La historia comienza con Gilgamesh reinando en la ciudad de Uruk como un tirano. Para mantenerlo ocupado, los dioses mesopotámicos le crean un compañero: Enkidu, un hombre salvaje y peludo.
Gilgamesh se propone humanizar a Enkidu y para ello le encomienda a una semana de sexo con la sabia sacerdotisa Shamhat (cuyo nombre en el lenguaje acadio sugiere tanto belleza como voluptuosidad).
Gilgamesh y Enkidu se vuelven inseparables y se lanzan a la búsqueda de fama y gloria eternas. Las peripecias de los héroes enfadan a los dioses, que hacen que Enkidu tenga una muerte temprana.
La muerte de Enkidu es un momento crucial en la narrativa de la historia porque el amor fraternal entre Gilgamesh y Enkidu transforma al protagonista y la muerte de Enkidu le deja solo y temiendo a su propia mortalidad.
El héroe se disfraza con la piel de un león y viaja hasta encontrar a Utanapishtim, un anciano que sobrevivió a la gran inundación (muchas veces se le compara con el personaje de Noé de la Biblia). Después de realizar un viaje peligroso por las aguas de la muerte, Gilgamesh finalmente encuentra a Utanapisthim y le pide el secreto de la inmortalidad.
En uno de los primeros anti-clímax de la historia de la literatura, Utanapishtim le dice que no lo tiene y la historia finaliza con Gilgamesh volviendo a casa a la ciudad de Uruk.
tablilla V:
(Gilgamesh y Enkidu) se maravillaban ante el bosque,
Observando la altura de los cedros …
Contemplaban la Montaña de los Cedros, la morada de los dioses, la tarima del trono de las diosas …
Dulce era su sombra, llena de placeres.
Translated by Maureen Gallery Kovacs Electronic
Edition by Wolf Carnahan, I998
He who has
seen everything, I will make known (?) to the lands.
I will teach
(?) about him who experienced all things,
... alike,
Anu granted
him the totality of knowledge of all.
He saw the
Secret, discovered the Hidden, he brought information of (the time) before the
Flood.
He went on a
distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion, but then was brought to peace.
He carved on
a stone stela all of his toils, and built the wall of Uruk-Haven,
the wall of
the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary.
Look at its
wall which gleams like copper(?),
inspect its
inner wall, the likes of which no one can equal !
Take hold of
the threshold stone--it dates from ancient times !
Go close to
the Eanna Temple, the residence of Ishtar, such as no later king or man ever
equaled !
Go up on the
wall of Uruk and walk around,
examine its
foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly.
Is not (even
the core of) the brick structure made of kiln-fired brick, and did not the
Seven Sages themselves lay out its plans?
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 (the wall) encloses.
Find the
copper tablet box,
open the ...
of its lock of bronze,
undo the
fastening of its secret opening.
Take and read out from the lapis lazuli tablet how
Gilgamesh went through every hardship.
Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the
hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull.
He walks out
in front, the leader,
and walks at
the rear, trusted by his companions.
Mighty net,
protector of his people,
raging
flood-wave who destroys even walls of stone !
Offspring of Lugalbanda,
Gilgamesh is strong to perfection,
son of the
august cow, Rimat-Ninsun;... Gilgamesh is awesome to perfection.
It was he who
opened the mountain passes, who dug wells on the flank of the mountain.
It was he who
crossed the ocean, the vast seas, to the rising sun, who explored the world
regions, seeking life.
It was he who
reached by his own sheer strength Utanapishtim, the Faraway, who restored the
sanctuaries (or: cities) that the Flood had destroyed !
... for
teeming mankind.
Who can
compare with him in kingliness?
Who can say
like Gilgamesh: "I am King ! "?
Whose name,
from the day of his birth, was called "Gilgamesh"?
Two-thirds of
him is god, one-third of him is human.
The Great
Goddess [Aruru] designed(?) the model for his body, she prepared his form ...
...
beautiful, handsomest of men,
... perfect
He walks
around in the enclosure of Uruk,
Like a wild
bull he makes himself mighty, head raised (over others).
There is no
rival who can raise his weapon against him.
His fellows
stand (at the alert), attentive to his (orders ?), and the men of Uruk become
anxious in ...
Gilgamesh
does not leave a son to his father, day and night he arrogant[y(?) ...
[The
following lines are interpreted as rhetorical, perhaps spoken by the oppressed citizens
of Uruk.]
Is Gilgamesh
the shepherd of Uruk-Haven,
is he the
shepherd. ...
bold,
eminent, knowing, and wise !
Gilgamesh
does not leave a girl to her mother(?)
The daughter
of the warrior, the bride of the young man,
the gods kept
hearing their complaints, so
the gods of
the heavens implored the Lord of Uruk [Anu]
"You
have indeed brought into being a mighty wild bull, head raised !
"There
is no rival who can raise a weapon against him.
"His
fellows stand (at the alert), attentive to his (orders ! ),
"Gilgamesh
does not leave a son to his father,
"day and
night he arrogantly ...
"Is he
the shepherd of Uruk-Haven,
"is he
their shepherd...
"bold,
eminent, knowing, and wise,
"Gilgamesh
does not leave a girl to her mother(?) ! "
The daughter
of the warrior, the bride of the young man,
Anu listened
to their complaints, and (the gods) called out to Aruru:
"it was
you, Aruru, who created mankind(?), now create a zikru to it/him.
Let him be
equal to his (Gilgamesh's) stormy heart,
let them be a
match for each other so that Uruk may find peace ! "
When Aruru
heard this she created within herself the zikrtt of Anu.
Aruru washed
her hands, she pinched off some clay, and threw it into the wilderness.
In the
wildness(?) she created valiant Enkidu, born of Silence, endowed with strength
by Ninurta.
His whole
body was shaggy with hair, he had a full head of hair like a woman, his locks
billowed in profusion like Ashnan.
He knew
neither people nor settled living, but wore a garment like Sumukan."
He ate
grasses with the gazelles,
and jostled
at the watering hole with the animals;
as with
animals, his thirst was slaked with (mere) water.
A notorious
trapper came face-to-face with him opposite the watering hole. A first, a
second, and a third day
he came face-to-face
with him opposite the watering hole.
On seeing him
the trapper's face went stark with fear, and he (Enkidu?) and his animals drew
back home.
He was rigid
with fear; though stock-still his heart pounded and his face drained of color.
He was miserable
to the core,
and his face
looked like one who had made a long journey.
The trapper
addressed his father saying:"
"Father,
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
continually goes over the mountains,
he
continually jostles at the watering place with the animals,
he
continually plants his feet opposite the watering place.
I was afraid,
so I did not go up to him.
He filled in
the pits that I had dug, wrenched out my traps that I had spread, released from
my grasp the wild animals.
He does not
let me make my rounds in the wilderness ! "
The trapper's
father spoke to him saying:
"My son,
there lives in Uruk a certain Gilgamesh.
There is no
one stronger than he,
he is as
strong as the meteorite(?) of Anu.
Go, set off
to Uruk,
tell
Gilgamesh of this Man of Might.
He will give
you the harlot Shamhat, take her with you.
The woman
will overcome the fellow (?) as if she were strong.
When the animals
are drinking at the watering place have her take off her robe and expose her
sex.
When he sees
her he will draw near to her,
and his
animals, who grew up in his wilderness, will be alien to him."
He heeded his
father's advice.
The trapper
went off to Uruk,
he made the
journey, stood inside of Uruk,
and declared
to ... Gilgamesh:
"There
is a certain fellow who has come from the mountains--
he is the
mightiest in the land,
his strength
is as mighty as the meteorite(?) of Anu !
He
continually goes over the mountains,
he
continually jostles at the watering place with the animals,
he
continually plants his feet opposite the watering place.
I was afraid,
so I did not go up to him.
He filled in
the pits that I had dug, wrenched out my traps that I had spread, released from
my grasp the wild animals.
He does not
let me make my rounds in the wilderness ! "
Gilgamesh
said to the trapper:
"Go,
trapper, bring the harlot, Shamhat, with you.
When the
animals are drinking at the watering place have her take off her robe and
expose her sex.
When he sees
her he will draw near to her,
and his
animals, who grew up in his wilderness, will be alien to him."
The trapper
went, bringing the harlot, Shamhat, with him.
They set off
on the journey, making direct way.
On the third
day they arrived at the appointed place, and the trapper and the harlot sat
down at their posts(?).
A first day
and a second they sat opposite the watering hole.
The animals
arrived and drank at the watering hole, the wild beasts arrived and slaked their
thirst with water.
Then he,
Enkidu, offspring of the mountains, who eats grasses with the gazelles, came to
drink at the watering hole with the animals, with the wild beasts he slaked his
thirst with water.
Then Shamhat
saw him--a primitive, a savage fellow from the depths of the wilderness !
"That is
he, Shamhat ! Release your clenched arms, expose your sex so he can take in
your voluptuousness.
Do not be
restrained-take his energy !
When he sees
you he will draw near to you.
Spread out
your robe so he can lie upon you, and perform for this primitive the task of
womankind !
His animals,
who grew up in his wilderness, will become alien to him, and his lust will
groan over you."
Shamhat
unclutched her bosom, exposed her sex, and he took in her voluptuousness.
She was not
restrained, but took his energy.
She spread
out her robe and he lay upon her,
she performed
for the primitive the task of womankind.
His lust
groaned over her;
for six days
and seven nights Enkidu stayed aroused, and had intercourse with the harlot
until he was sated with her charms.
But when he
turned his attention to his animals,
the gazelles
saw Enkidu and darted off,
the wild
animals distanced themselves from his body.
Enkidu ...
his utterly depleted(?) body,
his knees
that wanted to go off with his animals went rigid;
Enkidu was
diminished, his running was not as before.
But then he
drew himself up, for his understanding had broadened.
Turning
around, he sat down at the harlot's feet,
gazing into
her face, his ears attentive as the harlot spoke.
The harlot
said to Enkidu:
"You are
beautiful," Enkidu, you are become like a god.
Why do you
gallop around the wilderness with the wild beasts?
Come, let me
bring you into Uruk-Haven,
to the Holy
Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar,
the place of
Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection,
but who
struts his power over the people like a wild bull."
What she kept
saying found favor with him.
Becoming
aware of himself, he sought a friend.
Enkidu spoke
to the harlot:
"Come,
Shamhat, take me away with you
to the sacred
Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar,
the place of
Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection,
but who
struts his power over the people like a wild bull.
I will
challenge him ...
Let me shout
out in Uruk: I am the mighty one ! '
Lead me in
and I will change the order of things; he whose strength is mightiest is the
one born in the wilderness ! " [Shamhat 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 about,
Enkidu, inside Uruk-Haven, where the people show off in skirted finery, where
every day is a day for some festival, where the lyre(?) and drum play
continually,
where harlots
stand about prettily,
exuding
voluptuousness, 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 extreme feelings ( ! ).
Look at him,
gaze at his face-- he is a handsome youth, with freshness( ! ), his entire body
exudes voluptuousness He has mightier strength than you, without sleeping day
or night !
Enkidu, it is
your wrong thoughts you must change !
It is
Gilgamesh whom Shamhat loves,
and Anu, Enlil,
and La have enlarged his mind."
Even before
you came from the mountain Gilgamesh in Uruk had dreams about you.""
Gilgamesh got up and revealed the dream, saying to his
mother:
"Mother,
I had a dream last night.
Stars of the
sky appeared,
and some kind
of meteorite(?) of Anu fell next to me.
I tried to
lift it but it was too mighty for me,
I tried to
turn it over but I could not budge it.
The Land of
Uruk was standing around it,
the whole
land had assembled about it,
the populace
was thronging around it,
the Men
clustered about it,
and kissed
its feet as if it were a little baby ( ! ).
I loved it
and embraced it as a wife.
I laid it
down at your feet,
and you made
it compete with me."
The mother of Gilgamesh, the wise, all-knowing, said to her
Lord;
Rimat-Ninsun, the wise, all-knowing, said to Gilgamesh:
"As for
the stars of the sky that appeared
and the
meteorite(?) of Anu which 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
down 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, he is strongest, his strength is mighty as the meteorite(
! ) of Anu !
You loved him
and embraced him as a wife; and it is he who will repeatedly save you.
Your dream is
good and propitious ! "
A second time
Gilgamesh said to his mother: "Mother, I have had another dream:
"At the gate of my marital chamber there lay an axe,
"and people had collected about it.
"The Land of Uruk was standing around it,
"the whole land had assembled about it,
"the populace was thronging around it.
"I laid it down at your feet,
"I loved it and embraced it as a wife,
"and you made it compete with me."
The mother of
Gilgamesh, the wise, all-knowing, said to her son; Rimat-Ninsun, the wise,
all-knowing, said to Gilgamesh:
""The axe that you saw (is) a man.
"... (that) you love him and embrace as a wife,
"but (that) I have compete with you."
"" There will come to you a mighty man,
"" a comrade who saves his friend--
"he is the mightiest in the land, he is strongest,
"he is as mighty as the meteorite( ! ) of Anu ! "
Gilgamesh
spoke to his mother saying:
""By the command of Enlil, the Great Counselor,
so may it 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.
Enkidu sits
in front of her.
[The next 30
lines are missing; some of the fragmentary lines from 35 on are restored
from
parallels in the Old Babylonian.]
"Why
..."(?)
His own
counsel ...
At his
instruction ...
Who knows his
heart...
Shamhat pulled off her clothing, and clothed him with one
piece while she clothed herself with a second.
She took hold
of him as the gods do'
and brought
him to the hut of the shepherds.
The shepherds
gathered all around about him, they marveled to themselves:
"How the
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 in front of him, they placed beer in front of him;
Enkidu knew
nothing about eating bread for food, and of drinking beer he had not been
taught.
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 became expansive and sang with joy !
He was elated
and his face glowed.
He splashed
his shaggy body with water,
and rubbed
himself with oil, and turned into a human.
He put on some
clothing and became like a warrior( ! ).
He took up
his weapon and chased lions so that the shepherds could eat He routed the
wolves, and chased the lions.
With Enkidu
as their guard, the herders could lie down.
A wakeful
man, a singular youth, he was twice as tall (?) (as normal men
[The next 33 lines are missing in the Standard Version;
lines 57-86 are taken from the
Old Babylonian.]
Then he
raised his eyes and saw a man.
He said to
the harlot:
"Shamhat,
have 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 him and spoke with him.
"Young
man, where are you hurrying !
Why this
arduous pace ! "
The young man
spoke, saying to Enkidu:
"They
have invited me to a wedding, as is the custom of the people.
... the
selection( ! ) of brides( ! ) ..
I have heaped
up tasty delights for the wedding on the ceremonial( ! ) platter.
For the King
of Broad-Marted Uruk,
open is the
veil( ! ) of the people for choosing (a girl).
For
Gilgamesh, the King of Broad-Marted Uruk, open is the veil(?) of the people for
choosing.
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 speech his (Enkidu's) face flushed (with anger).
[Several
lines are missing.]
Enkidu walked
in front, and Shamhat after him.
[The Standard
Version resumes.]
He (Enkidu)
walked down the street of Uruk-Haven,
... mighty...
He blocked
the way through Uruk the Sheepfold.
The land of
Uruk stood around him,
the whole
land assembled about him,
the populace
was thronging around him,
the men were
clustered about him,
and kissed
his feet as if he were a little baby( ! ).
Suddenly a
handsome young man ...
For Ishara
the bed of night(?)/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 Gilgamreh to be
brought in.
They grappled
with each other at the entry to the marital chamber, in the street they
attacked each other, the public square of the land.
The doorposts
trembled and the wall shook,
[About 42
lines are missing from the Standard Version; lines 103-129 are taken from
the Old Babylonian
version.]
Gilgamesh
bent his knees, with his other foot on the ground, his anger abated and he
turned his chest away.
After he
turned his chest Enkidu said to Gilgamesh:
"Your mother bore you ever unique( ! ), the Wild Cow
of the Enclosure, Ninsun, your head is elevated over (other) men,
Enlil has destined for you the kingship over the
people."
[19 lines are
missing here.]
They kissed
each other and became friends.
[The Old
Babylonian becomes fragmentary. The Standard Version resumes]
"His strength is the mightiest in the land !
His strength is as mighty as the meteorite(?) of Anu,
The mother of
Gilgamesh spoke to Gilgamesh, saying;
Rimat-Ninsun
said to her son:
"(I ! ), Rimar-Ninsun...
My son...
Plaintively ...
She went up
into his (Shamash's) gateway, plaintively she implored ...:
"Enkidu has no father or mother,
his shaggy
hair no one cuts.
He was born
in the wilderness, no one raised him."
Enkidu was standing there, and heard the speech.
He ... and sat down and wept,
his eyes filled with tears,
his arms felt limp, his strength weakened.
They took
each other by the hand, and.., their hands like ...
Enkidu made a declaration to (Gilgamesh').
[32 lines are missing here.]
"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 go
down into his forest !
Enlil
assigned him as a terror to human beings,
and whoever
goes down into his forest paralysis(?) will strike ! "
Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu saying:
"What
you say .. ."
[About 42 lines are missing here in the Standard Version;
lines 228-249 are taken from
the Old Babylonian.]
"Who, my
Friend, can ascend to the heavens ! "
(Only) the
gods can dwell forever with Shamash.
As for human
beings, their days are numbered, and whatever they keep trying to achieve is
but wind !
Now you are
afraid of death-
what has
become of your bold strength !
I will go in front
of you,
and your
mouth 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 up on you, so you have experienced
it all ! '
[5 lines are fragmentary]
I will
undertake it and I will cut down the Cedar.
It is I who
will establish fame for eternity !
Come, my
friend, I will go over to the forge and have them cast the weapons in our
presence ! "
Holding each other by the hand they went over to the forge.
[The Standard Version resumes at this point.]
The craftsmen sat and discussed with one another.
"We
should fashion the axe...
The hatchet
should he 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...
[5 lines are
missing here.
You, men of
Uruk, who know ...
I want to
make myself more mighty, and will go on a distant( ! ) journey ! I will face
fighting 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) in...
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 to him
that he must nor go to the Cedar Forest-- the journey is not to be made !
A man who...
The Guardian
of the Cedar Forest ...
The Noble
Counselors of Uruk arose and delivered their advice toGilgamesh:
"You are
young, Gilgamesh, your heart carries you off 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 Death !
He can hear
any rustling( ! ) in his forest 100 leagues away !
Who would go
down into his forest !
Who among
(even ! ) the Igigi gods can confront him?
In order to
keep the Cedar safe, Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings."
Gilgamesh
listened to the statement of his Noble Counselors.
[About 5
lines are missing to the end of Tablet II.]
The Elders
spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Gilgamesh,
do not put your trust in (just) your vast strength, but keep a sharp eye out,
make each blow strike in mark !
'The one who
goes on 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, all-knowing.
She will put
the advisable path at our feet."
Taking each
other by the hand,
Gilgamesh and
Enkidu walked to the Egalmah ("Great Palace"), to Ninsun, the Great
Queen.
Gilgamesh
arose and went to her.
"Ninsun,
(even though) I am extraordinarily strong ( ! )...
I must now
travel a long way to where Humbaba is,
I must face fighting
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... and
went up to the roof.
She went up
to the roof and set incense in front of Shamash,
.I she
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
fighting 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 would give 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...
and the
"daughters-of-the-gods" ...
"I have
taken ... Enkidu...
Enkidu to...
Gilgamesh I have taken."
"Until
he goes and returns, until he reaches the Cedar Forest, be it a month ... be it
a year.. ."
[About 11
lines are missing here, and the placement of the following fragment is
uncertain.]
... 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( ! ) ...
[Perhaps some
60 lines are missing here.]
"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..."
[The last
lines are missing.]
At twenty
leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
walking Fifty leagues in a whole day, a walk of a month and a half.
On the third
day they drew near to the Lebanon.
They dug a
well facing Shamash (the setting sun),
Gilgamesh
climbed up a mountain peak, made a libation of flour, and said:
"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, and... in a circle. they... 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 came to an end, so he got up and said
to his friend:
"My
friend, did you not call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you not
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 me (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, and kill him and throw his corpse into the
wasteland.
In the
morning there will be a favorable message from Shamash. At twenty leagues they
broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night, walking
fifty leagues in a whole day, a walk of a month and a half.
They dug a
well facing Shamash Gilgamesh climbed up a mountain peak, made a libation of
flour, and said,
"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, and... in a circle.
They ... 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 came to an end, so he got up and said to his
friend:
My friend,
did you not call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you not
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, besides my first dream, a second.
And the dream
I had--so striking, so...,so disturbing ! ' I was grappling with a wild bull of
the wilderness,
with his
bellow he split the ground, a cloud of dust...to the sky.
I sank to my
knees in front of him.
He holds...
that encircled(?) my arm.
(My?)
tongue(?) hung out(?) ...
My temples
throbbed(?) ...
He gave me
water to drink from his waterskin."
"My
friend, the god to whom we go is not the wild bull? He is totally different?
The wild bull
that you saw is Shamash, the protector, in difficulties he holds our hand.
The one who
gave you water to drink from his waterskin is your personal) god, who brings
honor to you, Lugalbanda.
We should
join together and do one thing, a deed such as has never (before) been done in
the land."
At twenty
leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
walking fifty leagues in a whole day, a walk of a month and a half.
They dug a
well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh
climbed up a mountain peak, made a libation of flour, and said:
"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, and... in a circle.
They... 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 came to an end, so he got up and said to his friend:
"My
friend, did you nor call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you not
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, and where(?) it kept thickening, there
rained death.
Then the
white-hot name 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 talk it over."
,,, Enkidu
heard the dream that he had presented and said to Gilgamesh (About 40 lines are
missing here.)
At twenty
leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
walking fifty
leagues in a whole day, a walk of a month and a half.
They dug a
well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh
climbed up a mountain peak, made a libation of flour, and said:
"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, and... in a circle.
They... 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 came to an end, so he got up and said to his friend:
"My
friend, did you not call out to me? Why did I wake up?
Did you nor
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
(?).
(About 11
lines are missing)
"He
was... cubits tall...
... Gilgamesh
Enkidu
listened to his dream
"The
dream that you had is favorable, it is extremely important? My friend, this...
Humbaba Eke...
Before it
becomes light...
We will
achieve (victory?) over him,
Humbaba,
against whom we rage, we will.. , and triumph over him.
In the
morning there will be a favorable message from Shamash.
At twenty
leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night,
walking fifty
leagues in a whole day, a walk of a month and a half.
They dug a
well facing Shamash,
Gilgamesh
climbed up a mountain peak, made a libation of flour, and said: "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, and... in a circle. They... like grain
from the mountain ...
While
Gilgamerh rested his chin on his knees, sleep that pours over mankind overtook
him.
,, in the
middle of the night his sleep came to an end, so he got up and said to his
friend:
"My
friend, did you not call out to me? Why did I wake up? Did you not touch me?
Why am I so disturbed?
Did a god pass by? Why are my muscles trembling?
Enkidu, my
friend, I had a fifth(?) dream, and the dream I had was deeply disturbing (?).
...His tears
were running in the presence of Shamash. 'What you said in Uruk..., be mindful
of it, stand by me... ?"
Gilgamesh, the offspring of Uruk-Haven,
Shamash heard what issued from his mouth,
and suddenly there resounded a warning sound from the sky.
"Hurry,
stand by him so that he (Humbaba) does nor enter the forest,
and does not go down into the thickets and hide (?)
He has not
put on his seven coats of armor(?) he is wearing only one, but has taken off
six."
,,, They(Gilgamesh and Enkidu ')...
They lunge at each other like raging wild bulls...
One name he bellowed full of...
The Guardian of the Forest bellowed ...Humbaha like...
..."'One
alone cannot 'Strangers ...
'A slippery
path is not feared by two people who help each other.'
'Twice three times...
'A three-ply rope cannot be cut.'
'The mighty lioness cubs can roll him over."'
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, we...so wretchedly (?)
We have
crossed over all the mountarns together, in front of us, before we have cut
down the Cedar.
My friend,
you who are so experienced in battle, who... fighting,
you...' and (need) not fear death.
Let your voice bellow forth 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 a careful man,
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.
... They
stood at the forest's edge, gazing at the top of the Cedar Tree, gazing at the
entrance to the forest.
Where Humbaba
would walk there was a trail, the roads led straight on, the path was
excellent.
Then they saw
the Cedar Mountain, the Dwelling of the Gods, the throne dais of Imini.
Across the
face of the mountain the Cedar brought forth luxurious foliage,
its shade was
good, extremely pleasant.
The
thornbushes were matted together, the woods(?) were a thicket
... among the
Cedars,... the boxwood,
the forest
was surrounded by a ravine two leagues long,
... and again
for two-thirds (of that distance),
...Suddenly
the swords..., and after the sheaths ..., the axes were smeared... dagger and
sword... alone ...
Humbaba spoke
to Gilgamesh saying:"He does not come (?) ...
Enlil..
."
Enkidu spoke
to Humbaba, saying:
"Humbaba...'One
alone..
'Strangers
...
'A slippery
path is not feared by two people who help each other. 'Twice three times...
'A three-ply
rope cannot be cut.
'The mighty
lion--two cubs can roll him over."'
Humbaba spoke
to Gilgamesh, saying:
..An idiot'
and a moron should give advice to each other, but you, Gilgamesh, why have you
come to me !
Give advice,
Enkidu, you 'son of a fish,' who does not even know his own father,
to the large
and small turtles which do not suck their mother's milk !
When you were
still young I saw you but did not go over to you;
... you,...
in my belly.
...,you have
brought Gilgamesh into my presence,
... you
stand.., an enemy, a stranger.
...
Gilgamesh, throat and neck,
I would feed
your flesh to the screeching vulture, the eagle, and the vulture ! "
Gilgamerh
spoke to Enkidu, saying: "My Friend, Humbaba's face keeps changing ! •
Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:'
"Why, my
friend, are you whining so pitiably, hiding behind your whimpering?
Now there, my
friend,...
in the
coppersmith's channel ...,
again to blow
(the bellows) for an hour, the glowing (metal)(?)
...for an
hour.
To send the
Flood, to crack the Whip."
Do not snatch
your feet away, do not turn your back,
... strike
even harder "
... may they
be expelled.... head fell ... and it/he confronted him...
The ground
split open with the heels of their feet,
as they
whirled around in circles Mt. Hermon and Lebanon split.
The white
clouds darkened, death rained down on them like fog.
Shamash
raised up against Humbaba mighty tempests'--
Southwind,
Northwind, Eastwind, Westwind, Whistling Wind, Piercing Wind,
Blizzard, Bad
Wind, Wind of Simurru,
Demon Wind,
Ice Wind, Storm, Sandstorm-
thirteen
winds rose up against him and covered Humbaba's face.
He could nor
butt through the front, and could not scramble out the back,
so that
Gilgamesh'a weapons were in reach of Humbaba.
Humbaba
begged for his life, saying to Gilgamesh:
"You are
young yet, Gilgamesh, your mother gave birth to you, and you are the offspring
of Rimnt-Nlnsun (?) ...
(It was) at
the word of Shamash, Lord of the Mountain, that you were roused (to this
expedition).
0
scion of the heart of Uruk, King Gilgamesh !
...
Gilgamesh...
Gilgamesh,
let me go (?), I will dwell with you as your servant (?)
As many trees
as you command me I will cut down for you,
1
will guard for you myrtle wood..., wood fine
enough for your palace ! "
Enkidu
addressed Gilgamesh, saying:
"My
friend, do not listen to Humbaba,
[io lines are
misring Apparently Humbaba sees thar Gilgamrsh is influenced by Enkidu, and
moves to dissuade Enkidu.]
"You
understand the rules of my forest, the rules..., further, you are aware of all
the things so ordered (by Enlil)."
I should have
carried you up, and killed you at the very entrance to the branches of my
forest.
I should have
fed your flesh to the screeching vulture, the eagle, and the vulture.
So now,
Enkidu, clemency is up to you.
Speak to
Gilgamesh to spare my life ! "
Enkidu
addressed Gilgamesh, saying:
My friend,
Humbaba, Guardian of the Cedar Forest, grind up, kill, pulverize(?), and
destroy him !
Humbaba,
Guardian of the Forest, grind up, kill, pulverize(?), and destroy him !
Before the
Preeminent God Enlil hears... and the ...gods be filled with rage against us.
Enlil is in
Nippur, Shamash is in Sippar.
Erect an
eternal monument proclaiming... how Gilgamesh killed(?) Humbaba."
When Humbaba
heard...
[Abour l0
linrs are misiing.]
... the
forest.
and
denunciations(?) have been made.
But you are
sitting there like a shepherd... and like a 'hireling of his mouth.'
Now, Enkidu,
clemency is up to you.
Speak to
Gilgamesh that he spare my life ! "
Enkidu spoke
to Gilgamesh, saying:
"My
friend, Humbaba, Guardian of the Forest, grind up, kill, pulverize(?), and
destroy him !
Before the
Preeminent God Enlil hears, and the ... gods are full of rage at us.
Enlil is in
Nippur, Shamash is in Sippar.
Erect an
eternal monument proclaiming... how Gilgamesh killed(?) Humbaba."
Humbaba heard
...
[About 10
lines are missing.]
"May he
not live the longer of the two,
may Enkidu
not have any 'share'(?) more than his friend
Gilgamesh
"
Enkidu spoke
to Gilgamesh, saying:
"My
friend, 1 have been talking to you but you have not been listening to me,"
You have been
listening to the curse of Humbaba ! "
... his
friend ... by his side
.. they
pulled out his insides including his tongue.
... he
jumped(?).
...abundance
fell over the mountain,
...abundance
fell over the mountain.
They cut through
the Cedar,
While
Gilgamesh cuts down the trees, Enkidu searches through the urmazallu.
Enkidu
addressed Gilgamesh, saying:
"My
friend, we have cut down the towering Cedar whose top scrapes the sky.
Make from it
a door 72 cubits high, 24 cubits wide,
one cubit
thick, its fixture, its lower and upper pivots will be out of one piece.
Let them
carry it to Nippur, the Euphrates will carry it down, Nippur will rejoice.
n
They tied together a raft...
Enkidu steered it...
while Gilgamesh held the head of Humbaba.
He washed out
his marred hair and cleaned up his equipment(?),
shaking out
his locks down over his back,
throwing off
his dirty clothes and putting on clean ones.
He wrapped
himself in regal garments and fastened the sash.
When Gilgamesh
placed his crown on his head, a princess Ishtar raised her eyes to the beauty
of Gilgamesh.
"Come
along, Gilgamesh, be you my husband, to me grant your lusciousness.'
Be you my
husband, and I will be your wife.
I will have
harnessed for you a chariot of lapis lazuli and gold, with wheels of gold and
'horns' of electrum(?).
It will he
harnessed with great storming mountain mules !
Come into our
house, with the fragrance of cedar.
And when you
come into our house the doorpost(?) 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."
Gilgamesh
addressed Princess Ishtar saying:
"What
would I have to give you if I married you !
Do you need
oil or garments for your body ! Do you lack anything for food or drink ! I
would gladly feed you food fit for a god,
I would
gladly give you wine fit for a king,
... may the
street(?) be your home(?), may you be clothed in a garment, and may any lusting
man (?) marry you !
...an oven who...
ice,
a half-door
that keeps out neither breeze nor blast, a palace that crushes down valiant
warriors, an elephant who devours its own covering, pitch that blackens the
hands of its bearer, a waterskin that soaks its bearer through, limestone that
buckles out the stone wall, a battering ram that attracts the enemy land, 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 !
See here now,
I will recite the list of your lovers.
Of the
shoulder (?) ... his hand,
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 hit 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
drinking from muddled waters,' you ordained far 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 for you a kid.
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 you went to him:
'Oh my
Ishullanu, let us taste of 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 his words
you struck
him, turning him into a dwarf(?),
and made him
live in the middle of his (garden of) labors,
where the
mihhu do not go up, nor the bucket of dates (?) down.
And now me !
It is me you love, and you will ordain for me as for them ! "
When Ishtar
heard this, in a fury she went up to the heavens, going to Anu, her father, and
crying, going to Anrum, her mother, and weeping:
"Father,
Gilgamesh has insulted me over and over,
Gilgamesh 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 door posts, and leave the doors flat down, and 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,
in order that
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 climbed down to the Euphrates...
At the snort
of the Bull of Heaven a huge pit opened up, and 100 Young Men of Uruk fell in.
At his second
snort a huge pit opened up, and 200 Young Men of Uruk fell in.
At his third
snort a huge pit opened up, and Enkidu fell in up to his waist.
Then Enkidu
jumped out and seized the Bull of Heaven by its horns.
the Bull
spewed his spittle in front of him,
with his
thick tail he flung his dung behind him (?).
Enkidu
addressed Gilgamesh, saying:
"My
friend, we can be bold(?) ...
How shall we
respond...
My friend, I
saw...
And my
strength...
I will rip
out...
I and you, we
must share (?)
I shall grasp
the Bull I will fill my hands (?) ..
In front...
between the
nape, the horns, and... thrust your sword."
Enkidu
stalked and hunted down the Bull of Heaven.
He grasped it
by the thick of its tail and held onto it with both his hands (?), while
Gilgamesh, like an expert butcher, boldly and surely approached the Bull of
Heaven.
Between the
nape, the horns, and... 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 down humbly to Shamash.
Then the brothers
sat down together.
Ishtar went
up onto the top of the Wall of Uruk-Haven,
cast herself
into the pose of mourning, and hurled her woeful curse:
"Woe
unto Gilgamesh who slandered me and killed the Bull of Heaven "
When Enkidu
heard this pronouncement of Ishtar, he wrenched off the Bull's hindquarter and
flung it in her face:
"If I
could only get at you I would do the same to you !
I would drape
his innards over your arms ! "
Ishtar assembled the (cultic women) of lovely-locks,
joy-girls, and harlots, and set them to mourning over the hindquarter of the
Bull.
Gilgamesh
summoned all the artisans and craftsmen.
(All) the
artisans admired the thickness of its horns, each fashioned from 30 minas of
lapis lazuli !
Two fingers
thick is their casing(?).
Six vats of
oil the contents of the two
he gave as
ointment to his (personal) god Lugalbanda.
He brought
the horns in and hung them in the bedroom of the family head (Lugalbanda?).
They washed
their hands in the Euphrates, and proceeded hand in hand,
striding
through the streets of Uruk.
The men of
Uruk gathered together, staring at them.
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.
"My
friend, why are the Great Gods in conference?
(In my dream)
Anu, Enlil, and Shamash held a council, and Anu spoke to Enlil:
'Because they
killed the Bull of Heaven and have also slain Humbaba,
the one of
them who pulled up the Cedar of the Mountain must die '
Enlil
said:'Let Enkidu die, but Gilgamesh must not die ! '
Bur the Sun
God of Heavenl replied to valiant Enlil:
'Was it not
at my command that they killed the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba !
Should now
innocent Enkidu die ! '
Then Enlil
became angry at Shamash, saying:
'it is you
who are responsible because you traveled daily with them as their friend !
"'
Enkidu was
lying (sick) in front of Gilgamesh.
His tears flowing
like canals, he (Gilgamesh) said:
"O
brother, dear brother, why are they absolving me instead of my brother)"
Then Enkidu
said:) "So now must 1 become a ghost, to sit with the ghosts of the dead,
to see my dear brother nevermore "
In the Cedar
Forest where the Great (Gods dwell, I did not kill the Cedar." Enkidu
addressed Gilgamesh, saying to Gilgamesh, his Friend:
"Come,
Friend,...
The door...
Enkidu raised
his eyes,...and spoke to the door as if it were human:
"You
stupid wooden door, with no ability to understand... !
Already at 10
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, 14 cubits your width, one cubit your thickness,
your door
post, pivot stone, and post cap ...
I fashioned
you, and I carried you; to Nippur...
Had I known,
O door, that this would he your gratitude and this your gratitude...,
I would have
taken an axe and chopped you up, and lashed your planks into... in its ... I erected
the... and in Uruk...they heard
But yet, O
door, I fashioned you, and I carried you to Nippur !
May a king
who comes after me reject you, may the god... may he remove my name and set his
own name there ! "
He ripped
out.., threw down.
He(Gilgamesh)
kept listening to his words, and retorted quickly,
Gilgamesh
listened to the words of Enkidu, his Friend, and his tears flowed. Gilgamesh
addressed Enkidu, raying:
'Friend, the
gods have given you a mind broad and ...
Though it
behooves you to be sensible, you keep uttering improper things !
Why, my
Friend, does your mind utter improper things?
The dream is
important but very frightening, your lips are buzzing like flies.
Though there
is much fear, the dream is very important.
To the living
they (the gods) leave sorrow, to the living the dream leaves pain.
I will pray,
and beseech the Great Gods,
I will
seek..., and appeal to your god.
... Enlil,
the Father of the Gods,
...Enlil the
Counselor...you.
I will
fashion a statue of you of gold without measure, do nor worry... , gold...
What Enlil
says is not...
What he has
said cannot go back, cannot ...,
What... he
has laid down cannot go back, cannot...
My friend,...
of fate goes to mankind."
just as dawn
began to glow, Enkidu raised his head and cried out to Shamash, at the (first)
gleam of the sun his tears poured forth.
"I
appeal to you, O Shamash, on behalf of my precious life (?),
because of
that notorious trapper
who did not
let me attain the same as my friend
May the
trapper not get enough to feed himself .
May his
profit be slashed, and his wages decrease,
may... be his
share before you,
may he not
enter ... but go out of it like vapor(?) ! "
After he had
cursed the trapper to his satisfaction, his heart prompted him to curse the
Harlot.
"Come
now, Harlot, I am going to decree your fate, a fate that will never come to an
end for eternity !
I will curse
you with a Great Curse,
may my curses
overwhelm you suddenly, in an instant !
May you not
be able to make a household, and not be able to love a child of your own (?) !
May you not
dwell in the ... of girls,
may dregs of
beer (?) stain your beautiful lap,
may a drunk
soil your festal robe with vomit(?),
... the
beautiful (?)
... of the
potter.
May you never
acquire anything of bright alabaster, may the judge. ..
may shining
silver(?), man's delight, not be cast into your house,
may a gateway
be where you rake your pleasure,'
may a
crossroad be your home
may a
wasteland be your sleeping place,
may the
shadow of the city wall be your place to stand,
may the
thorns and briars skin your feet,
may both the
drunk and the dry slap you on the cheek,
... in your
city's streets (?),
may owls nest
in the cracks of your walls !
may no
parties take place...
...
present(?).
and your
filthy "lap" ... may.., be his(?)
Because of
me...
while I,
blameless, you have... against me.
When Shamash
heard what his mouth had uttered, he suddenly called out to him from the sky:
"Enkidu,
why are you cursing the harlot, Shamhat,
she who fed
you bread fit for a god,
she who gave
you wine fit for a king,
she who
dressed you in grand garments,
and she who
allowed you to make beautiful Gilgamesh your
comrade
Now Gilgamesh
is your beloved brother-friend !
He will have
you lie on a grand couch, will have you lie on a couch of honor.
He will seat
you in the seat of ease, the seat at his left, so that the princes of the world
kiss your feet.
He will have
the people of Uruk go into mourning and moaning over you, will fill the happy
people with woe over you.
And after you
he will let his body bear a filthy mat of hair, will don the skin of a lion and
roam the wilderness."
As soon as
Enkidu heard the words of valiant Shamash, his agitated heart grew calm, his
anger abated.
Enkidu spoke
to the harlot, saying:
"Come,
Shamhat, I will decree your fate for you.
Let my mouth
which has cursed you, now turn to bless you !
May governors
and nobles love you,
May he who is
one league away bite his lip (in anticipation of you), may he who is two
leagues away shake our his locks (in preparation) ! May the soldier not refuse
you, but undo his buckle for you, may he give you rock crystal( ! ), lapis
lazuli, and gold, may his gift to you be earrings of filigree(?).
May... his
supplies be heaped up.
May he bring
you into the ... of the gods.
May the wife,
the mother of seven (children), be abandoned because ofyou ! "
Enkidu's
innards were churning, lying there so alone.
He spoke
everything he felt, saying to his friend:
"Listen,
my friend, to the dream that I had last night.
The heavens
cried out and the earth replied, and I was standing between them.
There
appeared a man of dark visage- his face resembled the Anzu," his hands
were the paws of a lion, his nails the talons of an eagle ! -he seized me by
my hair and overpowered me.
I struck him
a blow, but he skipped about like a jump rope, and then he struck me and
capsizcd me like a raft, and trampled on me like a wild bull.
He encircled
my whole body in a clamp.
'Help me, my
friend" (I cried),
but you did
not rescue me, you were afraid and did not.. ."
"Then
he... and turned me into a dove, so that my arms were feathered like a bird.
Seizing me,
he led me down to the House of Darkness, the dwelling of Irkalla,
to the house
where those who enter do not come out, along the road of no return,
to the house
where those who dwell, do without light, where dirt is their drink, their food
is of clay, where, like a bird, they wear garments of feathers, and light
cannot be seen, they dwell in the dark,
and upon the
door and bolt, there lies dust.
On entering
the House of Dust,
everywhere I
looked there were royal crowns gathered in heaps, everywhere I listened, it was
the bearers of crowns, who, in the past, had ruled the land, but who now served
Anu and Enlil cooked meats, served confections, and poured cool water from
waterskins.
In the house
of Dust that I entered there sat the high priest and acolyte, there sat the
purification priest and ecstatic, there sat the anointed priests of the Great
Gods.
There sat
Etana, there sat Sumukan,
there sat
Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Netherworld.
Beletseri,
the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her,
she was
holding the tablet and was reading it out to her Ereshkigal.
She raised
her head when she saw me—
'Who has
taken this man?'
[50 lines are
missing here]
...I (?) who
went through every difficulty,
remember me
and forget(?) not all that I went through with you. "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, that Enkidu ... in his bed;
a third day and fourth day, that Enkidu ... in his bed; a
fifth, a sixth, and seventh, that Enkidu ... in his bed; an eighth, a ninth, a
tenth, that Enkidu ... in his bed.
Enkidu's
illness grew ever worse.
Enkidu drew
up from his bed, and called out to Gilgamesh ... :
"My
friend hates me ...
while he
talked with me in Uruk
as I was
afraid of the battle he encouraged me.
My friend who
saved me in battle has now abandoned me !
I and you ...
[About 20
lines are missing]
At his noises
Gilgamesh was roused ...
Like a dove
he moaned ...
"May he
not be held, in death ...
0
preeminent among men ..."
To his friend
...
"I will
mourn him (?)
1
at his side ..."
Tablet VIII
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.]
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 ...
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 XI The Story of the
Flood
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 (vegetable) 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 ho nor) !"
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.
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