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The Epic of Gilgamish

Stephen Langdon

i[- -]di i-si? si-iz-ba sa[na-ma-]as-[te]-e i-te- en- ni- ik ka-ia-na i-na [libbi] Uruk-(ki) kak-ki-a-tum [46] id-lu-tum u-te-el-li- lu sa-ki-in ip-sa- nu [47] a-na idli sa i-tu-ru zi-mu-su a-na iluGilgamis ki-ma i-li-im sa-ki-is-sum [48] me-ih-rum a-na ilatIs-ha-ra ma-ia-lum na- [di]-i- ma iluGilgamish id-[ ]na-an(?)... i-na mu-si in-ni-[ -]id i-na-ak [49]-sa-am- ma it-ta-[ ]i-na zuki ip-ta-ra-[ku ]-ak-tam sa iluGilgamish ........... da-na(?) ni-is-su COL. III [ERROR: unhandled comment start] SIC --> ur-(?)ha ..................... iluGilgamis ................ i-na si-ri .................... i-ha-an-ni-ib [pi-ir-ta-su?] it-bi-ma ... a-na pa-ni- su it-tam-ha-ru i-na ri-bi-tu ma-ti iluEn-ki-du ba-ba-am ip-ta-ri-ik i-na si-pi-su iluGilgamis e-ri-ba-am u-ul id-di-in is-sa-ab-tu-ma ki-ma li-i-im i- lu- du [50] zi-ip-pa-am 'i-bu- tu i-ga-rum ir-tu-tu [51] iluGilgamis u iluEn-ki- du is-sa-ab-tu-u- ma ki-ma li-i-im i-lu-du zi-ip-pa-am 'i-bu- tu i-ga-rum ir-tu-tu ik-mi-is-ma iluGilgamis i-na ga-ga-ag-ga-ri si-ip-su ip-si-ih [52] us-sa-su- ma i-ni-'i i-ra-az-zu is-tu i-ra-zu i-ni-hu [53] iluEn-ki-du a-na sa-si-im iz-za-kar-am a-na iluGilgamis ki-ma is-te-en-ma um-ma-ka u- li- id- ka ri-im-tum sa zu- pu-ri ilat-Nin- sun- na ul-lu e-li mu-ti ri-es-su sar-ru-tam sa ni-si i-si-im-kum iluEn-lil duppu 2 kam-ma su-tu-ur e-li ... 4 su-si [54] TRANSLATION Gilgamish arose interpreting dreams, addressing his mother. "My mother! during my night I, having become lusty, wandered about in the midst of omens. And there came out stars in the heavens, Like a ... of heaven he fell upon me. I bore him but he was too heavy for me. He bore a net but I was not able to bear it. I summoned the land to assemble unto him, that heroes might kiss his feet. He stood up before me [55] and they stood over against me. I lifted him and carried him away unto thee." The mother of Gilgamish she that knows all things, said unto Gilgamish:-- "Truly oh Gilgamish he is born [56] in the fields like thee. The mountains have reared him. Thou beholdest him and art distracted(?) Heroes kiss _his_ feet. Thou shalt spare him.... Thou shalt lead him to me." Again he dreamed and saw another dream and reported it unto his mother. "My mother, I have seen another [dream. I beheld] my likeness in the street. In Erech of the wide spaces [57] he hurled the axe, and they assembled about him. Another axe seemed his visage. I saw him and was astounded. I loved him as a woman, falling upon him in embrace. I took him and made him my brother." The mother of Gilgamish she that knows all things [said unto Gilgamish:--] ................................... COL. II that he may join with thee in endeavor." (Thus) Gilgamish solves (his) dream. Enkidu sitting before the hierodule [ ] forgot where he was born. Six days and seven nights came forth Enkidu and cohabited with the courtesan. The hierodule opened her mouth speaking unto Enkidu. "I behold thee Enkidu; like a god thou art. Why with the animals wanderest thou on the plain? Come! I will lead thee into the midst of Erech of the wide places, even unto the holy house, dwelling place of Anu. Oh Enkidu, arise, I will conduct thee unto Eanna dwelling place of Anu, where Gilgamish [_oppresses_] the souls of men(?) And as I ............ thou shalt ........ thyself. Come thou, arise from the ground unto the place yonder (?) of the shepherd." He heard her speak and accepted her words with favor. The advice of the woman fell upon his heart. She tore off one garment and clothed him with it. With a second garment she clothed herself. She clasped his hand, guiding him like .............. unto the mighty presence of the shepherd, unto the place of the ... of the sheepfolds. In ......... to shepherd ............................. (About two lines broken away.) COL. III Milk of the cattle he drank. Food they placed before him. He broke bread [58] gazing and looking. But Enkidu understood not. Bread to eat, beer to drink, he had not been taught. The hierodule opened her mouth and said unto Enkidu:-- "Eat bread, oh Enkidu! It is the conformity of life, of the conditions and the fate of the land." Enkidu ate bread, until he was satiated. Beer he drank seven _times_(?). His thoughts became unbounded and he shouted loudly. His heart became joyful, and his face glowed. He stroked................. _the hair of the head_. [59] His body with oil he anointed. He became like a man. He attired himself with clothes even as does a husband. He seized his weapon, which the panther and lion fells in the night time cruelly. He captured the wild mountain goats. The panther he conquered. Among the great _sheep for sacrifice_ Enkidu was their guard. A man, a leader, A hero. Unto .......... he elevated ........................... (About five lines broken away.) REVERSE I .............................. And he made glad. He lifted up his eyes, and beheld the man, and said unto the hierodule:-- "Oh harlot, take away the man. Wherefore did he come to me? I would forget the memory of him." The hierodule called unto the man and came unto him beholding him. She sorrowed and was astonished how his ways were ............ Behold she opened her mouth saying unto Enkidu:-- "At home with a family [_to dwell_??] is the fate of mankind. Thou shouldest design boundaries(??) for a city. The trencher-basket put (upon thy head). .... ......an abode of comfort. For the king of Erech of the wide places open, addressing thy speech as unto a husband. Unto Gilgamish king of Erech of the wide places open, addressing thy speech as unto a husband. He cohabits with the wife decreed for him, even he formerly. But henceforth in the counsel which god has spoken, in the work of his presence shall be his fate." At the mention of the hero his face became pale. REVERSE II ............................................................ (About five lines broken away.) going ....................... and the harlot ..... after him. He entered into the midst of Erech of the wide places. The artisans gathered about him. And as he stood in the street of Erech of the wide places, the people assembled disputing round about him:-- "How is he become like Gilgamish suddenly? In form he is shorter. In ........ he is made powerful. Milk of the cattle he drank. Continually in the midst of Erech weapons the heroes purified. A project was instituted. Unto the hero whose countenance was turned away, unto Gilgamish like a god he became for him a fellow. For Ishara a couch was laid. Gilgamish ................... In the night he .............. embracing her in sleep. They ........ in the street halting at the ................ of Gilgamish. .......... mightily(?) COL. III A road(?) .................... Gilgamish ................... in the plain .................. his hair growing thickly like the corn. He came forth ... into his presence. They met in the wide park of the land. Enkidu held fast the door with his foot, and permitted not Gilgamish to enter. They grappled with each other goring like an ox. The threshold they destroyed. The wall they demolished. Gilgamish and Enkidu grappled with each other, goring like an ox. The threshold they destroyed. The wall they demolished. Gilgamish bowed to the ground at his feet and his javelin reposed. He turned back his breast. After he had turned back his breast, Enkidu unto that one spoke, even unto Gilgamish. "Even as one [60] did thy mother bear thee, she the wild cow of the cattle stalls, Ninsunna, whose head she exalted more than a husband. Royal power over the people Enlil has decreed for thee." Second tablet. Written upon ... 240 (lines). INDEX TO PARTS 2 AND 3 A. Adab, city, 123, 23. _addi_, wailing, 117, 31; 137, 22; 161, 12. _ahu_, brother, 212, 36. Aja, goddess, 198, 9. _al (gis)_, _al-gar (gis)_, a musical instrument, 187-191. See also No. 20 Rev. 7-12. _al-bi_, compound verb, 189 n. 6. In Ni. 8164 (unpublished) _al-gar_, _al-gar-balag_ in list with _(gis)-a-la_, also an instrument of music. _alad_, protecting genius, 154, 18. _amelis_, like a man, 215, 25. Amurru, god. Psalm to, 118; 119. _angubba_, sentinel, 180, 14. Anu, god. 116, 18:26 ff. 131, 8; 165, 9; 180, 20. Anunnaki, gods, 114, 17:21; 116, 25; 116 n. 7; 128, 13; 135, 31; 189, 21. Anunit, goddess, 158, 12; 166, 2. _apunnatu,_ nostrils, _pitik, apunnati_, 217, 28. _assammim_ (?), 215, 18. Arallu, 132, 26; 134, 7. _aramu_, cover, 198 n. 2. _araku_, be pale, Prt. _iriku_, 217, 31. _arhis_, quickly, 199, 28. Aruru, goddess. Lamentation to, 115. Sister of Enlil, 115, 2; 171, 29; 190, 25. Other references, 116, 13:15:18; 117, 34 f. Asarludug, god, 163, 8; 170, 4. As-im-ur, title of Moon-god, 136, 12. _as_ omitted, No. 19, 2. _as-me_, disk, 133, 38. Assirgi, god, No. 22, Rev. 7. Azagsud, goddess, 196, 30:33; 197, 38. B. Babbar, god, 116, 24; 139, 43; 147, 21; 148, 3; 152. Babylon, city, 158, 14; 160, 6; 163, 8; 166, 4:11. _badara_, see 200 n. 2. _badarani_, a weapon, 133, 36. _balag_, lyre, 138, 52. _bansur_, table; title of a goddess, 175, 3. Bau, goddess, 179, 2; 181, 30; 182, 32; 141, 7:10. _bisitu_, condition, 215, 14. _bi'u_, cavern, 196, 29. _bulukku_, crab, 174, 5. _burgul_, engraver, 185, 8. C. Cutha, city. Center of the cult of Nergal, 167, 15. D. Dada, god, 192, 6. Dagan, West Semitic god, 149, 21. Damu, title of Tammuz, 176, 7. Deification of kings, 106-9; 127 n. 1. _depu_, shatter, 195 n. 16. DI-BAL, ideogram in incantations, 194, 10. Dilbat, city, 167, 16. Dilmun, land and city, 112, 2:4. _dimgul_, _dimdul_, master workman, 150. _dingir-gal-gal-e-ne_, the great gods, the Anunnaki, 114, 21:125; 149, 19. dumu-anna, daughter of heaven, title of Bau, 179, 5; 181, 28; 184, 28. _dumu-sag_, title of Tasmet, 163, 12. Dungi, king of Ur, liturgy to, 136. _dupsakku_, trencher basket, 216, 17. Duranki, epithet for Nippur, 122, 18; 180, 11. E. E-anna, temple in Erech, 123, 30; 125; 148, 12; 213, 18. E-babbar, temple of the sun god, 152; 158, 11; 166, 1. Perhaps read E-barra. E-daranna, temple of Enki in Babylon, 169, 25; 170, 29. See BL. 133. _edelu_ = _ederu_, be gloomy, 216, 10. _e-dub_, house of learning, 117, 39. _e-gal_, palace, No. 19, Rev. 3; 115, 11; 131, 7; 134, 22; 158, 9. _e-gig_ = _kissu_, 191, 11. E-ibe-Anu, temple in Dilbat, 167, 16. E-kinammaka, temple, 115, 10. E-kisibba, temple in Kish, 166, 13.