An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic
[124] According to Professor Clay, quite certainly Amurru, just as
in the case of Enkidu.
[125] Gressmann in Ungnad-Gressmann, _Das Gilgamesch-Epos_, p. 100
_seq._ touches upon this _motif_, but fails to see the main point that
the companions are also twins or at least brothers. Hence such examples
as Abraham and Lot, David and Jonathan, Achilles and Patroclus,
Eteokles and Polyneikes, are not parallels to Gilgamesh-Enkidu, but
belong to the _enlargement_ of the _motif_ so as to include companions
who are _not_ regarded as brothers.
[126] Or Romus. See Rendell Harris, l. c., p. 59, note 2.
[127] One might also include the primeval pair Yama-Yami with their
equivalents in Iranian mythology (Carnoy, _Iranian Mythology_,
p. 294 _seq._).
[128] Becoming, however, a triad and later increased to
seven. Cf. Rendell Harris, l. c., p. 32.
[129] I am indebted to my friend, Professor A. J. Carnoy, of the
University of Louvain, for having kindly gathered and placed at my
disposal material on the "twin-brother" _motif_ from Indo-European
sources, supplemental to Rendell Harris' work.
[130] On the other hand, _Uruk mâtum_ for the district of Erech, i.e.,
the territory over which the city holds sway, appears in both versions
(Pennsylvania tablet, 1. 10 = Assyrian version I, 5, 36).
[131] "My likeness" (line 27). It should be noted, however, that
lines 32-44 of I, 5, in Jensen's edition are part of a fragment K 9245
(not published, but merely copied by Bezold and Johns, and placed at
Jensen's disposal), which may represent a _duplicate_ to I, 6, 23-34,
with which it agrees entirely except for one line, viz., line 34 of
K 9245 which is not found in column 6, 23-34. If this be correct,
then there is lacking after line 31 of column 5, the interpretation
of the dream given in the Pennsylvania tablet in lines 17-23.
[132] _ina sap-li-ki_, literally, "below thee," whereas in the old
Babylonian version we have _ana si-ri-ka_, "towards thee."
[133] Repeated I, 6, 28.
[134] _ul-tap-rid ki-is-su-sú-ma_. The verb is from _parâdu_,
"violent." For _kissu_, "strong," see _CT_ XVI, 25, 48-49. Langdon
(_Gilgamesh Epic_, p. 211, note 5) renders the phrase: "he shook his
murderous weapon!!"--another illustration of his haphazard way of
translating texts.
[135] Shown by the colophon (Jeremias, _Izdubar-Nimrod_, Plate IV.)
[136] Lines 42-43 must be taken as part of the narrative of the
compiler, who tells us that after the woman had informed Enkidu that
Gilgamesh already knew of Enkidu's coming through dreams interpreted
by Ninsun, Gilgamesh actually set out and encountered Enkidu.
[137] Tablet I, col. 4. See also above, p. 19.
[138] IV, 2, 44-50. The word _ullanum_, (l.43) "once" or "since,"
points to the following being a reference to a former recital, and
not an original recital.
[139] Only the lower half (Haupt's edition, p. 82) is preserved.
[140] "The eyes of Enkidu were filled with tears," corresponding to
IV, 4, 10.
[141] Unless indeed the number "seven" is a slip for the sign sa. See
the commentary to the line.
[142] I.e., paid homage to the meteor.
[143] I.e., the heroes of Erech raised me to my feet, or perhaps in
the sense of "supported me."
[144] I.e., Enkidu.
[145] I.e., "thy way of life."
[146] I.e., the man.
[147] I.e., an idiomatic phrase meaning "for all times."
[148] I.e., Enkidu became like Gish, godlike. Cf. col. 2, 11.
[149] He was thrown and therefore vanquished.
[150] Epithet given to Ninsun. See the commentary to the line.
[151] Scribal error for _an_.
[152] Text apparently _di_.
[153] Hardly _ul_.
[154] Omitted by scribe.
[155] _Kisti_ omitted by scribe.
[156] I.e., at night to thee, may Lugal-banda, etc.
[157] The enumeration here is according to Langdon's edition.