Great Flood (Tablet XI, Lines 1-200):
- Utnapishtim tells the story of the great flood and how he gained immortality.
- Parallels the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.
- Highlights the theme of divine favor and the exceptional nature of immortality.
Return to Uruk (Tablet XI, Lines 310-320):
- Gilgamesh returns to Uruk, wiser and accepting of his mortality.
- Resolves to leave a lasting legacy through the greatness of his city.
- Concludes the epic with a message of acceptance and the importance of enduring achievements.
Gilgamesh Full Version
Tablet 1 – Epic of Gilgamesh
He who has seen all, I shall make known to the lands,
I will tell of him who experienced all things,
Alike in splendor and woe,
Anu bestowed upon him the entirety of knowledge.
He perceived the Secret, uncovered the Hidden,
He brought forth the lore from the time before the Flood.
He embarked on a distant journey, pushing himself to the brink,
And found solace in the end.
He inscribed his labors on a stone tablet,
And constructed the mighty walls of Uruk-Haven,
The sacred walls of Eanna, the holy sanctuary.
Behold the walls that gleam like copper,
Examine the inner walls, unmatched by any!
Grasp the ancient threshold stone,
Approach the Eanna Temple, dwelling of Ishtar,
Such as no later king or mortal has equaled!
Ascend the walls of Uruk and walk around,
Inspect the foundation, examine the brickwork thoroughly.
Is not even the core of the brick structure made of kiln-fired bricks,
And did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plans?
One league of city, one league of palm gardens, one league of lowlands, the open area of the Ishtar Temple,
Three leagues and the open area of Uruk it encloses.
Find the copper tablet box,
Open the lock of bronze,
Undo the fastening of its secret opening.
Take and read from the lapis lazuli tablet
How Gilgamesh endured all hardships.
Of supreme dominion over all kings, a lordly figure of majestic presence,
He stands as the unparalleled hero, born of Uruk, the untamed and mighty wild bull.
In the vanguard, he leads with unwavering courage,
In the rearguard, he is a fortress of trust for his comrades.
He is the mighty net, the shield of his people,
A raging torrent that obliterates even the sturdiest stone walls!
The scion of Lugalbanda, Gilgamesh, the epitome of strength,
Son of the revered cow, Rimat-Ninsun; Gilgamesh is awe-inspiring in his perfection.
He alone opened the mountain passes,
He alone dug wells on the mountain’s flank.
He who dared to cross the ocean, the boundless seas, towards the rising sun,
Who journeyed to the ends of the earth, in pursuit of eternal life.
He who reached with his own indomitable will, Utanapishtim, the Faraway,
Who restored the sacred sanctuaries, cities that the Great Flood had decimated!
For the multitudes of humankind.
Who can rival him in sovereign majesty?
Who dares proclaim, as Gilgamesh does: “I am King!”?
Whose very name, since the day of his birth, was heralded as “Gilgamesh”?
Two-thirds divine, one-third mortal,
The Great Goddess Aruru crafted his form,
She sculpted his being…
… unparalleled beauty, the handsomest of men,
… flawless in every aspect.
He strides through the sacred enclosure of Uruk,
Like a formidable wild bull, his head held high, exuding might.
None can stand against him, no rival dares raise a weapon.
His companions are ever vigilant, alert to his commands,
And the men of Uruk, in anxious reverence,
Gilgamesh spares no son to his father,
Day and night, his arrogance…
Such is Gilgamesh, an epic figure, a living legend,
Whose tale resounds through the ages, a testament to his unparalleled reign.
Is Gilgamesh, the shepherd of Uruk-Haven, truly their guardian?
Bold, eminent, and wise, his knowledge unmatched,
Yet Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother,
The daughter of the warrior, the bride of the young man,
Their pleas resounded, reaching the gods of the heavens.
The gods implored the Lord of Uruk, Anu,
“You have indeed brought forth a mighty wild bull, head held high!
There is no rival who can lift a weapon against him.
His companions stand ever vigilant, attentive to his commands,
Gilgamesh spares no son to his father,
Day and night, his arrogance knows no bounds.
Is he the shepherd of Uruk-Haven,
Is he their guardian, bold and eminent?
Wise and knowing, yet Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother!”
The daughter of the warrior, the bride of the young man,
Their lamentations reached Anu, and the gods called out to Aruru:
“It was you, Aruru, who created mankind,
Now create a counterpart, a match for his stormy heart,
Let them be equals so that Uruk may find peace!”
When Aruru heard this, she conceived within herself the essence of Anu.
Aruru washed her hands, pinched off some clay, and cast it into the wilderness.
In the wildness, she created the valiant Enkidu,
Born of Silence, endowed with strength by Ninurta.
His entire body was covered in shaggy hair,
With a full head of hair like a woman,
His locks billowed in profusion like Ashnan.
He knew neither people nor the comforts of settled life,
But wore a garment like Sumukan.
He ate grasses with the gazelles,
And jostled at the watering hole with the animals;
As with the beasts, his thirst was quenched with mere water.
A notorious trapper encountered him at the watering hole,
On the first, second, and third day,
He came face-to-face with him.
Upon seeing him, the trapper’s face turned stark with fear,
Enkidu and his animals retreated.
The trapper was paralyzed with fear, his heart pounding,
His face drained of color,
Miserable to the core, looking like one who had journeyed far.
The trapper addressed his father, saying:
Father,” the trapper cried, “a certain fellow has emerged from the mountains.
He is the mightiest in the land, his strength as formidable as the meteorite of Anu!
He roams ceaselessly over the mountains,
Jostling at the watering hole with the animals,
Planting his feet firmly by the waters.
I feared him, and dared not approach.
He filled in the pits I had dug,
Tore out the traps I had laid,
Released the wild animals from my grasp.
He does not let me patrol the wilderness!”
The trapper’s father replied, “My son, in Uruk lives a man named Gilgamesh.
No one is stronger than he,
His strength rivals the meteorite of Anu.
Go to Uruk, seek out Gilgamesh,
Tell him of this Man of Might.
He will give you the harlot Shamhat; take her with you.
The woman will conquer the wild man as if she were a force of nature.
When the animals gather to drink,
Have her disrobe and reveal her beauty.
When he sees her, he will approach her,
And his bond with the wild creatures will be broken.”
Heeding his father’s counsel,
The trapper journeyed to Uruk,
Stood before Gilgamesh,
And declared, “A certain fellow has come from the mountains—
He is the mightiest in the land,
His strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!
He roams ceaselessly over the mountains,
Jostling at the watering hole with the animals,
Planting his feet firmly by the waters.
I feared him, and dared not approach.
He filled in the pits I had dug,
Tore out the traps I had laid,
Released the wild animals from my grasp.
He does not let me patrol the wilderness!”
Gilgamesh responded, “Go, trapper, bring the harlot Shamhat with you.
When the animals gather to drink,
Have her disrobe and reveal her beauty.
When he sees her, he will approach her,
And his bond with the wild creatures will be severed.
The trapper journeyed forth, bringing the harlot, Shamhat, with him.
Together they set out, taking a direct path to their destination.
On the third day, they arrived at the appointed place,
And the trapper and Shamhat took their positions.
For a first and second day, they sat opposite the watering hole,
Where the animals gathered to drink,
And the wild beasts came to slake their thirst.
Then Enkidu, the wild man from the mountains,
Who grazed on grasses with the gazelles,
Approached to drink with the beasts.
Shamhat saw him—a primitive,
A savage from the depths of the wilderness!
“That is he, Shamhat! Release your clenched arms,
Expose your beauty so he can take in your allure.
Do not hold back—capture his energy!
When he sees you, he will come to you.
Spread out your robe so he may lie upon you,
Perform for him the task of womankind!
His animals will abandon him,
And his desires will groan for you.”
Shamhat unclutched her bosom, exposed her beauty, and he took in her allure.
She did not hold back, but captured his energy.
She spread out her robe and he lay upon her,
She performed for the wild man the task of womankind.
His desires groaned for her;
For six days and seven nights, Enkidu was aroused,
Engaging with the harlot until he was sated with her charms.
But when he turned to his animals,
The gazelles darted away,
The wild beasts distanced themselves from his presence.
Enkidu felt his strength wane,
His knees that once roamed with the animals now stiffened;
His vigor was diminished, his running not as before.
Yet his understanding broadened.
He turned and sat at Shamhat’s feet,
Gazing into her face, listening as she spoke.
Shamhat said to Enkidu:
“You are beautiful, Enkidu, you have become like a god.
Why do you wander the wilderness with wild beasts?
Come, let me bring you to Uruk-Haven,
To the Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar,
The place of Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection,
Yet struts his power over the people like a wild bull.”
Her words found favor with him.
Becoming aware of himself, he sought a friend.
Enkidu spoke to Shamhat:
“Come, Shamhat, take me to the Holy Temple,
The residence of Anu and Ishtar,
The place of Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection,
Yet struts his power over the people like a wild bull.
I will challenge him…
Let me proclaim in Uruk: ‘I am the mighty one!’
Lead me in, and I will change the order of things;
He whose strength is mightiest is born in the wilderness!”
Shamhat replied to Enkidu:
“Come, let us go, so he may see your face.
I will lead you to Gilgamesh—I know where he will be.
Look around, Enkidu, inside Uruk-Haven,
Where the people display their finery,
Where every day is a festival,
Where the lyre and drum play continuously,
Where harlots stand prettily,
Exuding allure, full of laughter,
And on the couch of night, the sheets are spread.
Enkidu, you who do not know how to live,
I will show you Gilgamesh, a man of intense emotions.
Look at him, gaze upon his face—
He is a handsome youth, exuding freshness,
His entire being radiates allure.
He possesses greater strength than you,
Never sleeping day or night!
Enkidu, it is your misguided thoughts you must change!
It is Gilgamesh whom Shamhat loves,
And Anu, Enlil, and Ea have expanded his mind.
Even before you came from the mountains,
Gilgamesh in Uruk had dreams of you.
Gilgamesh rose from his bed and revealed his dream to his mother, saying:
“Mother, I had a dream last night.
Stars of the sky appeared,
and a mighty meteorite of Anu fell beside me.
I tried to lift it, but it was too powerful for me,
I tried to turn it over, but I could not move it.
The Land of Uruk stood around it,
the entire land assembled about it,
the people thronged around it,
the men clustered about it,
and kissed its feet as if it were a newborn.
I loved it and embraced it as a wife.
I laid it at your feet,
and you made it compete with me.”
The wise and all-knowing mother of Gilgamesh,
Rimat-Ninsun, the wise and all-knowing, said to Gilgamesh:
“As for the stars of the sky that appeared,
and the meteorite of Anu that fell next to you,
you tried to lift but it was too mighty for you,
you tried to turn it over but were unable to budge it,
you laid it at my feet,
and I made it compete with you,
and you loved and embraced it as a wife.
There will come to you a mighty man, a comrade who saves his friend—
he is the mightiest in the land, the strongest,
his strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!
You loved him and embraced him as a wife;
he will repeatedly save you.
Your dream is good and propitious!”
A second time, Gilgamesh said to his mother: “Mother, I had another dream:
At the gate of my marital chamber, there lay an axe,
and people had gathered around it.
The Land of Uruk stood around it,
the entire land assembled about it,
the populace thronged around it.
I laid it at your feet,
I loved it and embraced it as a wife,
and you made it compete with me.”
The wise and all-knowing mother of Gilgamesh,
Rimat-Ninsun, said to her son:
“The axe that you saw is a man.
You love him and embrace him as a wife,
but I have made him compete with you.
There will come to you a mighty man,
a comrade who saves his friend—
he is the mightiest in the land, the strongest,
as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!”
Gilgamesh spoke to his mother, saying:
“By the command of Enlil, the Great Counselor, so may it come to pass!
May I have a friend and adviser, a friend and adviser may I have!
You have interpreted for me the dreams about him!”
After the harlot recounted the dreams of Gilgamesh to Enkidu,
the two of them made love.
Tablet 2 – Epic of Gilgamesh
Enkidu sat before Shamhat, pondering deeply.
His own thoughts… seeking wisdom from within.
At her instruction, he listened intently,
Shamhat, who understood his heart,
Pulled off her clothing,
Dressed him with one piece,
And clothed herself with another.
She guided him with divine grace,
And brought him to the shepherds’ hut.
The shepherds gathered around,
Marvelling at the sight before them:
“How this youth resembles Gilgamesh—
Tall in stature, towering up to the battlements over the wall!
Surely, he was born in the mountains;
His strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!”
They placed food and beer before him,
But Enkidu knew nothing of eating bread or drinking beer.
The harlot spoke to Enkidu, saying:
“Eat the food, Enkidu, it is the way one lives.
Drink the beer, as is the custom of the land.”
Enkidu ate the food until he was sated,
He drank the beer—seven jugs!—and his heart was filled with joy.
He sang with happiness, his face glowing with elation.
He splashed his shaggy body with water,
Rubbed himself with oil, transforming into a human.
He put on clothing and became like a warrior.
He took up his weapon,
Chasing lions so the shepherds could eat,
Routing the wolves, and driving away the lions.
With Enkidu as their guardian, the herders slept soundly.
A vigilant man, a remarkable youth,
He stood twice as tall as normal men,
A formidable presence in the land of Uruk.
Then Enkidu raised his eyes and saw a man approaching.
He said to Shamhat, “Shamhat, make that man go away!
Why has he come? I will call out his name!”
The harlot called out to the man and went over to speak with him.
“Young man, where are you hurrying to?
Why this arduous pace?”
The young man replied to Enkidu,
“They have invited me to a wedding, as is the custom of the people.
The selection of brides has begun.
I have heaped up tasty delights for the wedding on the ceremonial platter.
For the King of Broad-Marted Uruk,
The veil is lifted for the people to choose.
For Gilgamesh, the King of Broad-Marted Uruk,
The veil is lifted for the people to choose.
He will have intercourse with the destined wife,
He first, the husband afterward.
This is ordered by the counsel of Anu,
From the severing of his umbilical cord, it has been destined for him.”
At the young man’s words, Enkidu’s face flushed with anger.
Enkidu walked in front, and Shamhat followed him.
He walked down the streets of Uruk-Haven,
Mighty in his stride.
He blocked the way through Uruk the Sheepfold.
The land of Uruk stood around him,
The entire land assembled about him,
The populace thronged around him,
The men clustered about him,
And kissed his feet as if he were a newborn.
Suddenly, a handsome young man appeared.
For Ishara, the bed of marriage is ready,
For Gilgamesh, as for a god, a counterpart is set up.
Enkidu blocked the entry to the marital chamber,
And would not allow Gilgamesh to enter.
They grappled at the entry to the chamber,
In the street, they clashed in the public square.
The doorposts trembled, and the walls shook.
Gilgamesh bent his knees, with one foot on the ground,
His anger abated, and he turned his chest away.
After he turned, Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh:
“Your mother bore you ever unique,
The Wild Cow of the Enclosure, Ninsun.
Your head is elevated above other men,
Enlil has destined you to be king over the people.”
They kissed each other and became friends.
“His strength is the mightiest in the land!
His strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu,”
The mother of Gilgamesh spoke to her son, saying:
Rimat-Ninsun said to her son,
“My son, plaintively…
She went up to Shamash’s gateway,
Plaintively imploring:
“Enkidu has no father or mother,
His shaggy hair no one cuts.
He was born in the wilderness, no one raised him.”
Enkidu stood there, hearing the speech.
He sat down and wept,
His eyes filled with tears,
His arms felt limp, his strength weakened.
They took each other by the hand,
Their hands clasped like…
Enkidu made a declaration to Gilgamesh:
“In order to protect the Cedar Forest,
Enlil assigned Humbaba as a terror to human beings.
Humbaba’s roar is a flood, his mouth is fire, and his breath is death!
He can hear 100 leagues away any rustling in his forest!
Who would dare enter his forest?
Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings,
And whoever enters his forest will be struck with paralysis!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, saying:
“What you say is true.
But who, my friend, can ascend to the heavens?
Only the gods can dwell forever with Shamash.
As for human beings, our days are numbered,
And whatever we strive for is but wind!
Now you fear death—
What has become of your bold strength?
I will go before you,
And you can call out, ‘Go on closer, do not be afraid!’
Should I fall, I will have established my fame.
They will say, ‘It was Gilgamesh who locked in battle with Humbaba the Terrible!’
You were born and raised in the wilderness,
A lion leaped upon you, so you have experienced it all!”
“I will undertake it and I will cut down the Cedar.
It is I who will establish fame for eternity!
Come, my friend, let us go to the forge,
And have them cast the weapons in our presence!”
Holding each other by the hand, they went to the forge.
The craftsmen sat and discussed among themselves.
“We should fashion the axe…
The hatchet should be one talent in weight…
Their swords should be one talent…
Their armor one talent, their armor…”
Gilgamesh said to the men of Uruk:
“Listen to me, men…
You, men of Uruk, who know…
I want to make myself more mighty, and will go on a distant journey!
I will face battles such as I have never known,
I will set out on a road I have never traveled!
Give me your blessings!
I will enter the city gate of Uruk…
I will devote myself to the New Year’s Festival.
I will perform the New Year’s ceremonies…
The New Year’s Festival will take place, celebrations…
They will keep shouting ‘Hurrah!’ in…”
Enkidu spoke to the Elders:
“What the men of Uruk say…
Tell him he must not go to the Cedar Forest—
The journey is too perilous!
A man who…
The Guardian of the Cedar Forest…
The Noble Counselors of Uruk arose and
Delivered their advice to Gilgamesh:
“You are young, Gilgamesh, your heart leads you astray.
You do not know what you are talking about!
…gave birth to you.
Humbaba’s roar is a flood,
His mouth is fire, his breath is death!
He can hear any rustling in his forest 100 leagues away!
Who would dare enter his forest?
Who among even the Igigi gods can confront him?
To protect the Cedar, Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings.”
Gilgamesh listened to the counsel of his Noble Advisors.
Tablet 3 – Epic of Gilgamesh
The Elders spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Gilgamesh, do not put your trust solely in your vast strength,
but keep a sharp eye out, make each blow strike its mark!
‘The one who goes ahead saves the comrade.’
‘The one who knows the route protects his friend.’
Let Enkidu go ahead of you;
he knows the road to the Cedar Forest,
he has seen fighting, has experienced battle.
Enkidu will protect the friend, will keep the comrade safe.
Let his body urge him back to the wives.
In our Assembly, we have entrusted the King to you, Enkidu,
and on your return, you must entrust the King back to us!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, saying:
“Come on, my friend, let us go to the Egalmah Temple,
to Ninsun, the Great Queen;
Ninsun is wise and all-knowing.
She will put the advisable path at our feet.”
Taking each other by the hand,
Gilgamesh and Enkidu walked to the Egalmah, the “Great Palace,”
to Ninsun, the Great Queen.
Gilgamesh arose and went to her.
“Ninsun, though I am extraordinarily strong,
I must now travel a long way to where Humbaba is,
I must face battles such as I have not known,
and I must travel on a road that I do not know!
Until the time that I go and return,
until I reach the Cedar Forest,
until I kill Humbaba the Terrible,
and eradicate from the land something baneful that Shamash hates,
intercede with Shamash on my behalf!
If I kill Humbaba and cut his Cedar,
let there be rejoicing all over the land,
and I will erect a monument of the victory before you!”
The words of Gilgamesh, her son,
grieving, Queen Ninsun heard over and over.
Ninsun went into her living quarters.
She washed herself with the purity plant,
she donned a robe worthy of her body,
she donned jewels worthy of her chest,
she donned her sash, and put on her crown.
She sprinkled water from a bowl onto the ground.
She went up to the roof,
set incense in front of Shamash,
offered fragrant cuttings, and raised her arms to Shamash.
“Why have you imposed—nay, inflicted!—a restless heart on my son, Gilgamesh?
Now you have touched him so that he wants to travel
a long way to where Humbaba is!
He will face battles such as he has not known,
and will travel on a road that he does not know!
Until he goes away and returns,
until he reaches the Cedar Forest,
until he kills Humbaba the Terrible,
and eradicates from the land something baneful that you hate,
on the day that you see him on the road,
may Aja, the Bride, without fear remind you,
and command also the Watchmen of the Night,
the stars, and at night your father, Sin.”
She banked up the incense and uttered the ritual words.
She called to Enkidu and gave him instructions:
“Enkidu the Mighty, you are not of my womb,
but now I speak to you along with the sacred votaries of Gilgamesh,
the high priestesses, the holy women, the temple servers.”
She laid a pendant on Enkidu’s neck,
the high priestesses took their places,
and the “daughters-of-the-gods” joined them.
“I have taken Enkidu into the fold,
Enkidu to Gilgamesh I have entrusted.”
“Until he goes and returns,
until he reaches the Cedar Forest,
be it a month,
be it a year…”
… the gate of cedar…
Enkidu in the Temple of Shamash,
and Gilgamesh in the Egalmah.
He made an offering of cuttings,
the sons of the king joined him.
“Enkidu will protect the friend, will keep the comrade safe,
Let his body urge him back to the wives.
In our Assembly, we have entrusted the King to you,
and on your return, you must entrust the King back to us!”
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“My Friend, turn back!
The road is fraught with danger…”
Tablet 4 – Epic of Gilgamesh
At twenty leagues they paused to eat,
At thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
Walking fifty leagues in a single day,
A journey of a month and a half in a mere day.
On the third day, they neared the Lebanon.
They dug a well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh climbed a mountain peak,
Made a libation of flour, and spoke:
“Mountain, bring me a dream, a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu prepared a sleeping place for him for the night;
A violent wind passed through, so he attached a covering.
He made him lie down, encircling him for protection.
They lay like grain from the mountain…
While Gilgamesh rested his chin on his knees,
Sleep that pours over mankind overtook him.
In the middle of the night, his sleep ended,
He got up and said to his friend:
“My friend, did you call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you touch me? Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my friend, I have had a dream—
And the dream I had was deeply disturbing.
In the mountain gorges…
The mountain fell down on us…
Wet… like flies…
He who was born in the wilderness…”
Enkidu interpreted the dream for his friend:
“My friend, your dream is favorable.
The dream is extremely important.
My friend, the mountain which you saw in the dream is Humbaba.
It means we will capture Humbaba, kill him,
And throw his corpse into the wasteland.
In the morning, there will be a favorable message from Shamash.”
At twenty leagues they paused to eat,
At thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
Walking fifty leagues in a single day,
A journey of a month and a half in a mere day.
They dug a well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh climbed a mountain peak,
Made a libation of flour, and spoke:
“Mountain, bring me a dream, a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu prepared a sleeping place for him for the night;
A violent wind passed through, so he attached a covering.
He made him lie down, encircling him for protection.
They lay like grain from the mountain…
While Gilgamesh rested his chin on his knees,
Sleep that pours over mankind overtook him.
In the middle of the night, his sleep ended,
He got up and said to his friend:
“My friend, did you call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you touch me? Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my friend, I have had another dream—
This one even more striking and disturbing!
I was grappling with a wild bull of the wilderness,
With its bellow, it split the ground, a cloud of dust to the sky.
I sank to my knees before it.
It encircled my arm.
My tongue hung out,
My temples throbbed…
He gave me water to drink from his waterskin.”
Enkidu replied, “My friend, the god to whom we go
Is not the wild bull you saw; he is different.
The wild bull that you saw is Shamash, the protector,
In difficulties, he holds our hand.
The one who gave you water is your personal god, Lugalbanda,
Who brings honor to you.
We should join together and achieve something great,
A deed never before accomplished in the land.”
At twenty leagues they paused to eat,
At thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
Walking fifty leagues in a single day,
A journey of a month and a half in a mere day.
They dug a well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh climbed a mountain peak,
Made a libation of flour, and spoke:
“Mountain, bring me a dream, a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu prepared a sleeping place for him for the night;
A violent wind passed through, so he attached a covering.
He made him lie down, encircling him for protection.
They lay like grain from the mountain…
While Gilgamesh rested his chin on his knees,
Sleep that pours over mankind overtook him.
In the middle of the night, his sleep ended,
He got up and said to his friend:
“My friend, did you call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you touch me? Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my friend, I have had a third dream,
And the dream I had was deeply disturbing.
The heavens roared and the earth rumbled;
Then it became deathly still, and darkness loomed.
A bolt of lightning cracked and a fire broke out,
Where it thickened, death rained.
Then the white-hot flame dimmed, and the fire went out,
And everything that had been falling around turned to ash.
Let us go down into the plain so we can discuss this.”
Enkidu heard the dream and said to Gilgamesh,
“My friend, the dream is favorable.
The heavens roared and the earth rumbled;
It signifies our battle with Humbaba.
We will defeat him, and our victory will be proclaimed.
In the morning, there will be a favorable message from Shamash.”
At twenty leagues they paused to eat,
At thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
Walking fifty leagues in a single day,
A journey of a month and a half in a mere day.
They dug a well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh climbed a mountain peak,
Made a libation of flour, and spoke:
“Mountain, bring me a dream, a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu prepared a sleeping place for him for the night;
A violent wind passed through, so he attached a covering.
He made him lie down, encircling him for protection.
They lay like grain from the mountain…
While Gilgamesh rested his chin on his knees,
Sleep that pours over mankind overtook him.
In the middle of the night, his sleep ended,
He got up and said to his friend:
“My friend, did you call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you touch me? Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my friend, I have had a fourth dream,
And the dream I had was deeply disturbing.
He was… cubits tall…
Enkidu, listen to my dream.”
Enkidu interpreted the dream, “The dream that you had is favorable, it is extremely important.
My friend, this dream signifies our victory over Humbaba.
Before dawn, we will achieve victory over him,
Humbaba, against whom we rage,
We will defeat him and triumph over him.
In the morning, there will be a favorable message from Shamash.”
At twenty leagues they paused to eat,
At thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
Walking fifty leagues in a single day,
A journey of a month and a half in a mere day.
They dug a well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh climbed a mountain peak,
Made a libation of flour, and spoke:
“Mountain, bring me a dream, a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu prepared a sleeping place for him for the night;
A violent wind passed through, so he attached a covering.
He made him lie down, encircling him for protection.
They lay like grain from the mountain…
While Gilgamesh rested his chin on his knees,
Sleep that pours over mankind overtook him.
In the middle of the night, his sleep ended,
He got up and said to his friend:
“My friend, did you call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you touch me? Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my friend, I have had a fifth dream,
And the dream I had was deeply disturbing.
He was… cubits tall…
Enkidu listened to his dream and said,
“The dream that you had is favorable, it is extremely important.
My friend, this dream signifies our victory over Humbaba.
Before dawn, we will achieve victory over him.
We will defeat him and triumph over him.
In the morning, there will be a favorable message from Shamash.”
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“As soon as we have gone down into the Cedar Forest,
Let us split open the tree and strip off its branches.”
Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, saying:
“Why, my friend, do we feel so wretched?
We have crossed all the mountains together,
Before us lies the Cedar Forest to conquer.
My friend, you who are experienced in battle,
Do not fear death.
Let your voice bellow like the kettledrum, let the stiffness in your arms depart,
Let the paralysis in your legs go away.
Take my hand, my friend, we will go on together.
Your heart should burn to do battle—
Pay no heed to death, do not lose heart!
The one who watches from the side is careful,
But the one who walks in front protects himself and saves his comrade,
And through their fighting, they establish fame.”
As the two of them reached the evergreen forest,
They cut off their talk and stood still.
Tablet 5 – Epic of Gilgamesh
At the edge of the vast forest, they stood,
Gazing at the towering Cedar Tree,
Gazing at the entrance to the ancient forest.
Where Humbaba’s footsteps left their mark,
The trail was clear, the path excellent.
They beheld the Cedar Mountain, the Dwelling of the Gods,
The throne dais of the mighty Imini.
The mountain’s face adorned with lush foliage,
Its shade a haven, immensely pleasant.
Thornbushes intertwined, the woods a dense thicket,
Encircled by a ravine stretching leagues long.
As they ventured further, their weapons gleamed,
Swords drawn, axes at the ready.
Humbaba, the fearsome guardian, spoke to them,
“Who dares to tread upon my domain? Enlil has decreed my protection.”
Enkidu, undeterred, responded,
“Humbaba, strength lies not in solitude.
Together, we are stronger, a force unmatched.
A slippery path is not feared by two who aid each other,
Twice, thrice the strength, a three-ply rope cannot be cut.
Even the mightiest lion can be overpowered by two cubs.”
Humbaba sneered at their resolve,
“Gilgamesh, why have you come?
You, son of a fish, Enkidu, who knows not his father,
Shall advise the turtles who suck not their mother’s milk?
I saw you as a youth but spared you; now you stand as my enemy.
I will feed your flesh to the vultures and eagles!”
Gilgamesh, shaken by the guardian’s wrath, turned to Enkidu,
“My friend, Humbaba’s face is ever-changing!”
Enkidu, with stern resolve, replied,
“Why falter now, my friend? Be strong and steadfast.
Strike with the force of a blacksmith at his forge.
Do not retreat, face our foe with courage.”
The earth trembled beneath their feet,
As they clashed with the mighty guardian.
Mt. Hermon and Lebanon quaked,
The sky darkened, death rained like fog.
Shamash unleashed tempests upon Humbaba—
Southwind, Northwind, Eastwind, Westwind,
Blizzards and sandstorms, thirteen winds in total.
Humbaba, overwhelmed, could not escape.
In desperation, Humbaba pleaded,
“Spare me, Gilgamesh! I shall serve you,
Cut down as many trees as you command,
Guard your lands with utmost loyalty.”
But Enkidu urged his friend,
“Do not be swayed by his deceit,
Grind him to dust, let his terror end forever.
Before Enlil learns of our deed and the gods grow wrathful,
We must act and proclaim our victory.”
Ignoring Humbaba’s final pleas,
Gilgamesh struck, ending the guardian’s life.
With Humbaba’s death, abundance fell upon the land.
They cut through the towering Cedars,
Fashioning a door seventy-two cubits high,
Twenty-four cubits wide, a cubit thick,
To be carried to Nippur, where the Euphrates would guide it,
And the city would rejoice in their triumph.
With their victory secured, they tied a raft,
Enkidu steered, guiding their course,
While Gilgamesh held high the head of Humbaba,
A testament to their epic conquest.
Tablet 6 – Epic of Gilgamesh
After the battle, Gilgamesh washed out his marred hair and cleaned his equipment,
Shaking out his locks over his back,
He threw off his dirty clothes and donned clean ones.
Wrapping himself in regal garments and fastening the sash,
He placed his crown upon his head.
At that moment, the princess Ishtar raised her eyes to the beauty of Gilgamesh.
“Come along, Gilgamesh, be my husband,
Grant me your lusciousness.
Be my husband, and I will be your wife.
I will harness for you a chariot of lapis lazuli and gold,
With wheels of gold and horns of electrum.
It will be drawn by storming mountain mules!
Come into our house, with the fragrance of cedar.
When you enter, the doorposts and throne dais will kiss your feet.
Bowed down beneath you will be kings, lords, and princes.
The Lullubu people will bring you the produce of the mountains and countryside as tribute.
Your she-goats will bear triplets, your ewes twins,
Your donkey under burden will overtake the mule,
Your steed at the chariot will be bristling to gallop,
Your ax at the yoke will have no match.”
But Gilgamesh addressed Princess Ishtar, saying:
“What would I gain by marrying you?
Do you need oil or garments for your body? Do you lack food or drink?
I would gladly feed you food fit for a god,
I would gladly give you wine fit for a king.
Yet, you would be like an oven that melts ice,
A half-door that keeps out neither breeze nor blast,
A palace that crushes down valiant warriors,
An elephant that devours its own covering,
Pitch that blackens the hands of its bearer,
A waterskin that soaks its bearer through,
Limestone that buckles the stone wall,
A battering ram that attracts the enemy,
A shoe that bites its owner’s feet!
Where are your bridegrooms that you keep forever?
Where is your ‘Little Shepherd’ bird that went up over you?
Now, let me recount the list of your lovers.
Tammuz, the lover of your earliest youth,
For him you have ordained lamentations year upon year!
You loved the colorful ‘Little Shepherd’ bird,
And then struck him, breaking his wing, so now he stands in the forest crying ‘My Wing’!
You loved the supremely mighty lion,
Yet you dug for him seven and again seven pits.
You loved the stallion, famed in battle,
Yet you ordained for him the whip, the goad, and the lash,
Ordained for him to gallop for seven and seven hours,
Ordained for him to drink from muddied waters,
You ordained for his mother Silili to wail continually.
You loved the Shepherd, the Master Herder,
Who continually presented you with bread baked in embers,
And who daily slaughtered a kid for you.
Yet you struck him, and turned him into a wolf,
So his own shepherds now chase him,
And his own dogs snap at his shins.
You loved Ishullanu, your father’s date gardener,
Who continually brought you baskets of dates,
And brightened your table daily.
You raised your eyes to him, and went to him:
‘Oh my Ishullanu, let us taste your strength,
Stretch out your hand to me, and touch our vulva.’
Ishullanu said to you:
‘Me! What is it you want from me!
Has my mother not baked, and have I not eaten
That I should now eat food under contempt and curses
And that alfalfa grass should be my only cover against the cold?’
As you listened to these words,
You struck him, turning him into a dwarf,
And made him live in the middle of his garden of labors,
Where the moles do not go up, nor the bucket of dates come down.
And now me! It is me you love, and you will ordain for me as for them!”
When Ishtar heard this, she went up to the heavens in fury,
Going to Anu, her father, and crying,
Going to Antum, her mother, and weeping:
“Father, Gilgamesh has insulted me over and over,
He has recounted despicable deeds about me,
Despicable deeds and curses!”
Anu addressed Princess Ishtar, saying:
“What is the matter? Was it not you who provoked King Gilgamesh?
So Gilgamesh recounted despicable deeds about you, despicable deeds and curses!”
Ishtar spoke to her father, Anu, saying:
“Father, give me the Bull of Heaven,
So he can kill Gilgamesh in his dwelling.
If you do not give me the Bull of Heaven,
I will knock down the Gates of the Netherworld,
I will smash the doorposts, and leave the doors flat down,
I will let the dead go up to eat the living,
And the dead will outnumber the living!”
Anu addressed Princess Ishtar, saying:
“If you demand the Bull of Heaven from me,
There will be seven years of empty husks for the land of Uruk.
Have you collected grain for the people?
Have you made grasses grow for the animals?”
Ishtar addressed Anu, her father, saying:
“I have heaped grain in the granaries for the people,
I made grasses grow for the animals,
So they might eat in the seven years of empty husks.
I have collected grain for the people,
I have made grasses grow for the animals.”
When Anu heard her words, he placed the noserope of the Bull of Heaven in her hand.
Ishtar led the Bull of Heaven down to the earth.
When it reached Uruk, it descended to the Euphrates.
At the snort of the Bull of Heaven, a huge pit opened up,
And one hundred young men of Uruk fell in.
At its second snort, another pit opened up,
And two hundred young men of Uruk fell in.
At its third snort, another pit opened up,
And Enkidu fell in up to his waist.
Enkidu jumped out and seized the Bull of Heaven by its horns.
The Bull spewed its spittle before him,
And with its thick tail flung its dung behind it.
Enkidu addressed Gilgamesh, saying:
“My friend, we can be bold,
How shall we respond?
My friend, I saw its strength and our resolve.
I will rip out its heart,
I and you, we must share the glory.
I shall grasp the Bull,
And fill my hands with its power.
Strike between the nape and horns, thrust your sword.”
Enkidu stalked and hunted the Bull of Heaven,
Grasping it by the thick of its tail,
Holding on with both hands,
While Gilgamesh, like an expert butcher,
Boldly and surely approached the Bull of Heaven.
Between the nape and horns, he thrust his sword.
After they had killed the Bull of Heaven,
They ripped out its heart and presented it to Shamash.
They withdrew, bowing humbly to Shamash.
Then the brothers sat down together.
Ishtar, atop the Wall of Uruk-Haven,
Cast herself into mourning, hurling her woeful curse:
“Woe unto Gilgamesh who slandered me and killed the Bull of Heaven!”
When Enkidu heard this pronouncement,
He wrenched off the Bull’s hindquarter and flung it in her face:
“If I could get at you, I would do the same to you!
I would drape its innards over your arms!”
Ishtar assembled the cultic women, joy-girls, and harlots,
Setting them to mourning over the hindquarter of the Bull.
Gilgamesh summoned all the artisans and craftsmen.
The artisans admired the thickness of its horns,
Each fashioned from thirty minas of lapis lazuli,
Two fingers thick was their casing.
Six vats of oil, the contents of the two,
He gave as ointment to his personal god, Lugalbanda.
He brought the horns and hung them in the bedroom of the family head.
They washed their hands in the Euphrates,
And proceeded hand in hand,
Striding through the streets of Uruk.
The men of Uruk gathered, staring in awe.
Gilgamesh said to the palace retainers:
“Who is the bravest of the men?
Who is the boldest of the males?
Gilgamesh is the bravest of the men,
The boldest of the males!
She at whom we flung the hindquarter of the Bull of Heaven in anger,
Ishtar has no one that pleases her in the street.”
Gilgamesh held a celebration in his palace.
The young men dozed off, sleeping on the couches of the night.
Enkidu was sleeping, and had a dream.
He woke up and revealed his dream to his friend.
Tablet 7 – Epic of Gilgamesh
“My friend, why are the Great Gods gathered in council?
In my dream, I saw Anu, Enlil, and Shamash convening.
Anu spoke to Enlil:
‘Because they have slain the Bull of Heaven and vanquished Humbaba,
One of them, the one who felled the Cedar of the Mountain, must die!’
Enlil decreed: ‘Let Enkidu die, but Gilgamesh must not perish!’
But Shamash, the Sun God, challenged valiant Enlil:
‘Was it not by my command they slew the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba?
Should innocent Enkidu face death now?’
Enlil, in his fury, rebuked Shamash:
‘It is you who are at fault, for you journeyed daily with them as their ally!'”
Enkidu lay stricken before Gilgamesh,
Tears streaming like rivers. Gilgamesh, grief-stricken, cried out:
“O brother, dear brother, why do they absolve me and condemn you?”
Enkidu, his voice filled with sorrow, replied:
“So now must I become a specter,
To dwell among the shadows of the dead, never to see my dear brother again!
In the Cedar Forest where the Great Gods dwell, I did not destroy the Cedar.”
Enkidu, gathering his strength, turned to Gilgamesh and said:
“Come, friend…
The door…”
With a pained expression, Enkidu raised his eyes and spoke to the door as if it were a living being:
“You senseless wooden door,
Devoid of understanding!
I traveled ten leagues to find the perfect wood for you,
Until I discovered the towering Cedar.
Your wood was unparalleled in my eyes.
Seventy-two cubits tall, fourteen cubits wide, one cubit thick,
Your doorpost, pivot stone, and post cap, all meticulously crafted.
I fashioned you and brought you to Nippur,
But had I known this would be your gratitude,
I would have taken an axe and split you into pieces,
Turning your planks into kindling.”
Gilgamesh listened to his friend’s lament, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Why, my friend, do you utter such desolate words?
The dream is significant yet terrifying,
Your lips buzz with despair like trapped flies.
Though fear grips us, the dream holds great importance.
To the living, the gods bestow sorrow,
Dreams leave us with pain and foreboding.
I will pray, beseech the Great Gods,
Appeal to your divine protector,
For Enlil, the Father of the Gods,
For Enlil the Counselor, to show mercy.”
At the first light of dawn, Enkidu raised his head and cried out to Shamash,
With the sun’s first gleam, his tears flowed anew.
“I appeal to you, O Shamash, for the sake of my precious life,
Because of that wretched trapper
Who thwarted my destiny.
May he find no sustenance,
May his profits diminish and his wages dwindle,
May he wander aimlessly, without purpose.”
Having cursed the trapper, Enkidu turned his ire to the harlot:
“Come now, harlot, hear your fate decreed by my lips,
A fate that will shadow you for eternity!
I curse you with a Great Curse,
May misfortune overwhelm you suddenly!
May you never establish a household,
Nor know the love of a child!
May you wander among strangers,
May the dregs of beer stain your lap,
May drunken men defile your festal robes with their vomit,
May you find no rest, only scorn and suffering,
May thorns and briars cut your feet,
May both the drunk and the sober slap your face,
May owls nest in the cracks of your walls,
May no celebrations ever grace your home.”
When Shamash heard Enkidu’s bitter words,
He called out from the heavens:
“Enkidu, why do you curse Shamhat,
She who fed you bread fit for a god,
She who gave you wine fit for a king,
She who clothed you in fine garments,
She who brought you to the great Gilgamesh?
Now, Gilgamesh is your brother-friend!
He will have you lie on a grand couch,
In a place of honor.
He will seat you beside him, so that princes kiss your feet.
He will lead Uruk in mourning for you,
Fill the joyous with woe over you.
After your death, he will don a filthy mat of hair,
Wear the skin of a lion, and roam the wilderness.”
Hearing Shamash’s words, Enkidu’s heart calmed, his anger abated.
He spoke to Shamhat with newfound gentleness:
“Come, Shamhat, let my mouth bless you instead.
May governors and nobles cherish you,
May men from afar desire you,
May soldiers give you treasures,
May you receive gifts of gold and precious stones,
May you be brought into the house of the gods,
May you be the cause of longing,
May your beauty be praised and sought after.”
As Enkidu lay dying, his thoughts turned to his friend:
“Listen, my friend, to the dream I had last night.
The heavens roared, the earth replied,
I stood between them, trembling.
A man of dark visage appeared,
With the face of Anzu,
His hands were lion’s paws,
His nails were eagle’s talons.
He seized me by the hair, overpowered me.
I struck him, but he skipped away,
Then he struck me down like a raft,
Trampled me like a wild bull.
He encased my body in a clamp.
‘Help me, my friend,’ I cried,
But you did not come to my aid.”
“Then he transformed me into a dove,
Feathers sprouted from my arms.
He led me to the House of Darkness,
The dwelling of Irkalla,
Where those who enter do not return,
Along the road of no return,
Where the residents are deprived of light,
Where dirt is their drink, clay their food,
Where they are clothed like birds,
And dwell in perpetual darkness.
Dust covers the door and bolt.
Inside, royal crowns lie in heaps,
The bearers of crowns, once rulers of the land,
Now serve Anu and Enlil cooked meats,
Serve confections, and pour cool water.
In the House of Dust, I saw the high priest and acolyte,
The purification priest and ecstatic,
The anointed priests of the Great Gods.
I saw Etana, Sumukan, and Ereshkigal,
The Queen of the Netherworld.
Beletseri, the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her,
Reading from a tablet.
When she saw me, she raised her head,
‘Who has brought this man here?'”
“My friend, remember me and the trials we faced together.
You have had a dream that bodes ill.
Enkidu lies down, a first day, a second day,
A third, a fourth, a fifth, and sixth day,
A seventh, an eighth, a ninth, and tenth day.
Enkidu’s illness worsens.
Enkidu called out to Gilgamesh:
‘My friend, you have abandoned me.
In Uruk, you encouraged me in battle.
Now, in my suffering, you have left me!
I and you, we faced all trials together.'”
At his cries, Gilgamesh was roused,
Mourning like a dove.
“May you not be held in death,
O preeminent among men.”
To his friend, he said,
“I will mourn you,
I will be at your side.”
“My friend, why are the Great Gods gathered in council?
In my dream, I saw Anu, Enlil, and Shamash convening.
Anu spoke to Enlil:
‘Because they have slain the Bull of Heaven and vanquished Humbaba,
One of them, the one who felled the Cedar of the Mountain, must die!’
Enlil decreed: ‘Let Enkidu die, but Gilgamesh must not perish!’
But Shamash, the Sun God, challenged valiant Enlil:
‘Was it not by my command they slew the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba?
Should innocent Enkidu face death now?’
Enlil, in his fury, rebuked Shamash:
‘It is you who are at fault, for you journeyed daily with them as their ally!'”
Enkidu lay stricken before Gilgamesh,
Tears streaming like rivers. Gilgamesh, grief-stricken, cried out:
“O brother, dear brother, why do they absolve me and condemn you?”
Enkidu, his voice filled with sorrow, replied:
“So now must I become a specter,
To dwell among the shadows of the dead, never to see my dear brother again!
In the Cedar Forest where the Great Gods dwell, I did not destroy the Cedar.”
Enkidu, gathering his strength, turned to Gilgamesh and said:
“Come, friend…
The door…”
With a pained expression, Enkidu raised his eyes and spoke to the door as if it were a living being:
“You senseless wooden door,
Devoid of understanding!
I traveled ten leagues to find the perfect wood for you,
Until I discovered the towering Cedar.
Your wood was unparalleled in my eyes.
Seventy-two cubits tall, fourteen cubits wide, one cubit thick,
Your doorpost, pivot stone, and post cap, all meticulously crafted.
I fashioned you and brought you to Nippur,
But had I known this would be your gratitude,
I would have taken an axe and split you into pieces,
Turning your planks into kindling.”
Gilgamesh listened to his friend’s lament, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Why, my friend, do you utter such desolate words?
The dream is significant yet terrifying,
Your lips buzz with despair like trapped flies.
Though fear grips us, the dream holds great importance.
To the living, the gods bestow sorrow,
Dreams leave us with pain and foreboding.
I will pray, beseech the Great Gods,
Appeal to your divine protector,
For Enlil, the Father of the Gods,
For Enlil the Counselor, to show mercy.”
At the first light of dawn, Enkidu raised his head and cried out to Shamash,
With the sun’s first gleam, his tears flowed anew.
“I appeal to you, O Shamash, for the sake of my precious life,
Because of that wretched trapper
Who thwarted my destiny.
May he find no sustenance,
May his profits diminish and his wages dwindle,
May he wander aimlessly, without purpose.”
Having cursed the trapper, Enkidu turned his ire to the harlot:
“Come now, harlot, hear your fate decreed by my lips,
A fate that will shadow you for eternity!
I curse you with a Great Curse,
May misfortune overwhelm you suddenly!
May you never establish a household,
Nor know the love of a child!
May you wander among strangers,
May the dregs of beer stain your lap,
May drunken men defile your festal robes with their vomit,
May you find no rest, only scorn and suffering,
May thorns and briars cut your feet,
May both the drunk and the sober slap your face,
May owls nest in the cracks of your walls,
May no celebrations ever grace your home.”
When Shamash heard Enkidu’s bitter words,
He called out from the heavens:
“Enkidu, why do you curse Shamhat,
She who fed you bread fit for a god,
She who gave you wine fit for a king,
She who clothed you in fine garments,
She who brought you to the great Gilgamesh?
Now, Gilgamesh is your brother-friend!
He will have you lie on a grand couch,
In a place of honor.
He will seat you beside him, so that princes kiss your feet.
He will lead Uruk in mourning for you,
Fill the joyous with woe over you.
After your death, he will don a filthy mat of hair,
Wear the skin of a lion, and roam the wilderness.”
Hearing Shamash’s words, Enkidu’s heart calmed, his anger abated.
He spoke to Shamhat with newfound gentleness:
“Come, Shamhat, let my mouth bless you instead.
May governors and nobles cherish you,
May men from afar desire you,
May soldiers give you treasures,
May you receive gifts of gold and precious stones,
May you be brought into the house of the gods,
May you be the cause of longing,
May your beauty be praised and sought after.”
As Enkidu lay dying, his thoughts turned to his friend:
“Listen, my friend, to the dream I had last night.
The heavens roared, the earth replied,
I stood between them, trembling.
A man of dark visage appeared,
With the face of Anzu,
His hands were lion’s paws,
His nails were eagle’s talons.
He seized me by the hair, overpowered me.
I struck him, but he skipped away,
Then he struck me down like a raft,
Trampled me like a wild bull.
He encased my body in a clamp.
‘Help me, my friend,’ I cried,
But you did not come to my aid.”
“Then he transformed me into a dove,
Feathers sprouted from my arms.
He led me to the House of Darkness,
The dwelling of Irkalla,
Where those who enter do not return,
Along the road of no return,
Where the residents are deprived of light,
Where dirt is their drink, clay their food,
Where they are clothed like birds,
And dwell in perpetual darkness.
Dust covers the door and bolt.
Inside, royal crowns lie in heaps,
The bearers of crowns, once rulers of the land,
Now serve Anu and Enlil cooked meats,
Serve confections, and pour cool water.
In the House of Dust, I saw the high priest and acolyte,
The purification priest and ecstatic,
The anointed priests of the Great Gods.
I saw Etana, Sumukan, and Ereshkigal,
The Queen of the Netherworld.
Beletseri, the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her,
Reading from a tablet.
When she saw me, she raised her head,
‘Who has brought this man here?'”
“My friend, remember me and the trials we faced together.
You have had a dream that bodes ill.
Enkidu lies down, a first day, a second day,
A third, a fourth, a fifth, and sixth day,
A seventh, an eighth, a ninth, and tenth day.
Enkidu’s illness worsens.
Enkidu called out to Gilgamesh:
‘My friend, you have abandoned me.
In Uruk, you encouraged me in battle.
Now, in my suffering, you have left me!
I and you, we faced all trials together.'”
At his cries, Gilgamesh was roused,
Mourning like a dove.
“May you not be held in death,
O preeminent among men.”
To his friend, he said,
“I will mourn you,
I will be at your side.”
“Already at ten leagues I selected the wood for you,
Until I saw the towering Cedar,
Your wood was without compare in my eyes.
Seventy-two cubits was your height, fourteen cubits your width, one cubit your thickness,
Your doorpost, pivot stone, and post cap—all perfect.
I fashioned you with care and carried you to Nippur.
Had I known, O door, that this would be your gratitude,
I would have taken an axe and chopped you up,
Lashing your planks into pieces.
In its place, I erected something grand in Uruk,
And they heard of it far and wide.
Yet, O door, I crafted you and carried you to Nippur!
May a king who comes after me reject you,
May the gods remove my name and set their own in your place!”
With a swift motion, he ripped out and threw down the door.
Gilgamesh listened to Enkidu’s words, his heart heavy with sorrow.
Tears flowed as he addressed his dear friend:
“Friend, the gods have bestowed upon you a vast mind,
Though it behooves you to be sensible, you speak improper things!
Why, my friend, do you utter such words?
The dream is important yet deeply frightening,
Your lips buzz with despair like trapped flies.
Though fear grips us, the dream holds great significance.
To the living, the gods bestow sorrow,
Dreams leave us with pain and foreboding.
I will pray, beseech the Great Gods,
Appeal to your divine protector.
Enlil, the Father of the Gods,
Enlil the Counselor, will hear our plea.
I will fashion a statue of you in gold beyond measure,
Do not worry, gold will honor you.
What Enlil decrees is unchangeable,
What he has laid down cannot be undone.
My friend, fate comes to all mankind.”
As dawn began to break, Enkidu raised his head and cried out to Shamash.
At the first gleam of the sun, his tears poured forth like a river.
“I appeal to you, O Shamash, on behalf of my precious life.
Because of that notorious trapper,
Who thwarted my destiny,
May he never find enough to sustain himself.
May his profit diminish and his wages dwindle,
May he wander aimlessly like vapor!”
After cursing the trapper to his satisfaction,
His heart turned to curse the harlot.
“Come now, Shamhat, I decree your fate,
A fate that will shadow you for eternity!
I curse you with a Great Curse,
May misfortune overwhelm you suddenly, like a storm!
May you never build a household,
Nor know the love of a child.
May you wander among strangers,
May the dregs of beer stain your lap,
May drunks soil your festal robes with their vomit.
May you never acquire treasures,
May shining silver and man’s delight never grace your home,
May a gateway be your resting place,
May a crossroads be your home,
May a wasteland be your bed,
May the shadow of the city wall be your refuge,
May thorns and briars cut your feet,
May both the drunk and the sober slap your cheeks,
May owls nest in the cracks of your walls!
May no celebrations ever come to you.
While I, blameless, have faced your betrayal.”
When Shamash heard Enkidu’s bitter words,
He called out from the heavens:
“Enkidu, why curse Shamhat?
She who fed you bread fit for a god,
Gave you wine fit for a king,
Clothed you in grand garments,
And brought you to the great Gilgamesh.
Now Gilgamesh is your brother-friend!
He will have you lie on a grand couch,
In a place of honor.
He will seat you beside him, so that princes kiss your feet.
He will lead Uruk in mourning for you,
Fill the joyous with woe.
After your death, he will don a filthy mat of hair,
Wear the skin of a lion, and roam the wilderness.”
Hearing Shamash’s words, Enkidu’s heart grew calm, his anger abated.
He spoke to Shamhat with newfound gentleness:
“Come, Shamhat, let my mouth bless you instead.
May governors and nobles cherish you,
May men from afar desire you,
May soldiers give you treasures,
May you receive gifts of gold and precious stones,
May you be brought into the house of the gods,
May the wife, the mother of seven children,
Be abandoned because of you!”
Enkidu lay there, his innards churning, so alone.
He spoke his heart, saying to his friend:
“Listen, my friend, to the dream I had last night.
The heavens roared, the earth replied,
I stood between them, trembling.
A man of dark visage appeared,
With the face of Anzu,
His hands were lion’s paws,
His nails were eagle’s talons.
He seized me by the hair and overpowered me.
I struck him, but he skipped away,
Then he struck me down like a raft,
Trampled me like a wild bull.
He encased my body in a clamp.
‘Help me, my friend,’ I cried,
But you did not come to my aid.”
“Then he transformed me into a dove,
Feathers sprouted from my arms.
He led me to the House of Darkness,
The dwelling of Irkalla,
Where those who enter do not return,
Along the road of no return,
Where the residents are deprived of light,
Where dirt is their drink, clay their food,
Where they are clothed like birds,
And dwell in perpetual darkness.
Dust covers the door and bolt.
Inside, royal crowns lie in heaps,
The bearers of crowns, once rulers of the land,
Now serve Anu and Enlil cooked meats,
Serve confections, and pour cool water.
In the House of Dust, I saw the high priest and acolyte,
The purification priest and ecstatic,
The anointed priests of the Great Gods.
I saw Etana, Sumukan, and Ereshkigal,
The Queen of the Netherworld.
Beletseri, the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her,
Reading from a tablet.
When she saw me, she raised her head,
‘Who has brought this man here?'”
“I, who went through every difficulty,
Remember me and forget not all that I endured.
My friend has had a dream that bodes ill.
The day he had the dream came to an end.
Enkidu lies down a first day, a second day,
A third, a fourth, a fifth, and sixth day,
A seventh, an eighth, a ninth, and tenth day.
Enkidu’s illness worsens.
Enkidu called out to Gilgamesh:
‘My friend hates me,
Though he talked with me in Uruk,
As I was afraid of the battle he encouraged me.
Now, in my suffering, he has left me!
I and you, we faced all trials together.'”
At his cries, Gilgamesh was roused,
Mourning like a dove.
“May you not be held in death,
O preeminent among men.”
To his friend, he said,
“I will mourn you,
I will be at your side.”
Tablet 8 – Epic of Gilgamesh
Just as day began to dawn
Gilgamesh addressed his friend, saying:
“Enkidu, your mother, the gazelle,
and your father, the wild donkey, engendered you,
four wild asses raised you on their milk,
and the herds taught you all the grazing lands.
May the Roads of Enkidu to the Cedar Forest
mourn you
and not fall silent night or day.
May the Elders of the broad city of Uruk-Haven
mourn you.
May the peoples who gave their blessing after us
mourn you.
May the men of the mountains and hills
mourn you.
May the…
May the pasture lands shriek in mourning as if it were your mother.
May the …, the cypress, and the cedar which we destroyed (?) in our anger
mourn you.
May the bear, hyena, panther, tiger, water buffalo(?), jackal,
lion, wild bull, stag, ibex, all the creatures of the plains
mourn you.
May the holy River Ulaja, along whose banks we grandly used to stroll,
mourn you.
May the pure Euphrates, to which we would libate water from our waterskins,
mourn you.
May the men of Uruk-Haven, whom we saw in our battle when
we killed the Bull of Heaven,
mourn you.
May the farmer …,who extols your name in his sweet work song,
mourn you.
May the … of the broad city, who … exalted your name,
mourn you.
May the herder …, who prepared butter and light beer for your mouth,
mourn you.
May …, who put ointments on your back,
mourn you.
May …, who prepared fine beer for your mouth,
mourn you.
May the harlot, … you rubbed yourself with oil and felt good,
mourn you.
May …,… of the wife placed(!) a ring on you …,
mourn you
May the brothers go into mourning over you like sisters;
… the lamentation priests, may their hair be shorn off on
your behalf.
Enkidu, your mother and your father are in the wastelands,
I mourn you …”
“Hear me, O Elders of Uruk, hear me, O men!
I mourn for Enkidu, my friend,
I shriek in anguish like a mourner.
You, axe at my side, so trusty at my hand–
you, sword at my waist, shield in front of me,
you, my festal garment, a sash over my loins–
an evil demon!) appeared and took him away from me!
My friend, the swift mule, fleet wild ass of the mountain,
panther of the wilderness,
Enkidu, my friend, the swift mule, fleet wild ass of the mountain,
panther of the wilderness,
after we joined together and went up into the mountain,
fought the Bull of Heaven and killed it,
and overwhelmed Humbaba, who lived in the Cedar Forest,
now what is this sleep which has seized you?
You have turned dark and do not hear me!”
But his (Enkidu’s) eyes do not move,
he touched his heart, but it beat no longer.
He covered his friend’s face like a bride,
swooping down over him like an eagle,
and like a lioness deprived of her cubs
he keeps pacing to and fro.
He shears off his curls and heaps them onto the ground,
ripping off his finery and casting it away as an abomination.
Just as day began to dawn, Gilgamesh …
and issued a call to the land:
“You, blacksmith! You, lapidary! You, coppersmith!
You, goldsmith! You, jeweler!
Create ‘My Friend,’ fashion a statue of him.
… he fashioned a statue of his friend.
His features …
…,your chest will be of lapis lazuli, your skin will be of gold.”
[10 lines are missing here.’]
“I had you recline on the great couch,
indeed, on the couch of honor I let you recline,
1 had you sit in the position of ease, the seat at the left, so the
princes of the world kissed your feet.
I had the people of Uruk mourn and moan for you,
I filled happy people with woe over you,
and after you (died) I let a filthy mat of hair grow over my body,
and donned the skin of a lion and roamed the wilderness.”
Just as day began to dawn,
he undid his straps …
I… carnelian,
[85 lines are missing here.’]
…to my friend.
… your dagger
to Bibbi …”
[40 lines are missing here.]
” … the judge of the Anunnaki.”
When Gilgamesh heard this
the zikru of the river(!) he created’…
Just as day began to dawn Gilgamesh opened(!) …
and brought out a big table of sissoo wood.
A carnelian bowl he filled with honey,
a lapis lazuli bowl he filled with butter.
He provided … and displayed it before Shamash.
[All of the last column, some 40-50 lines, is missing.]
Tablet 9 – Epic of Gilgamesh
Over his friend, Enkidu, Gilgamesh cried bitterly, roaming the wilderness.
“I am going to die!–am I not like Enkidu?!
Deep sadness penetrates my core,
I fear death, and now roam the wilderness–
I will set out to the region of Utanapishtim, son of Ubartutu,
and will go with utmost dispatch!
When I arrived at mountain passes at nightfall,’
I saw lions, and I was terrified!
I raised my head in prayer to Sin,
to … the Great Lady of the gods my supplications poured
forth, ‘Save me from… !”‘
He was sleeping in the night, but awoke with a start with a dream:
A warrior(!) enjoyed his life–
he raised his axe in his hand,
drew the dagger from his sheath,
and fell into their midst like an arrow.
He struck … and he scattered them,
The name of the former …
The name of the second …
(26 lines are missing here, telling of the beginning of his quest.]
The Scorpion-Beings
The mountain is called Mashu.
Then he reached Mount Mashu,
which daily guards the rising and setting of the Sun,
above which only the dome of the heavens reaches,
and whose flank reaches as far as the Netherworld below,
there were Scorpion-beings watching over its gate.
Trembling terror they inspire, the sight of them is death,
their frightening aura sweeps over the mountains.
At the rising and setting they watch over the Sun.
When Gilgamesh saw them, trembling terror blanketed his face,
but he pulled himself together and drew near to them.
The scorpion-being called out to his female:
“He who comes to us, his body is the flesh of gods!”
The scorpion-being, his female, answered him:
“(Only) two-thirds of him is a god, one-third is human.”
The male scorpion-being called out,
saying to the offspring of the gods:
“Why have you traveled so distant a journey?
Why have you come here to me,
over rivers whose crossing is treacherous!
I want to learn your …
I want to learn …”
[16 lines are missing here. When the text resumes Gilgamesh is speaking.]
“I have come on account of my ancestor Utanapishtim,
who joined the Assembly of the Gods, and was given eternal life.
About Death and Life I must ask him!”
The scorpion-being spoke to Gilgamesh …, saying:
“Never has there been, Gilgamesh, a mortal man who could do that(?).
No one has crossed through the mountains,
for twelve leagues it is darkness throughout–
dense is the darkness, and light there is none.
To the rising of the sun …
To the setting of the sun …
To the setting of the sun …
They caused to go out…”
[67 lines are missing, in which Gilgamesh convinces the scorpion-being to allow him
passage.]
“Though it be in deep sadness and pain,
in cold or heat …
gasping after breath … I will go on!
Now! Open the Gate!”
The scorpion-being spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Go on, Gilgamesh, fear not!
The Mashu mountains I give to you freely (!),
the mountains, the ranges, you may traverse …
In safety may your feet carry you.
The gate of the mountain …”
To the rising of the sun …
To the setting of the sun …
To the setting of the sun …
They caused to go out…”
[67 lines are missing, in which Gilgamesh convinces the scorpion-being to allow him
passage.]
“Though it be in deep sadness and pain,
in cold or heat …
gasping after breath … I will go on!
Now! Open the Gate!”
The scorpion-being spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Go on, Gilgamesh, fear not!
The Mashu mountains I give to you freely (!),
the mountains, the ranges, you may traverse …
In safety may your feet carry you.
The gate of the mountain …”
As soon as Gilgamesh heard this
he heeded the utterances of the scorpion-being.
Along the Road of the Sun L he journeyed–
one league he traveled …,
dense was the darkness, light there was none.
Neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Two leagues he traveled …,
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
[22 lines are missing here.]
Four leagues he traveled …,
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Five leagues he traveled …,
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Six leagues he traveled …,
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Seven leagues he traveled ..
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Eight leagues he traveled and cried out (!),
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Nine leagues he traveled … the North Wind.
It licked at his face,
dense was the darkness, light there was none,
neither what lies ahead nor behind does it allow him to see.
Ten leagues he traveled …
… is near,
… four leagues.
Eleven leagues he traveled and came out before the sun(rise).
Twelve leagues he traveled and it grew brilliant.
…it bears lapis lazuli as foliage,
bearing fruit, a delight to look upon.
(25 lines are missing here, describing the garden in detail.]
… cedar
… agate
… of the sea … lapis lazuli,
like thorns and briars … carnelian,
rubies, hematite,…
like… emeralds (!)
… of the sea,
Gilgamesh … on walking onward,
raised his eyes and saw …
Tablet 10 – Epic of Gilgamesh
The tavern-keeper Siduri who lives by the seashore,
she lives…
the pot-stand was made for her, the golden fermenting vat was made for her.
She is covered with a veil …
Gilgamesh was roving about…
wearing a skin,…
having the flesh of the gods in his body,
but sadness deep within him,
looking like one who has been traveling a long distance.
The tavern-keeper was gazing off into the distance,
puzzling to herself, she said,
wondering to herself:
“That fellow is surely a murderer(!)!
Where is he heading! …”
As soon as the tavern-keeper saw him, she bolted her door,
bolted her gate, bolted the lock.
But at her noise Gilgamesh pricked up his ears,
lifted his chin (to look about) and then laid his eyes on her.
Gilgamesh spoke to the tavern-keeper, saying:
“Tavern-keeper, what have you seen that made you bolt
your door,
bolt your gate, bolt the lock!
if you do not let me in I will break your door, and smash
the lock!
… the wilderness.”
… Gilgamesh
The tavern-keeper Siduri who lives by the seashore,
she lives…
the pot-stand was made for her, the golden fermenting vat was made
for her.
She is covered with a veil …
Gilgamesh was roving about…
wearing a skin,…
having the flesh of the gods in his body,
but sadness deep within him,
looking like one who has been traveling a long distance.
The tavern-keeper was gazing off into the distance,
puzzling to herself, she said,
wondering to herself:
“That fellow is surely a murderer(!)!
Where is he heading! …”
As soon as the tavern-keeper saw him, she bolted her door,
bolted her gate, bolted the lock.
But at her noise Gilgamesh pricked up his ears,
lifted his chin (to look about) and then laid his eyes on her.
Gilgamesh spoke to the tavern-keeper, saying:
“Tavern-keeper, what have you seen that made you bolt
your door,
bolt your gate, bolt the lock!
if you do not let me in I will break your door, and smash
the lock!
… the wilderness.”
… Gilgamesh
… gate
Gilgamesh said to the tavern-keeper:
“I am Gilgamesh, I killed the Guardian!
I destroyed Humbaba who lived in the Cedar Forest,
I slew lions in the mountain passes!
I grappled with the Bull that came down from heaven, and
killed him.”
The tavern-keeper spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“lf you are Gilgamesh, who killed the Guardian,
who destroyed Humbaba who lived in the Cedar Forest,
who slew lions in the mountain passes,
who grappled with the Bull that came down from heaven, and
killed him,
why are your cheeks emaciated, your expression desolate!
Why is your heart so wretched, your features so haggard!
Why is there such sadness deep within you!
Why do you look like one who has been traveling a long
distance
so that ice and heat have seared your face!
… you roam the wilderness!”
Gilgamesh spoke to her, to the tavern-keeper he said:
“Tavern-keeper, should not my cheeks be emaciated?
Should my heart not be wretched, my features not haggard?
Should there not be sadness deep within me!
Should I not look like one who has been traveling a long
distance,
and should ice and heat not have seared my face!
…, should I not roam the wilderness?
My friend, the wild ass who chased the wild donkey, panther of
the wilderness,
Enkidu, the wild ass who chased the wild donkey, panther of
the wilderness,
we joined together, and went up into the mountain.
We grappled with and killed the Bull of Heaven,
we destroyed Humbaba who lived in the Cedar Forest,
we slew lions in the mountain passes!
My friend, whom I love deeply, who went through every hard-
ship with me,
Enkidu, whom I love deeply, who went through every hardship
with me,
the fate of mankind has overtaken him.
Six days and seven nights I mourned over him
and would not allow him to be buried
until a maggot fell out of his nose.
I was terrified by his appearance(!),
I began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness.
The issue of my friend oppresses me,
so I have been roaming long trails through the wilderness.
The issue of Enkidu, my friend, oppresses me,
so I have been roaming long roads through the wilderness.
How can I stay silent, how can 1 be still!
My friend whom I love has turned to clay.
Am I not like him? Will I lie down, never to get up again?”‘
Gilgamesh spoke to the tavern-keeper, saying:
“So now, tavern-keeper, what is the way to Utanapishtim!
What are its markers Give them to me! Give me the markers!
If possible, I will cross the sea;
if not, I will roam through the wilderness.”
The tavern-keeper spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“There has never been, Gilgamesh, any passage whatever,
there has never been anyone since days of yore who crossed
the sea.
The (only) one who crosses the sea is valiant Shamash, except
for him who can cross!
The crossing is difficult, its ways are treacherous–
and in between are the Waters of Death that bar its approaches!
And even if, Gilgamesh, you should cross the sea,
when you reach the Waters of Death what would you do!
Gilgamesh, over there is Urshanabi, the ferryman of Utanapishtim.
‘The stone things’ L are with him, he is in the woods picking
mint( !).
Go on, let him see your face.
If possible, cross with him;
if not, you should turn back.”
When Gilgamesh heard this
he raised the axe in his hand,
drew the dagger from his belt,
and slipped stealthily away after them.
Like an arrow he fell among them (“the stone things”).
From the middle of the woods their noise could be heard.
Urshanabi, the sharp-eyed, saw…
When he heard the axe, he ran toward it.
He struck his head … Gilgamesh.’
He clapped his hands and … his chest,
while “the stone things” … the boat
… Waters of Death
… broad sea
in the Waters of Death …
… to the river
… the boat
… on the shore.
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi (?), the ferryman,
… you.”
Urshanabi spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:’
“Why are your cheeks emaciated, your expression desolate!
Why is your heart so wretched, your features so haggard?
Why is there such sadness deep within you!
Why do you look like one who has been traveling a long
distance
so that ice and heat have seared your face!
Why … you roam the wilderness!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, saying:
“Urshanabi, should not my cheeks be emaciated, my expression
desolate!
Should my heart not be wretched, my features not haggard
Should there not be sadness deep within me?
Should I not look like one who has been traveling a long
distance,
and should ice and heat not have seared my face!
… should I not roam the wilderness?
My friend who chased wild asses in the mountain, the panther
of the wilderness,
Enkidu, my friend, who chased wild asses in the mountain, the
panther of the wilderness,
we joined together, and went up into the mountain.
We grappled with and killed the Bull of Heaven,
we destroyed Humbaba who dwelled in the Cedar Forest,
we slew lions in the mountain passes!
My friend, whom I love deeply, who went through every hard-
ship with me,
Enkidu, my friend, whom I love deeply, who went through
every hardship with me,
the fate of mankind has overtaken him.
Six days and seven nights I mourned over him
and would not allow him to be buried
until a maggot fell out of his nose.
I was terrified by his appearance(!),
I began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness.
The issue of my friend oppresses me,
so I have been roaming long trails through the wilderness.
The issue of Enkidu, my friend, oppresses me,
so 1 have been roaming long roads through the wilderness.
How can I stay silent, how can I be still!
My friend whom I love has turned to clay;
Enkidu, my friend whom I love, has turned to clay!
Am I not like him! Will I lie down, never to get up again!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, saying:
“Now, Urshanabi! What is the way to Utanapishtim?
What are its markers! Give them to me! Give me the markers!
If possible, I will cross the sea;
if not, I will roam through the wilderness!”
Urshanabi spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“It is your hands, Gilgamesh, that prevent the crossing!
You have smashed the stone things,’ you have pulled out their
retaining ropes (?).
‘The stone things’ have been smashed, their retaining ropes (!)
pulled out!
Gilgamesh, take the axe in your hand, go down into the woods,
and cut down 300 punting poles each 60 cubits in length.
Strip them, attach caps(?), and bring them to the boat!”
When Gilgamesh heard this
he took up the axe in his hand, drew the dagger from his belt,
and went down into the woods,
and cut 300 punting poles each 60 cubits in length.
He stripped them and attached caps(!), and brought them to
the boat.
Gilgamesh and Urshanabi bearded the boat,
Gilgamesh launched the magillu-boat’ and they sailed away.
By the third day they had traveled a stretch of a month and a
half, and
Urshanabi arrived at the Waters of Death.
Urshanabi said to Gilgamesh:
“Hold back, Gilgamesh, take a punting pole,
but your hand must not pass over the Waters of Death … !
Take a second, Gilgamesh, a third, and a fourth pole,
take a fifth, Gilgamesh, a sixth, and a seventh pole,
take an eighth, Gilgamesh, a ninth, and a tenth pole,
take an eleventh, Gilgamesh, and a twelfth pole!”
In twice 60 rods Gilgamesh had used up the punting poles.
Then he loosened his waist-cloth(?) for…
Gilgamesh stripped off his garment
and held it up on the mast(!) with his arms.
Utanapishtim was gazing off into the distance,
puzzling to himself he said, wondering to himself:
“Why are ‘the stone things’ of the boat smashed to pieces!
And why is someone not its master sailing on it?
The one who is coming is not a man of mine, …
I keep looking but not…
I keep looking but not …
I keep looking…”
lines are missing here.]
Utanapishtim said to Gilgamesh:
“Why are your cheeks emaciated, your expression desolate!
Why is your heart so wretched, your features so haggard!
Why is there such sadness deep within you!
Why do you look like one who has been traveling a long distance
so that ice and heat have seared your face!
… you roam the wilderness!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim saying:
“Should not my cheeks be emaciated, my expression desolate!
Should my heart not be wretched, my features not haggard!
Should there not be sadness deep within me!
Should I not look like one who has been traveling a long distance,
and should ice and heat not have seared my face!
… should I not roam the wilderness)
My friend who chased wild asses in the mountain, the panther
of the wilderness,
Enkidu, my friend, who chased wild asses in the mountain, the
panther of the wilderness,
we joined together, and went up into the mountain.
We grappled with and killed the Bull of Heaven,
we destroyed Humbaba who dwelled in the Cedar Forest,
we slew lions in the mountain passes!
My friend, whom I love deeply, who went through every hard-
shin with me
Enkidu, my friend, whom I love deeply, who went through
every hardship with me,
the fate of mankind has overtaken him.
Six days and seven nights I mourned over him
and would not allow him to be buried
until a maggot fell out of his nose.
I was terrified by his appearance(!),
I began to fear death, and so roam the wilderness.
The issue of my friend oppresses me,
so I have been roaming long trails through the wilderness.
The issue of Enkidu, my friend, oppresses me,
so I have been roaming long roads through the wilderness.
How can I stay silent, how can I be still!
My friend whom I love has turned to clay;
Enkidu, my friend whom I love, has turned to clay!
Am I not like him! Will I lie down never to get up again!”
Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim, saying:
“That is why (?) I must go on, to see Utanapishtim whom they
call ‘The Faraway.'”
I went circling through all the mountains,
I traversed treacherous mountains, and crossed all the seas–
that is why (!) sweet sleep has not mellowed my face,
through sleepless striving I am strained,
my muscles are filled with pain.
I had not yet reached the tavern-keeper’s area before my
clothing gave out.
I killed bear, hyena, lion, panther, tiger, stag, red-stag, and
beasts of the wilderness;
I ate their meat and wrapped their skins around me.’
The gate of grief must be bolted shut, sealed with pitch and
bitumen !
As for me, dancing…
For me unfortunate(!) it(?) will root out…”
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Why, Gilgamesh, do you … sadness?
You who were created (!) from the flesh of gods and mankind
who made … like your father and mother?
Have you ever… Gilgamesh … to the fool …
They placed a chair in the Assembly, …
But to the fool they gave beer dregs instead of butter,
bran and cheap flour which like …
Clothed with a loincloth (!) like …
And … in place of a sash,
because he does not have …
does not have words of counsel …
Take care about it, Gilgamesh,
… their master…
… Sin…
… eclipse of the moon …
The gods are sleepless …
They are troubled, restless(!) …
Long ago it has been established…
You trouble yourself…
… your help …
If Gilgamesh … the temple of the gods
… the temple of the holy gods,
… the gods …
… mankind,
they took … for his fate.
You have toiled without cease, and what have you got!
Through toil you wear yourself out,
you fill your body with grief,
your long lifetime you are bringing near (to a premature end)!
Mankind, whose offshoot is snapped off like a reed in a
canebreak,
the fine youth and lovely girl
… death.
No one can see death,
no one can see the face of death,
no one can hear the voice of death,
yet there is savage death that snaps off mankind.
For how long do we build a household?
For how long do we seal a document!
For how long do brothers share the inheritance?
For how long is there to be jealousy in the land(!)!
For how long has the river risen and brought the overflowing
waters,
so that dragonflies drift down the river!’
The face that could gaze upon the face of the Sun
has never existed ever.
How alike are the sleeping(!) and the dead.
The image of Death cannot be depicted.
(Yes, you are a) human being, a man (?)!
After Enlil had pronounced the blessing,'”
the Anunnaki, the Great Gods, assembled.
Mammetum, she who forms destiny, determined destiny with them.
They established Death and Life,
but they did not make known ‘the days of death'”.
Tablet 11 – Epic of Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim, the Faraway:
“I have been looking at you,
but your appearance is not strange–you are like me!
You yourself are not different–you are like me!
My mind was resolved to fight with you,
(but instead?) my arm lies useless over you.
Tell me, how is it that you stand in the Assembly of the Gods,
and have found life!”
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden,
a secret of the gods I will tell you!
Shuruppak, a city that you surely know,
situated on the banks of the Euphrates,
that city was very old, and there were gods inside it.
The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood.
Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy),
Valiant Enlil was their Adviser,
Ninurta was their Chamberlain,
Ennugi was their Minister of Canals.
Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was under oath with them
so he repeated their talk to the reed house:
‘Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall!
O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu:
Tear down the house and build a boat!
Abandon wealth and seek living beings!
Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings!
Make all living beings go up into the boat.
The boat which you are to build,
its dimensions must measure equal to each other:
its length must correspond to its width.
Roof it over like the Apsu.
I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea:
‘My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered
I will heed and will do it.
But what shall I answer the city, the populace, and the
Elders!’
Ea spoke, commanding me, his servant:
‘You, well then, this is what you must say to them:
“It appears that Enlil is rejecting me
so I cannot reside in your city (?),
nor set foot on Enlil’s earth.
I will go down to the Apsu to live with my lord, Ea,
and upon you he will rain down abundance,
a profusion of fowl, myriad(!) fishes.
He will bring to you a harvest of wealth,
in the morning he will let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat!”‘
Just as dawn began to glow
the land assembled around me-
the carpenter carried his hatchet,
the reed worker carried his (flattening) stone,
… the men …
The child carried the pitch,
the weak brought whatever else was needed.
On the fifth day I laid out her exterior.
It was a field in area,
its walls were each 10 times 12 cubits in height,
the sides of its top were of equal length, 10 times It cubits each.
I laid out its (interior) structure and drew a picture of it (?).
I provided it with six decks,
thus dividing it into seven (levels).
The inside of it I divided into nine (compartments).
I drove plugs (to keep out) water in its middle part.
I saw to the punting poles and laid in what was necessary.
Three times 3,600 (units) of raw bitumen I poured into the
bitumen kiln,
three times 3,600 (units of) pitch …into it,
there were three times 3,600 porters of casks who carried (vege-
table) oil,
apart from the 3,600 (units of) oil which they consumed (!)
and two times 3,600 (units of) oil which the boatman stored
away.
I butchered oxen for the meat(!),
and day upon day I slaughtered sheep.
I gave the workmen(?) ale, beer, oil, and wine, as if it were
river water,
so they could make a party like the New Year’s Festival.
… and I set my hand to the oiling(!).
The boat was finished by sunset.
The launching was very difficult.
They had to keep carrying a runway of poles front to back,
until two-thirds of it had gone into the water(?).
Whatever I had I loaded on it:
whatever silver I had I loaded on it,
whatever gold I had I loaded on it.
All the living beings that I had I loaded on it,
I had all my kith and kin go up into the boat,
all the beasts and animals of the field and the craftsmen I
had go up.
Shamash had set a stated time:
‘In the morning I will let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat!
Go inside the boat, seal the entry!’
That stated time had arrived.
In the morning he let loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of wheat.
I watched the appearance of the weather–
the weather was frightful to behold!
I went into the boat and sealed the entry.
For the caulking of the boat, to Puzuramurri, the boatman,
I gave the palace together with its contents.
Just as dawn began to glow
there arose from the horizon a black cloud.
Adad rumbled inside of it,
before him went Shullat and Hanish,
heralds going over mountain and land.
Erragal pulled out the mooring poles,
forth went Ninurta and made the dikes overflow.
The Anunnaki lifted up the torches,
setting the land ablaze with their flare.
Stunned shock over Adad’s deeds overtook the heavens,
and turned to blackness all that had been light.
The… land shattered like a… pot.
All day long the South Wind blew …,
blowing fast, submerging the mountain in water,
overwhelming the people like an attack.
No one could see his fellow,
they could not recognize each other in the torrent.
The gods were frightened by the Flood,
and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu.
The gods were cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall.
Ishtar shrieked like a woman in childbirth,
the sweet-voiced Mistress of the Gods wailed:
‘The olden days have alas turned to clay,
because I said evil things in the Assembly of the Gods!
How could I say evil things in the Assembly of the Gods,
ordering a catastrophe to destroy my people!!
No sooner have I given birth to my dear people
than they fill the sea like so many fish!’
The gods–those of the Anunnaki–were weeping with her,
the gods humbly sat weeping, sobbing with grief(?),
their lips burning, parched with thirst.
Six days and seven nights
came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land.
When the seventh day arrived, the storm was pounding,
the flood was a war–struggling with itself like a woman
writhing (in labor).
The sea calmed, fell still, the whirlwind (and) flood stopped up.
I looked around all day long–quiet had set in
and all the human beings had turned to clay!
The terrain was as flat as a roof.
I opened a vent and fresh air (daylight!) fell upon the side of
my nose.
I fell to my knees and sat weeping,
tears streaming down the side of my nose.
I looked around for coastlines in the expanse of the sea,
and at twelve leagues there emerged a region (of land).
On Mt. Nimush the boat lodged firm,
Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.
One day and a second Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A third day, a fourth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A fifth day, a sixth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
When a seventh day arrived
I sent forth a dove and released it.
The dove went off, but came back to me;
no perch was visible so it circled back to me.
I sent forth a swallow and released it.
The swallow went off, but came back to me;
no perch was visible so it circled back to me.
I sent forth a raven and released it.
The raven went off, and saw the waters slither back.
It eats, it scratches, it bobs, but does not circle back to me.
Then I sent out everything in all directions and sacrificed
(a sheep).
I offered incense in front of the mountain-ziggurat.
Seven and seven cult vessels I put in place,
and (into the fire) underneath (or: into their bowls) I poured
reeds, cedar, and myrtle.
The gods smelled the savor,
the gods smelled the sweet savor,
and collected like flies over a (sheep) sacrifice.
Just then Beletili arrived.
She lifted up the large flies (beads) which Anu had made for
his enjoyment(!):
‘You gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli
around my neck,
may I be mindful of these days, and never forget them!
The gods may come to the incense offering,
but Enlil may not come to the incense offering,
because without considering he brought about the Flood
and consigned my people to annihilation.’
Just then Enlil arrived.
He saw the boat and became furious,
he was filled with rage at the Igigi gods:
‘Where did a living being escape?
No man was to survive the annihilation!’
Ninurta spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
‘Who else but Ea could devise such a thing?
It is Ea who knows every machination!’
La spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
‘It is yours, O Valiant One, who is the Sage of the Gods.
How, how could you bring about a Flood without consideration
Charge the violation to the violator,
charge the offense to the offender,
but be compassionate lest (mankind) be cut off,
be patient lest they be killed.
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that a lion had appeared to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that a wolf had appeared to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that famine had occurred to slay the land!
Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that (Pestilent) Erra had appeared to ravage the land!
It was not I who revealed the secret of the Great Gods,
I (only) made a dream appear to Atrahasis, and (thus) he
heard the secret of the gods.
Now then! The deliberation should be about him!’
Enlil went up inside the boat
and, grasping my hand, made me go up.
He had my wife go up and kneel by my side.
He touched our forehead and, standing between us, he
blessed us:
‘Previously Utanapishtim was a human being.
But now let Utanapishtim and his wife become like us,
the gods!
Let Utanapishtim reside far away, at the Mouth of the Rivers.’
They took us far away and settled us at the Mouth of the Rivers.”
“Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf,
that you may find the life that you are seeking!
Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights.”
soon as he sat down (with his head) between his legs
sleep, like a fog, blew upon him.
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
“Look there! The man, the youth who wanted (eternal) life!
Sleep, like a fog, blew over him.”
his wife said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
“Touch him, let the man awaken.
Let him return safely by the way he came.
Let him return to his land by the gate through which he left.”
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
“Mankind is deceptive, and will deceive you.
Come, bake loaves for him and keep setting them by his head
and draw on the wall each day that he lay down.”
She baked his loaves and placed them by his head
and marked on the wall the day that he lay down.
The first loaf was dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist(?), the fourth turned white,
its …,
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
the seventh–suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
“The very moment sleep was pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!”
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,
its …
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh–suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
“The very moment sleep was pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!”
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,
its …
the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh–at that instant you awoke!”
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
“O woe! What shall I do, Utanapishtim, where shall I go!
The Snatcher has taken hold of my flesh,
in my bedroom Death dwells,
and wherever I set foot there too is Death!”
Home Empty-Handed
Utanapishtim said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
“May the harbor reject you, may the ferry landing reject you!
May you who used to walk its shores be denied its shores!
The man in front of whom you walk, matted hair chains
his body,
animal skins have ruined his beautiful skin.
Take him away, Urshanabi, bring him to the washing place.
Let him wash his matted hair in water like ellu.
Let him cast away his animal skin and have the sea carry it off,
let his body be moistened with fine oil,
let the wrap around his head be made new,
let him wear royal robes worthy of him!
Until he goes off to his city,
until he sets off on his way,
let his royal robe not become spotted, let it be perfectly new!”
Urshanabi took him away and brought him to the washing place.
He washed his matted hair with water like ellu.
He cast off his animal skin and the sea carried it oh.
He moistened his body with fine oil,
and made a new wrap for his head.
He put on a royal robe worthy of him.
Until he went away to his city,
until he set off on his way,
his royal robe remained unspotted, it was perfectly clean.
Gilgamesh and Urshanabi bearded the boat,
they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away.
The wife of Utanapishtim the Faraway said to him:
“Gilgamesh came here exhausted and worn out.
What can you give him so that he can return to his land (with
honor) !”
Then Gilgamesh raised a punting pole
and drew the boat to shore.
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
“Gilgamesh, you came here exhausted and worn out.
What can I give you so you can return to your land?
I will disclose to you a thing that is hidden, Gilgamesh,
a… I will tell you.
There is a plant… like a boxthorn,
whose thorns will prick your hand like a rose.
If your hands reach that plant you will become a young
man again.”
Hearing this, Gilgamesh opened a conduit(!) (to the Apsu)
and attached heavy stones to his feet.
They dragged him down, to the Apsu they pulled him.
He took the plant, though it pricked his hand,
and cut the heavy stones from his feet,
letting the waves(?) throw him onto its shores.
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, the ferryman, saying:
“Urshanabi, this plant is a plant against decay(!)
by which a man can attain his survival(!).
I will bring it to Uruk-Haven,
and have an old man eat the plant to test it.
The plant’s name is ‘The Old Man Becomes a Young Man.'”
Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth.”
At twenty leagues they broke for some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.
Seeing a spring and how cool its waters were,
Gilgamesh went down and was bathing in the water.
A snake smelled the fragrance of the plant,
silently came up and carried off the plant.
While going back it sloughed off its casing.’
At that point Gilgamesh sat down, weeping,
his tears streaming over the side of his nose.
“Counsel me, O ferryman Urshanabi!
For whom have my arms labored, Urshanabi!
For whom has my heart’s blood roiled!
I have not secured any good deed for myself,
but done a good deed for the ‘lion of the ground’!”
Now the high waters are coursing twenty leagues distant,’
as I was opening the conduit(?) I turned my equipment over
into it (!).
What can I find (to serve) as a marker(?) for me!
I will turn back (from the journey by sea) and leave the boat by
the shore!”
At twenty leagues they broke for some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.
They arrived in Uruk-Haven.
Gilgamesh said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
“Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around.
Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly–
is not (even the core of) the brick structure of kiln-fired brick,
and did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan!
One league city, one league palm gardens, one league lowlands, the open area(?) of the Ishtar Temple,
three leagues and the open area(?) of Uruk it encloses.
You can also get another Epic of Gilgamesh Full Version, translated by Maureen Gallery Kovacs Electronic Edition by Wolf Carnahan, I998.
Gilgamesh Fate
Gilgamesh’s fate is a central theme in the epic. Despite his quest for eternal life, Gilgamesh ultimately confronts the inevitability of death. After the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh is stricken with grief and fear of his own mortality. He embarks on a journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of a great flood who was granted immortality by the gods. Through his journey and the wisdom he gains, Gilgamesh learns that immortality is unattainable for mortals and that he must accept his fate. This realization leads him to focus on leaving a lasting legacy through his accomplishments and the welfare of his city.
Gilgamesh Tomb
The tomb of Gilgamesh has been a subject of fascination and speculation for many archaeologists. According to the epic, Gilgamesh was buried under the Euphrates River, which was temporarily dammed to construct his tomb. In 2003, a team of German archaeologists claimed to have discovered the possible site of Gilgamesh’s tomb near the ancient city of Uruk. However, due to the region’s political instability and the challenges of archaeological excavation, definitive proof remains elusive.
Gilgamesh in the Bible
The influence of Gilgamesh in the Bible is a topic of scholarly interest. Parallels are often drawn between the Epic of Gilgamesh and certain biblical narratives, particularly the story of the Great Flood in Genesis. Both the epic and the Bible describe a catastrophic flood and a hero who builds a boat to save humanity and animals from divine wrath. Utnapishtim, the flood survivor in the epic, bears similarities to the biblical Noah. These parallels suggest a shared cultural heritage and the transmission of ancient Near Eastern myths across civilizations.
Gilgamesh Story
The Gilgamesh story is a rich tapestry of adventures and lessons. From battling the monstrous Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven to the poignant loss of Enkidu, the epic weaves together tales of heroism and humanity. Gilgamesh’s relentless quest for immortality leads him to the ends of the earth, only to learn that true immortality lies in the legacy one leaves behind. The epic concludes with Gilgamesh returning to Uruk, wiser and more reflective, ready to rule with the knowledge that his deeds will ensure his name endures.
Gilgamesh King
As Gilgamesh the King, he was both revered and feared. His reign over Uruk was marked by impressive architectural achievements, including the construction of massive walls that protected the city. However, his initial tyranny made him unpopular among his subjects until his friendship with Enkidu humanized him. The transformation of Gilgamesh from a despotic ruler to a wise and just king underscores the epic’s exploration of leadership and the responsibilities of power.
In conclusion, the epic of Gilgamesh offers profound insights into ancient Mesopotamian culture and universal human themes. From his quests and failures to his ultimate acceptance of mortality, Gilgamesh’s story continues to resonate with readers across millennia.
Gilgamesh Eternals
The character of Gilgamesh also finds a place in contemporary culture, including in Marvel Gilgamesh Eternals. In the Marvel Universe Gilgamesh is one of the Eternals, an immortal race of superhumans. This adaptation draws on the legendary hero’s attributes, portraying him as a powerful and enduring figure. While it takes creative liberties, Marvel’s depiction keeps the spirit of the myth alive, introducing the ancient hero to a new generation of audiences.
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