The Epic of Gilgamesh Read online

  The Epic of Gilgamesh

  By Various Authors

  This is the Seedbox Classics edition of The Epic of Gilgamesh.

  Copyright © 2011, Seedbox Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No Part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of short excerpts used in published reviews. For further information visit Seedbox Press, LLC.

  ISBN: 978-1-937810-40-5 (e-book)

  Cover designed by Brenda Gates

  Cover image © Ian Seriykotik

  Translated by William Muss-Arnolt

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Tablet I

  Tablet II

  Tablet III

  Tablet IV

  Tablet V

  Tablet VI

  Tablet VII and Tablet VIII

  Tablet IX

  Tablet X

  Tablet XI

  Tablet XII

  Illustration Gallery: Maps

  Illustration Gallery: Gilgamesh

  Recommended Reading

  About the Editor

  Introduction

  The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from Mesopotamia. It is one of the oldest known literary works. Preserved on 12 clay tablets, the story focuses on Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his relationship with companion Enkidu along with their wild adventures and the reaction of the gods to those dangerous excursions. The poem also addresses grief, death, and the quest for eternal life.

  Tablet I

  Of this tablet only a few fragments are preserved. It reads thus:

  He who has seen the history of Gilgamesh,

  [He who] knows all [that has happened to him]

  [He who] has seen all kinds of wisdom,

  [and] knows the mysteries and has seen what is hidden,

  he bringeth news dating farther back [than the deluge];

  He has traveled far-distant roads,

  and become weary * * *

  [and now he has written] on a memorial tablet all the other things

  * * * the wall of Uruk-supuru

  Lines ten and eleven are missing

  He spoke a charm which does not leave [him]

  * * * the god who from distant days * * *

  * * * his cattle forsook him.

  * * * he went down to the river,

  pushed into the river his boat and covered [it].

  * * * full of sorrows he wept bitterly.

  He returned to the city of Gan-gan-na, which the enemy had destroyed completely.

  The she-asses have trampled down their foals;

  The cows in madness turn upon their calves.

  And as the cattle were frightened, so were the people.

  Like the doves, the maidens sigh and mourn.

  The gods of Uruk, the strong-walled,

  Assume the shape of flies and buzz about the streets.

  The protecting deities of Uruk, the strong-walled,

  take on the shape of mice and hurry into their holes.

  Three years the enemy besieged the city of Uruk;

  the city's gates were barred, the bolts were shot.

  And even Ishtar, the goddess, could not make head against the enemy.

  But Bel opened his mouth, said

  to Ishtar, the queen, and spoke to her thus:

  The rest of the text is broken off; traces still allow us to read "Babylon the city of joy.”The death of the king must have created consternation in the city, described above. Then, Gilgamesh comes to the city as her savior, and later on appears as her king.

  Tablet II

  With the exception of Column I the text of this tablet is preserved almost completely. Gilgamesh is introduced as the ruler of Uruk, but his rule soon became unpopular, since he compelled all the young men of the city to enter his service, and carried off the maidens to his court. The parents complained, saying:

  Not does Gilgamesh leave the son to his father,

  nor the maiden to the warrior, nor the wife to her husband.

  Their wailing and lament [is heard everywhere].

  "Ye gods of heaven, and thou Bel of Uruk,

  who didst bring my son into existence, [save us!],

  He (Gilgamesh) has not a rival [in all the land].

  Thy people now come [to thee for help].

  Gilgamesh leaves not to the father his child." Day and night [they poured out their plaint]:

  "He the ruler of Uruk the strong-walled.

  He their ruler and

  the strong, the lofty, the cunning [* * *]

  Gilgamesh does not leave a daughter to [her mother?]

  nor the maiden to the warrior, nor the wife to her husband."

  [The gods of heaven] heard their cry.

  They also cried aloud to Aruru, the goddess, saying: "Aruru, who hast created him,

  Create now a rival to him, for the time when his heart shall be [* * *],

  Let them fight together and Uruk [shall be the spectator]!"

  Upon hearing this Aruru created in her heart a man after the likeness of Anu.

  Aruru washed her hands, took a bit of clay, and cast it on the ground.

  Thus she created Enkidu, the hero, a lofty offspring, the possession of Ninib.

  His whole body was covered with hair; he had long hair on his head Tike a woman;

  His flowing hair was luxuriant like that of the corn-god.

  Contrary to the custom of the people and of the land, he was clothed with garments, as god Ner;

  He ate herbs with the gazelles.

  He quenched his thirst with the beasts.

  He sported about with the creatures of the water.

  Sa-a-a-du, the hunter of men.

  Lay in wait for him at the entrance to the well.

  The first, the second, and the third day he lay in wait for

  him at the entrance to the well.

  But when he saw him the hunter's face looked troubled,

  [beholding Enkidu and?] his cattle, and he returned to his home.

  * * * he was sad, and moaned, and wailed;

  his heart grew heavy], his face became clouded,

  and sadness [entered] into his mind.

  His face became like unto [the distant * * *].

  The hunter, obeying the command of Gilgamesh, intended to advance against Enkidu; but at the sight of him he drew back in fear, and was unable to catch him.

  The hunter opened his mouth and said unto [Ea, or Shamash, his father]:

  "My father, one hero, going there [is not strong enough].

  In heaven is * * *

  Like that of a Kisir Anuis his strength;

  he roams over [all] the mountains;

  with the beasts of the field he regularly [feeds].

  His feet are regularly set toward the entrance of the well.

  I am afraid of him, I do not dare to go near him.

  He has filled up the pit that I digged,

  and has destroyed the hunter's nets which I [had spread over it].

  From my hands he has made to escape the cattle and the beasts of the field,

  and does not allow me to hunt them."

  His father opened his mouth and] spoke thus to the hunter:

  ["Go and wend thy way] to Uruk, the city of Gilgamesh.

  The fragments of lines following show that the hunter was to find there a tempter called Shamhat, in order to entice, with her assistance, the sensuous Enkidu, and bring him to Uruk. Obeying the advice of his father, the hunter goes to Uruk [the city of Gilgamesh].

  [Into the presence] of Gilgamesh [stepped the hunter, and said:]

  And now follows a repetition of the same report of the hunter concerning his failure to capture Enkidu, the address " my father," of course, being omitted.r />
  Thereupon:

  Gilgamesh spoke to the hunter and said:

  "Go, hunter mine, and take the ensnarer Shamhat with thee.

  And when the beasts come down to the well,

  then let her tear off her dress and disclose her nakedness.

  Enkidu will see her, and he shall approach unto her,

  and the cattle, which gather around him on the field, shall forsake him."

  The hunter departed, and took with him the woman Shamhat.

  Together they proceeded straightway, and

  On the third day they reached the appointed field.

  There the hunter and the ensnarer rested at their seat.

  One day, two days, they lurked at the entrance to the well,

  where the cattle were accustomed to slake their thirst,

  where the creatures of the waters were sporting.

  Then [came] Enkidu, whose home was the mountains,

  who with gazelles ate herbs,

  and with the cattle slaked his thirst,

  and with the creatures of the waters rejoiced his heart.

  And Shamhat, the enticer of men, beheld him * * *

  "Behold, there he is" (the hunter exclaimed); "now disclose thy womb,

  uncover thy nakedness, and let him enjoy thy favors.

  Be not ashamed, but yield to his sensuous lust.

  He shall see thee and shall approach unto thee;

  Remove thy garment, and he shall lie in thine arms;

  satisfy his desire after the manner of women;

  then his cattle, raised with him on the field, shall forsake him

  while he firmly presses his breast upon thine."

  And Shamhat disclosed her womb, uncovered her nakedness, and let him enjoy her favors.

  She was not ashamed, but yielded to his sensuous lust.

  She removed her garment, he lay in her arms,

  and she satisfied his desire after the manner of women.

  He pressed his breast firmly upon hers.

  For six days and seven nights Enkidu enjoyed the love of Shamhat.

  And when he had sated himself with her charms,

  he turned his countenance toward his cattle.

  The gazelles, resting, beheld Enkidu; they and

  the cattle of the field turned away from him.

  This startled Enkidu and his body grew faint;

  his knees became stiff, as his cattle departed,

  and he became less agile than ever before.

  And as he hearkened, he made a resolve.

  He turned again, in love enthralled, to the feet of the harlot,

  and gazed up into the face of the ensnarer.

  And while the ensnarer spoke, his ears listened attentively;

  and the siren spoke to Enkidu and said:

  "Lofty thou art, Enkidu, thou shalt be like a god; Why, then, doest thou lie down with the beasts of the field?

  Come, I will take thee to strong-walled Uruk;

  to the glorious house, the dwelling of Anu and Ishtar,

  the palace of Gilgamesh, (the hero) who is perfect in strength,

  surpassing, like a mountain bull, men in power."

  While she spoke thus to him, he hearkened unto her

  wise speech, and his heart yearned for a friend.

  And Enkidu spoke unto her, the ensnarer:

  "Come then, Shamhat, take me, and lead me

  to the glorious dwelling, the sacred seat of Anu and Ishtar,

  to the palace * of Gilgamesh, (the hero) who is perfect in

  strength, surpassing, like as a mountain bull, men in power."

  Here the text becomes very broken, only the latter half of a number of lines being preserved. As to the contents, this much may be said: Enkidu intends to test the strength of the famous hero [Gilgamesh] whose friendship he desires by means of a "lion, born in the desert and powerful in strength."

  The Shamhat leads Enkidu to Uruk. As they arrived, the inhabitants of Uruk, clothed "in festive garments," were celebrating a festival—perhaps the Tammuz festival. The end of Col. V seems to be a warning to Enkidu, received in a dream:

  "Gilgamesh will behold [thee].

  I behold [* * *] his face,

  it glows with heroic courage.

  Strength he possesses, [magnificent] is his whole body.

  His power is stronger than thine.

  He rests not [nor tires], neither by day nor by night.

  O Enkidu, change thy [intention].

  Shamash loves Gilgamesh;

  Anu, Bel, and Ea are whispering (wisdom) into his ear.

  Ere thou earnest down from the mountain

  Gilgamesh beheld thee in a dream in Uruk."

  Here the address seems to end, and the narrative returns to its hero, Gilgamesh, who also had a dream, and was troubled because he could not interpret it.

  Gilgamesh came, to understand the dream, and said to his mother:

  "My mother, I dreamed a dream in my nightly vision;

  The stars of heaven, like Ami's host, fell upon me * * *"

  Another dream, the subject of which is likewise Enkidu and his adventures with the ensnarer Shamhat. The fragments indicate that the mother advised her son to make friendship with Enkidu, the giant.

  Gilgamesh sought to interpret the dream;

  Spoke to his mother:

  “My mother, during my night

  I became strong and moved about

  among the heroes;

  And from the starry heaven

  A meteor of Anu fell upon me:

  I bore it and it grew heavy upon me,

  I became weak and its weight I could not endure.

  The land of Uruk gathered about it.

  The heroes kissed its feet.

  It was raised up before me.

  They stood me up.

  I bore it and carried it to thee.”

  The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows all things,

  Spoke to Gilgamesh:

  “Some one, O Gilgamesh, who like thee

  In the field was born and

  Whom the mountain has reared,

  Thou wilt see [him] and [like a woman] thou wilt rejoice.

  Heroes will kiss his feet.

  Thou wilt spare [him and wilt endeavor]

  To lead him to me.”

  He slept and saw another

  Dream, which he reported to his mother:

  [“My mother,] I have seen another

  [Dream.] My likeness I have seen in the streets

  [Of Uruk] of the plazas.

  An axe was brandished, and

  They gathered about him;

  And the axe made him angry.

  I saw him and I rejoiced,

  I loved him as a woman,

  I embraced him.

  I took him and regarded him

  As my brother.”

  The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows all things,

  [Spoke to Gilgamesh]:

  [“O Gilgamesh, the man whom thou sawest,]

  [Whom thou didst embrace like a woman].

  (means) that he is to be associated with thee.”

  Gish understood the dream.

  [As] Enki[du] was sitting before the woman,

  [Her] loins he embraced, her vagina he opened.

  [Enkidu] forgot the place where he was born.

  Six days and seven nights

  Enkidu continued

  To cohabit with [the courtesan].

  [The woman] opened her [mouth] and

  Spoke to Enkidu:

  “I gaze upon thee, O Enkidu, like a god art thou!

  Why with the cattle

  Dost thou [roam] across the field?

  Come, let me lead thee

  into [Uruk] of the plazas,

  to the holy house, the dwelling of Anu,

  O, Enkidu arise, let me conduct thee

  To Eanna, the dwelling of Anu,

  The place [where Gilgamesh is, perfect] in vitality.

  And thou [like a wife wilt embrace] him. />
  Thou [wilt love him like] thyself.

  Come, arise from the ground

  [that is] cursed.”

  He heard her word and accepted her speech.

  The counsel of the woman

  Entered his heart.

  She stripped off a garment,

  Clothed him with one.

  Another garment

  She kept on herself.

  She took hold of his hand.

  Like [a god] she brought him

  To the fertile meadow,

  The place of the sheepfolds.

  In that place they received food;

  [For he, Enkidu, whose birthplace was the mountain,]

  [With the gazelles he was accustomed to eat herbs,]

  [With the cattle to drink water,]

  [With the water beings he was happy.]

  Milk of the cattle

  He was accustomed to suck.

  Food they placed before him,

  He broke [it] off and looked

  And gazed.

  Enkidu had not known

  To eat food.

  To drink wine

  He had not been taught.

  The woman opened her mouth and

  Spoke to Enkidu:

  “Eat food, O Enkidu,

  The provender of life!

  Drink wine, the custom of the land!”

  Enkidu ate food

  Till he was satiated.

  Wine he drank,

  Seven goblets.

  His spirit was loosened, he became hilarious.

  His heart became glad and

  His face shone.

  [The barber] removed

  The hair on his body.

  He was anointed with oil.

  He became manlike.

  He put on a garment,

  He was like a man.

  He took his weapon;

  Lions he attacked,

  [so that] the night shepherds could rest.

  He plunged the dagger;

  Lions he overcame.

  The great [shepherds] lay down;

  Enkidu was their protector.

  The strong man,

  The unique hero,

  To [the shepherds] he speaks:

  About thirteen lines missing.

  Making merry.

  He lifted up his eyes,

  He sees the man.

  He spoke to the woman:

  “O, courtesan, lure on the man.