An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic
... sú(?)-mu(?) ...............
ma-hi-ra-am [sá i-si-sú]
sú-uk-ni-sum-[ma] ...............
la-al-la-ru-[tu] ..................
um-mi d-[Gis mu-di-a-at ka-la-ma]
i-na ma-[har dSamas i-di-sá is-si]
sá ú
i-na- an(?)-[na am-mi-nim]
ta-[as-kun(?) a-na ma-ri-ia li-ib-bi la]
sa-[li-la te-mid-su]
.............................
(About four lines missing.)
i-na [sá dEn-ki-du im-la-a] di-[im-tam]
il-[pu-ut li]-ib-ba-sú-[ma]
[zar-bis(?)] us-ta-ni-[ih]
[i-na sá dEn]-ki-du im-la-a di-im-tam
[il-pu-ut] li-ib-ba-sú-ma
[zar-bis(?)] us-ta-ni-[ih]
[dGis ú-ta]-ab-bil pa-ni-sú
[iz-za-kar-am] a-na dEn-ki-du
[ib-ri am-mi-nim] i-na-ka
[im-la-a di-im]-tam
[il-pu-ut li-ib-bi]-ka
[zar-bis tu-us-ta]-ni-ih
[dEn-ki-du pi-sú i-pu-sá]-am-ma
iz-za-[kàr-am] a-na dGis
ta-ab-bi-a-tum ib-ri
us-ta-li-pa da- [151]da-ni-ia
a-ha-a-a ir-ma-a-ma
e-mu-ki i-ni-is
dGis pi-sú i-pu-sá-am-ma
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dEn-ki-du
(About four lines missing.)
Col. III.
..... [a-di dHu]-wa-wa da-pi-nu
.................. ra-[am(?)-ma]
................ [ú-hal]- li-ik
[lu-ur-ra-du a-na ki-is-ti sá] iserini
............ lam(?) hal-bu
............ [li]-li-is-su
.............. lu(?)-up-ti-sú
dEn-ki-du pi-sú i-pu-sá-am-ma
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dGis
i-di-ma ib-ri i-na sadî(-i)
i-nu-ma at-ta-la-ku it-ti bu-lim
a-na istên(-en) kas-gíd-ta-a-an nu-ma-at ki-is-tum
[e-di-is(?)] ur-ra-du a-na libbi-sá
d[Hu-wa]-wa ri-ig-ma-sú a-bu-bu
pi-[sú] dBil-gi-ma
na-pi-is-sú mu-tum
am-mi-nim ta-ah-si-ih
an-ni-a-am e-pi-sá-am
ga-[ba]-al-la ma-ha-ar
[sú]-pa-at dHu-wa-wa
(d)Gis pi-sú i-pu-sá-am-ma
[iz-za-k]àr-am a-na dEn-ki-du
....... su(?)-lu-li a-sá-ki [152]-sá
............. [i-na ki-is]-tim
...............................
ik(?) .........................
a-na ..........................
mu-sá-ab [dHu-wa-wa] .......
ha-as-si-nu .................
at-ta lu(?) .................
a-na-ku lu-[ur-ra-du a-na ki-is-tim]
dEn-ki-du pi-sú i-pu-[sá-am-ma]
iz-za-kàr-am a-na [dGis]
ki-i ni[il]-la-ak [is-te-nis(?)]
a-na ki-is-ti [sá iserini]
na-si-ir-sá dGis muk-[tab-lu]
da-a-an la sa[-li-lu(?)]
dHu-wa-wa dpi-ir-[hu sa (?)]
dAdad is ..........
sú-ú ..................
Col. IV.
ás-súm sú-ul-lu-m[u ki-is-ti sáiserini]
pu-ul-hi-a-tim 7 [sú(?) i-sim-sú dEnlil]
dGis pi-sú i-pu [sá-am-ma]
iz-za-kàr-am a-na [dEn-ki-du]
ma-an-nu ib-ri e-lu-ú sá-[ru-ba(?)]
i-tib-ma it-ti dSamas da-ri-is ú-[me-sú]
a-we-lu-tum ba-ba-nu ú-tam-mu-sá-[ma]
mi-im-ma sá i-te-ni-pu-sú sá-ru-ba
at-ta an-na-nu-um-ma ta-dar mu-tam
ul is-sú da-na-nu kar-ra-du-ti-ka
lu-ul-li-ik-ma i-na pa-ni-ka
pi-ka li-is-si-a-am ti-hi-e ta-du-ur
sum-ma am-ta-ku-ut sú-mi lu-us-zi-iz
dGis mi [153]-it-ti dHu-wa-wa da-pi-nim
il(?)-ku-ut is-tu
i-wa-al-dam-ma tar-bi-a i-na sam-mu(?) Il(?)
is-hi-it-ka-ma la-bu ka-la-ma ti-di
it- ku(?) ..... [il(?)]-pu-tu-(?) ma .....
.............. ka-ma
.............. si pi-ti
............ ki-ma re'i(?) na-gi-la sa-rak-ti
.... [ta-sá-s]i-a-am tu-lim-mi-in li-ib-bi
[ga-ti lu]-us-ku-un-ma
[lu-u-ri]-ba-am iserini
[sú-ma sá]-ta-ru-ú a-na-ku lu-us-ta-ak-na
[pu-tu-ku(?)] ib-ri a-na ki-is-ka-tim lu-mu-ha
[be-le-e li-is-]-pu-ku i-na mah-ri-ni
[pu-tu]-ku a-na ki-is-ka-ti-i i-mu-hu
wa-ás-bu us-ta-da-nu um-mi-a-nu
pa-si is-pu-ku ra-bu-tim
ha-as-si-ni 3 biltu-ta-a-an is-tap-ku
pa-at-ri is-pu-ku ra-bu-tim
me-se-li-tum 2 biltu-ta-a-an
si-ip-ru 30 ma-na-ta-a-an sá a-hi-si-na
isid(?) pa-at-ri 30 ma-na-ta-a-an hurasi
[d]Gis ù [dEn-ki-]du 10 biltu-ta-a-an sá-ak-nu]
.... ul-la . .[Uruk]ki 7 i-di-il-sú
...... is-me-ma um-ma-nu ib-bi-ra
[us-te-(?)]-mi-a i-na sûki sá Urukki ri-bi-tim
...... [u-se(?)]-sa-sú dGis
[ina sûki sá(?) Urukki] ri-bi-tim
[dEn-ki-du(?) ú]-sá-ab i-na mah-ri-sú
..... [ki-a-am(?) i-ga]-ab-bi
[........ Urukki ri]-bi-tim
[ma-ha-ar-sú]
Col. V.
dGis sá i-ga-ab-bu-ú lu-mu-ur
sá sú-um-sú it-ta-nam-ma-la ma-ta-tum
lu-uk-sú-su-ma i-na ki-is-ti iserini
ki-ma da-an-nu pi-ir-hu-um sá Urukki
lu-si-es-mi ma-tam
ga-ti lu-us-ku-un-ma lu-uk-[sú] [154]-su-ma iserini
sú-ma sá-ta-ru-ú a-na-ku lu-us-tak-nam
si-bu-tum sá Urukki ri-bi-tim
zi-ik-ra ú-ti-ir-ru a-na dGis
si-ih-ri-ti-ma dGis libbi-ka na-si-ka
mi-im-ma sá te-te-ni-pu-sú la ti-di
ni-si-im-me-ma dHu-wa-wa sá-nu-ú bu-nu-sú
ma-an-nu-um [us-tam]-ha-ru ka-ak-ki-sú
a-na istên(-en) [kas-gíd-ta-a]-an nu-ma-at kisti
ma-an-nu sá [ur-ra]-du a-na libbi-sá
dHu-wa-wa ri-ig-ma-sú a-bu-bu
pi-sú dBil-gi-ma na-pi-su mu-tum
am-mi-nim tah-si-ih an-ni-a-am e-pi-sá
ga-ba-al-la ma-ha-ar sú-pa-at dHu-wa-wa
is-me-e-ma dGis zi-ki-ir ma-li-[ki]-sú
ip-pa-al-sa-am-ma i-si-ih a-na ib-[ri-sú]
i-na-an-na ib-[ri] ki-a-am [a-ga-ab-bi]
a-pa-al-ah-sú-ma a-[al-la-ak a-na kisti]
[lu]ul-[lik it-ti-ka a-na ki-is-ti iserini(?)]
(About five lines missing.)
........................ -ma
li ............... -ka
ilu-ka li(?) ..............-ka
harrana li-sá-[tir-ka a-na sú-ul-mi]
a-na kar sá [Urukki ri-bi-tim]
ka-mi-is-ma dGis [ma-ha-ar dSamas(?)]
a-wa-at i-ga-ab- [bu-sú-ma]
a-al-la-ak dSamas katâ-[ka a-sa-bat]
ul-la-nu lu-us-li-ma na-pi-[is-ti]
te-ir-ra-an-ni a-na kar i-[na Urukki]
si-il-[la]m sú-ku-un [a-na ia-a-si(?)]
is-si-ma dGis ib-[ri.....]
te-ir-ta-sú ..........
is(?) ..............
tam ................
........................
i-nu(?)-[ma] ..................
(About two lines missing.)
Col. VI.
[a-na-ku] dGis [i-ik]-ka-di ma-tum
........... harrana sá la al-[kam] ma-ti-ma
.... a-ka-lu ..... la(?) i-di
[ul-la-nu] lu-us-li-[mu] a-na-ku
[lu-ud-lul]-ka i-na [h]u-ud li-ib-bi
...... [sú]-ku-ut-[ti] la-li-ka
[lu-se-sib(?)] - ka i-na kussêmes
....................... ú-nu-su
[bêlêmes(?)ú-ti-ir]-ru ra-bu-tum
[ka-as-tum] ù is-pa-tum
[i-na] ga-ti is-ku-nu
[il-]te-ki pa-si
....... -ri is-pa-as-su
..... [a-na] ili sá-ni-tam
[it-ti pa(?)] - tar-[sú] i-na si-ip-pi-sú
........ i-ip-pu-sú a-la-kam
[sa]-nis ú-ga-ra-bu dGis
[a-di ma]-ti tu-ut-te-ir a-na libbi Urukki
[si-bu]-tum i-ka-ra-bu-sú
[a-na] harrani i-ma-li-ku dGis
[la t]a-at-kal dGis a-na e-[mu]-ki-ka
[a-]ka-lu sú-wa-ra-ma ú-sur ra-ma-an-ka
[li]-il-lik dEn-ki-du i-na pa-ni-ka
[ur-ha]-am a-we-ir a-lik harrana(-na)
[a-di] sá kisti ni-ri-bi-tim
[sá(?)] [d]Hu-wa-wa ka-li-sú-nu si-ip-pi-ih(?)-sú
[sa(?)a-lik] mah-ra tap-pa-a ú-sá-lim
[harrana](-na)-sú sú-wa-ra-[ma ú-sur ra-ma-na-ka]
[li-sak-sid]-ka ir-[ni-ta]-ka dSamas
[ta]-ak-bi-a-at pi-ka li-kal-li-ma i-na-ka
li-ip-ti-ku pa-da-nam pi-hi-tam
harrana li-is-ta-zi-ik a-na ki-ib-si-ka
sá-di-a li-is-ta-zi-ik a-na sêpi-ka
mu-si-it-ka aw-a-at ta-ha-du-ú
li-ib-la-ma dLugal-ban-da li-iz-zi-iz-ka
i-na ir-ni-ti-ka
ki-ma si-ih-ri ir-ni-ta-ka-ma lus-mida(-da)
i-na na-ri sá dHu-wa-wa sá tu-sa-ma-ru
mi-zi si-pi-ka
i-na bat-ba-ti-ka hi-ri bu-ur-tam
lu-ka-a-a-nu mê ellu i-na na-di-ka
[ka-]su-tim me-e a-na dSamas ta-na-di
[li-is]ta-ha-sa-as dLugal-ban-da
[dEn-ki-]du pi-su i-pu-sá-am-ma, iz-za-kàr a-na dGis
[is(?)]-tu(?) ta-ás-dan-nu e-pu-us a-la-kam
[la pa]la-ah libbi-ka ia-ti tu-uk-la-ni
[sú-ku-]un i-di-a-am sú-pa-as-su
[harrana(?)]sá dHu-wa-wa it-ta-la-ku
.......... ki-bi-ma te-[ir]-sú-nu-ti
(Three lines missing.)
L.E.
.............. nam-ma-la
............... il-li-ku it-ti-ia
............... ba-ku-nu-si-im
......... [ul]-la(?)-nu i-na hu-ud li-ib-bi
[i-na se-me-e] an-ni-a ga-ba-sú
e-dis harrana(?) us-te-[zi-ik]
a-lik dGis lu-[ul-lik a-na pa-ni-ka]
li-lik il-ka ..........
li-sá-ak-lim-[ka harrana] ......
dGis ù[dEn-ki-du] .......
mu-di-es ..........
bi-ri-[su-nu] ........
TRANSLATION.
(About ten lines missing.)
Col. I.
.................. (my friend?)
[Something] that is exceedingly difficult,
[Why] dost thou desire
[to do this?]
.... something (?) that is very [difficult (?)],
[Why dost thou] desire
[to go down to the forest]?
A message [they carried] among [men]
They carried about.
They made a ....
.............. they brought
..............................
..............................
(About 17 lines missing.)
.............................
................... my friend
................ they raised .....
answer [they returned.]
[To] the woman
They proceeded to the overthrowing
Col. II.
(About eleven lines missing.)
.......... name(?) .............
[The one who is] a rival [to him]
subdue and ................
Wailing ................
The mother [of Gish, who knows everything]
Before [Shamash raised her hand]
Who
Now(?) [why]
hast thou stirred up the heart for my son,
[Restlessness imposed upon him (?)]
............................
(About four lines missing.)
The eyes [of Enkidu filled with tears].
[He clutched] his heart;
[Sadly(?)] he sighed.
[The eyes of En]kidu filled with tears.
[He clutched] his heart;
[Sadly(?)] he sighed.
The face [of Gish was grieved].
[He spoke] to Enkidu:
["My friend, why are] thy eyes
[Filled with tears]?
Thy [heart clutched]
Dost thou sigh [sadly(?)]?"
[Enkidu opened his mouth] and
spoke to Gish:
"Attacks, my friend,
have exhausted my strength(?).
My arms are lame,
my strength has become weak."
Gish opened his mouth and
spoke to Enkidu:
(About four lines missing.)
Col. III.
..... [until] Huwawa, [the terrible],
........................
............ [I destroyed].
[I will go down to the] cedar forest,
................... the jungle
............... tambourine (?)
................ I will open it.
Enkidu opened his mouth and
spoke to Gish:
"Know, my friend, in the mountain,
when I moved about with the cattle
to a distance of one double hour into the heart of the forest,
[Alone?] I penetrated within it,
[To] Huwawa, whose roar is a flood,
whose mouth is fire,
whose breath is death.
Why dost thou desire
To do this?
To advance towards
the dwelling(?) of Huwawa?"
Gish opened his mouth and
[spoke to Enkidu:
"... [the covering(?)] I will destroy.
....[in the forest]
....................
....................
To .................
The dwelling [of Huwawa]
The axe ..........
Thou ..........
I will [go down to the forest]."
Enkidu opened his mouth and
spoke to [Gish:]
"When [together(?)] we go down
To the [cedar] forest,
whose guardian, O warrior Gish,
a power(?) without [rest(?)],
Huwawa, an offspring(?) of ....
Adad ......................
He ........................
Col. IV.
To keep safe [the cedar forest],
[Enlil has decreed for it] seven-fold terror."
Gish [opened] his mouth and
spoke to [Enkidu]:
"Whoever, my friend, overcomes (?) [terror(?)],
it is well (for him) with Shamash for the length of [his days].
Mankind will speak of it at the gates.
Wherever terror is to be faced,
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
Thy prowess lacks strength.
I will go before thee.
Though thy mouth calls to me; "thou art afraid to approach."
If I fall, I will establish my name.
Gish, the corpse(?) of Huwawa, the terrible one,
has snatched (?) from the time that
My offspring was born in ......
The lion restrained (?) thee, all of which thou knowest.
........................
.............. thee and
................ open (?)
........ like a shepherd(?) .....
[When thou callest to me], thou afflictest my heart.
I am determined
[to enter] the cedar forest.
I will, indeed, establish my name.
[The work(?)], my friend, to the artisans I will entrust.
[Weapons(?)] let them mould before us."
[The work(?)] to the artisans they entrusted.
A dwelling(?) they assigned to the workmen.
Hatchets the masters moulded:
Axes of 3 talents each they moulded.
Lances the masters moulded;
Blades(?) of 2 talents each,