THE E P I C OF GILGAMESH
Folk epics
are impersonal
accounts
of heroic
deeds
composed i n a simple and forceful
meter.
They were at f i r s t
unwritten,
transmitted
by minstrels
who chanted
them to the
accompaniment
of a musical
instrument.
They form the
early
l i t e r a t u r e of many c i v i l i z a t i o n s and are of great
interest
not
only for the tales
they t e l l but also for the i n s t i t u t ions and ideas
which they
describe.
The Sumerians
were the f i r s t people to produce
epic
tales
of semi-legendary
heroes,
the most famous of whom was
Gilgamesh,
ruler
of the c i t y - s t a t e of Uruk about 2700 BC.
About 2000 BC, or somewhat later,
an unknown
Babylonian
collected
some of the Gilgamesh
s t o r i e s , together
with
other
tales,
and wove them into a new whole. The
following
selections
are from the Babylonian
Epic of
Gilgamesh.
The theme which gives
unity to the varied
heroic
adventures
described
i n the Epic of Gilgamesh
i sthat of
death — the sudden
realization
that death w i l l cut short the
glorious
career
of the great hero and the f r a n t i c but
unsuccessful
search
for some means of l i v i n g forever.
The
story
opens with an account
of the f r i c t i o n between
Gilgamesh
and
the nobles
of Uruk, who claim
that t h e i r ruler
i s acting
tyrannically.
The nobles
appeal to the gods for aid, with the
result
that Enkidu i screated
by Aruru, the
mother-goddess,
to check Gilgamesh's
tyranny.
Gilgamesh
sends a harlot
to
tame Enkidu's
barbarous
nature
before
he i sbrought
to Uruk,
where the two heroes
fight
to a draw and thereafter
become
fast
friends.
Together
they set out on dangerous
adventures,
slaying
the t e r r i b l e monster
Huwawa who guards the Cedar
Forest
for the storm-god
E n l i l , insulating
the goddess
Ishtar
who f a l l s i n love with Gilgamesh—love
that here, as
elsewhere
i n the epic,
contains
no romantic
element--and
destroying
the awesome Bull of Heaven sent by the
angered
Ishtar
to k i l l Gilgamesh.
When next Enkidu dies as the
result
of E n l i l ' s displeasure
over the slaying
of Huwawa,
Gilgamesh
i s panic-stricken
by the sudden
realization
of the
stark
r e a l i t y of death. His l i f e i shenceforth
dominated
by the one
aim of finding
everlasting
l i f e . This leads him to search
out
Utnapishtim,
the one man to whom the gods have
granted
immortality,
i n order to learn
from him the secret
of
eternal
l i f e . The remainder
of the epic incorporates
the story
of the
Flood which originally
existed
as an independent
tale.
Utnapishtim
relates
how he obtained
eternal
l i f e a a reward
for the deeds he performed
at the time of the Flood. But t h i s
unique
event cannot be duplicated.
As a parting
g i f t to the
dejected
Gilgamesh,
Utnapishtim
t e l l s him of the Plant of
L i f e that grows on the bottom of the sea and renews the l i f e
of him who eats i t .But once again Gilgamesh's
hopes are
ended when the Plant of L i f e i sstolen
from him by a snake.
The epic ends with Gilgamesh's
b i t t e r lament over the
failure
of his quest;
though snakes may hereafter
slough off t h e i r
old skins
and eternally
renew t h e i r youth, the sad l o t of man'
i s old age and death.
THE E P I C OF GILGAMESH
He who saw e v e r y t h i n g t o t h e ends of t h e l a n d ,
Who a l l t h i n g s e x p e r i e n c e d , c o n s i d e r e d a l l ! . . .
T w o - t h i r d s of him i s god, o n e - t h i r d of him i s human. . .
The o n s l a u g h t of h i s weapons v e r i l y has no e q u a l .
By t h e drums a r e a r o u s e d h i s companions.
G i l g a m e s h ' s d e s p o t i c b e h a v i o r l e a d s t o t h e c r e a t i o n of E n k i d u
The n o b l e ' s of Uruk a r e gloomy i n t h e i r chambers:
"Gilgamesh l e a v e s not t h e son t o h i s f a t h e r ;
Day and n i g h t i s u n b r i d l e d h i s a r r o g a n c e .
Y e t t h i s i s G i l g a m e s h , t h e Shepherd of Uruk.
He s h o u l d be our s h e p h e r d : s t r o n g , s t a t e l y , and w i s e !
G i l g a m e s h l e a v e s not t h e maid t o h e r mother.
The w a r r i o r ' s d a u g h t e r , t h e n o b l e ' s spouse!"
The gods h e a r k e n e d t o t h e i r p l a i n t .
The gods of heaven, Uruk's l o r d s . . .
The g r e a t A r u r u t h e y c a l l e d :
"Thou, A r u r u , d i d s t c r e a t e Gilgamesh;
C r e a t e now h i s d o u b l e ;
H i s stormy h e a r t l e t him match.
L e t them contend, t h a t Uruk may have p e a c e ! " . . .
A r u r u washed h e r hands.
P i n c h e d o f f c l a y and c a s t i t on t h e s t e p p e .
On t h e s t e p p e she c r e a t e d v a l i a n t E n k i d u , . . .
Shaggy w i t h h a i r i s h i s whole body.
He I S endowd w i t h head h a i r l i k e a woman. . .
He knows n e i t h e r p e o p l e nor l a n d ; . . .
With t h e g a z e l l e s he f e e d s on g r a s s .
With t h e w i l d b e a s t s he j o s t l e s a t t h e w a t e r i n g - p l a c e .
With t h e t e e m i n g c r e a t u r e s h i s h e a r t d e l i g h t s i n w a t e r . . .
Having h e a r d o f t h e a n i m a l - l i k e E n k i d u , G i l g a m e s h sends a
h a r l o t t o c i v i l i z e him and b r i n g him t o Uruk.
The l a s s b e h e l d him, t h e savage-man.
The b a r b a r o u s f e l l o w from t h e depths of t h e s t e p p e . . .
The l a s s f r e e d h e r b r e a s t s , b a r e d h e r bosom.
And he p o s s e s s e d h e r r i p e n e s s .
She was not b a s h f u l as she welcomed h i s a r d o r .
She l a i d a s i d e h e r c l o t h e and he r e s t e d upon h e r .
She t r e a t e d him, t h e savage, t o a woman's t a s k .
As h i s l o v e was drawn unto h e r .
F o r s i x days and s e v e n n i g h t s E n k i d u comes f o r t h .
Mating w i t h the l a s s .
A f t e r he had h i s f i l l of h e r charms,
- He s a t h i s f a c e t o w a r d t h e w i l d b e a s t s .
On s e e i n g him, E n k i d u , t h e g a z e l l e s r a n o f f .
The w i l d b e a s t s o f t h e s t e p p e drew away from h i s body.
S t a r t l e d was E n k i d u , as h i s body became t a u t .
H i s knees were m o t i o n l e s s — f o r h i s w i l d b e a s t s had gone.
E n k i d u had t o s l a c k e n h i s p a c e — i t was not as b e f o r e ;
X7
But he now had wisdom, b r o a d e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g .
R e t u r n i n g , he s a ta t t h e f a c e o f t h e h a r l o t .
His e a r s a t t e n t i v e , a s t h e h a r l o t s p e a k s ;
The h a r l o t s a y s t o him, t o E n k i d u :
"Thou a r t w i s e , E n k i d u , a r t become l i k e agod!
Why w i t h t h ew i l d c r e a t u r e s d o s t thou roam o v e r t h e s t e p p e ?
Come, l e t me l e a d t h e e t o ramparted Uruk,
To t h e h o l y temple, abode o f Anu and I s h t a r ,
Where l i v e s G i l g a m e s h , a c c o m p l i s h e d i ns t r e n g t h .
And l i k e a w i l d ox l o r d s i t o v e r t h e f o l k . "
As s h e s p e a k s t o him, h e rwords f i n d f a v o r .
His h e a r t e n l i g h t e n e d , he y e a r n s f o ra f r i e n d . . .
Enkidu says to her, tothe h a r l o t :
"Up, l a s s , e s c o r t thou me.
To t h epure s a c r e d temple, abode o f Anu and I s h t a r ,
Where l i v e s G i l g a m e s h , a c c o m p l i s h e d i ns t r e n g t h .
And l i k e a w i l d ox l o r d s i t o v e r t h e f o l k .
I w i l l c h a l l e n g e him and w i l l b o l d l y a d d r e s s him,
I w i l l shout i nUruk: ' I am he who i smighty!. . .'"
The n o b l e s r e j o i c e d :
"A h e r o h a s appeared
For t h eman o f p r o p e r mien!
For G i l g a m e s h , t h eg o d l i k e .
His e q u a l h a s come f o r t h . " . . .
E n k i d u and G i l g a m e s h meet and b a t t l e t o a draw.
They meet i nt h e M a r k e t - o f - t h e - L a n d .
E n k i d u b a r r e d t h eg a t e w i t h h i s f o o t .
Not a l l o w i n g G i l g a m e s h t o e n t e r .
They g r a p p l e d e a c h o t h e r , b u t t i n g l i k e b u l l s .
The s h a t t e r e d t h e d o o r p o s t , a s t h ew a l l shook.
As G i l g a m e s h b e n t h i s k n e e — h i s f o o t on t h e g r o u n d —
His f u r y a b a t e d and he t u r n e d away. ..
They k i s s e d e a c h o t h e r
and formed a f r i e n d s h i p . . .
E n k i d u q u a i l s a t t h ep r o s p e c t o f f i g h t i n g t h e monstrous
Huwawa, g u a r d i a n o f t h e Cedar F o r e s t , and Gilgamesh r e a s s u r e s
him w i t h a r e m i n d e r o f a h e r o i c meaning o f l i f e .
G i l g a m e s h opened h i s mouth, s a y i n g t o E n k i d u :
" I n t h e f o r e s t r e s i d e s f i e r c e Huwawa.
L e t u s ,me and t h e e , s l a y him.
T h a t a l l e v i l from t h e l a n d we may b a n i s h ! . . .
E n k i d u opened h i s mouth, s a y i n g t o Gilgamesh:
" I found i t o u t , my f r i e n d , i nt h e h i l l s ,
As I was roaming w i t h t h ew i l d b e a s t s .
For t e nt h o u s a n d l e a g u e s e x t e n d s t h e f o r e s t .
Who i st h e r e t h a t would go down i n t o i t ?
Huwawa—his r o a r i n g i s the flood-storm.
His mouth i s f i r e , h i s b r e a t h i s d e a t h !
Why d o s t thou d e s i r e t o do t h i s t h i n g ?
An u n e q u a l s t r u g g l e i st a n g l i n g w i t h Huwawa". ..
If'
^
"
G i l g a m e s h opened h i s mouth, s a y i n g t o E n k i d u :
"Who, my f r i e n d , i s s u p e r i o r t o d e a t h ?
Only t h e gods l i v e f o r e v e r i n t h e sun.
As f o r mankind, numbered a r e t h e i r days;
Whatever t h e y a c h i e v e i s but t h e wind!
Even h e r e thou a r t a f r a i d o f d e a t h .
What of t h y h e r o i c might?
L e t me go t h e n b e f o r e t h e e .
L e t t h y v o i c e c a l l t o me, 'Advance, f e a r n o t ! '
S h o u l d I f a l l , I s h a l l have made me a name:
' G i l g a m e s h ' — t h e y w i l l s a y — ' a g a i n s t f i e r c e Huwawa
Has f a l l e n ! ' Long a f t e r
My o f f s p r i n g has been born i n my house,. . .
Thus c a l l i n g t o me, thou h a s t g r i e v e d my h e a r t .
My hand I w i l l p o i s e and w i l l f e l l t h e c e d a r s .
A name t h a t e n d u r e s I w i l l make f o r me!, . ."
Having s l a i n Huwawa, G i l g a m e s h n e x t s c o r n f u l l y r e j e c t s t h e
goddess I s h t a r ' s o f f e r o f l o v e , and she f o r c e s t h e gods t o
c r e a t e t h e B u l l o f Heaven t o p u n i s h h i s i n s o l e n c e .
I s h t a r was e n r a g e d and mounted t o heaven.
F o r t h went t o I s h t a r b e f o r e Anu, h e r f a t h e r .
To Antum, h e r mother, she went and s a i d :
"My f a t h e r , G i l g a m e s h has heaped i n s u l t s upon me!. . ."
Anu opened h i s mouth t o speak,
saying to glorious I s h t a r :
"But s u r e l y t h o u d i d s t i n v i t e [. . . ] , "
I s h t a r opened h e r mouth t o speak.
S a y i n g t o Anu, h e r f a t h e r :
"my f a t h e r , make me t h e B u l l of Heaven t h a t he s m i t e
Gilgamesh. . .
I f t h o u d o s t not make me t h e B u l l of Heaven,
I w i l l smash t h e doors of t h e n e t h e r - w o r l d ,
I w i l l [. . . ] ,
I w i l l r a i s e up t h e dead e a t i n g and a l i v e .
So t h a t t h e dead s h a l l outnumber t h e l i v i n g ! " . . .
The h e r o e s s l a y t h e B u l l o f Heaven and a g a i n i n s u l t I s h t a r .
Up l e a p e d E n k i d u , s e i z i n g t h e B u l l of Heaven by t h e h o r n s .
The B u l l o f heaven h u r l e d h i s foam i n h i s f a c e .
B r u s h e d him w i t h t h e back of h i s t a i l . . .
Between neck and h o r n s he t h r u s t h i s sword.
When t h e y had s l a i n t h e B u l l , t h e y t o r e out h i s h e a r t .
P l a c i n g i t b e f o r e Shamash.
They drew back and d i d homage b e f o r e Shamash.
The two b r o t h e r s s a t down.
Then I s h t a r mounted t h e w a l l o f ramparted Uruk,
Sprang on t h e b a t t l e m e n t s , u t t e r i n g a c u r s e :
"Woe unto G i l g a m e s h b e c a u s e he i n s u l t e d me
By s l a y i n g t h e B u l l of Heaven!"
When E n k i d u h e a r d t h i s s p e e c h of I s h t a r ,
He t o r e l o o s e t h e r i g h t t h i g h of t h e B u l l of Heaven
and t o s s e d i t i n h e r f a c e :
"Could I but g e t t h e e , l i k e unto him
I would do unto t h e e .
H i s e n t r a i l s I would hang a t my s i d e ! " . . .
I n t h e E u p h r a t e s t h e y washed t h e i r hands.
They embraced e a c h o t h e r as t h e y went on.
R i d i n g t h r o u g h t h e market s t r e e t of Uruk.
The p e o p l e of Uruk a r e g a t h e r e d t o gaze upon them.
G i l g a m e s h t o t h e l y r e maidens of Uruk
Says t h e s e words:
"Who i s most s p l e n d i d among t h e h e r o e s ?
Who i s most g l o r i o u s among men?"
"Gilgamesh i s most s p l e n d i d among t h e h e r o e s ,
G i l g a m e s h i s most g l o r i o u s among men."
By means of a dream, E n k i d u l e a r n s two t h i n g s : t h a t t h e gods
have d e c i d e d he must d i e a s punishment f o r t h e i n s o l e n t
b e h a v i o r of t h e two h e r o e s , and t h a t t h e l a n d of t h e dead i s
a most d i s m a l p l a c e .
Gilgamesh i n h i s p a l a c e holds a c e l e b r a t i o n .
Down l i e t h e h e r o e s on t h e i r beds of n i g h t .
A l s o E n k i d u l i e s down, a dream b e h o l d i n g .
Up r o s e E n k d i u t o r e l a t e h i s dream.
Saying to h i s f r i e n d :
"My f r i e n d , why a r e t h e g r e a t gods i n c o u n c i l ? . . .
My f r i e n d , I saw a dream t h i s n i g h t :
The heavens moaned, t h e e a r t h responded;
[ . . .] I s t o o d a l o n e .
[. . .] h i s f a c e was d a r k e n e d . . .
L o o k i n g a t me, he l e a d s me t o t h e House of D a r k n e s s ,
The abode of I r k a l l a ,
To t h e house w h i c h none l e a v e who have e n t e r e d i t .
On t h e road from w h i c h t h e r e i s no way back.
To t h e house w h e r e i n t h e d w e l l e r s a r e b e r e f t of l i g h t .
Where d u s t i s t h e i r f a r e and c l a y t h e i r food.
They a r e c l o t h e d l i k e b i r d s , w i t h wings f o r garments.
And s e e no l i g h t , r e s i d i n g i n d a r k n e s s .
I n t h e House of D u s t , which I e n t e r e d ,
I l o o k e d a t r u l e r s , t h e i r crowns put away;
I saw p r i n c e s , t h o s e born t o t h e crown.
Who r u l e d t h e l a n d from t h e days of y o r e . . ."
E n k i d u d i e s , and t h e r e a l i t y o f d e a t h a s t h e common l o t o f
a l l m a n k i n d — e v e n f e a r l e s s h e r o e s — s t r i k e shome t o G i l g a m e s h .
The r e m a i n d e r o f t h e e p i c d e a l s w i t h h i s attempt t o f i n d
e v e r l a s t i n c f l i f e , a ^ u e s t t h a t a l l t e l l him i s h o p e l e s s . I n
t h e f o l l o w i n g s e l e c t i o n , G i l g a m e s h i s t a l k i n g t o a barmaid '
who g i v e s him sage a d v i c e .
"He who w i t h me underwent a l l h a r d s h i p s —
E n k i d u , whom I l o v e d d e a r l y .
Who w i t h me underwent a l l h a r d s h i p s —
Has now gone t o t h e f a t e of mankind!
Day and n i g h t I have wept o v e r him.
I would n o t g i v e him up f o r b u r i a l —
I n c a s e my f r i e n d s h o u l d r i s e a t my p l a i n t —
Seven days and s e v e n n i g h t s ,
U n t i l a worm f e l l o u t of h i snose.
S i n c e h i sp a s s i n g I have n o t found l i f e ,
I have roamed l i k e a h u n t e r i nt h em i d s t of t h e s t e p p e .
0 a l e - w i f e , now t h a t I have s e e n t h y f a c e .
L e t me n o t s e et h e d e a t h which I e v e r d r e a d . "
The a l e - w i f e s a i d t o him, t o G i l g a m e s h :
"Gilgamesh, w h i t h e r r o v e s t thou?
The l i f e thou p u r s u e t h , thou s h a l l n o t f i n d .
When t h e gods c r e a t e d mankind.
Death f o rmankind t h e y s e t a s i d e .
L i f e i n t h e i r own hands r e t a i n i n g .
Thou, G i l g a m e s h , l e t f u l l be t h y b e l l y .
Make thou merry by day and by n i g h t .
Of e a c h day make t h o u a f e a s t o f r e j o i c i n g .
Day and n i g h t dance thou and p l a y !
L e t t h y garments be s p a r k l i n g f r e s h .
Thy head by washed; bathe thou i n w a t e r .
Pay heed t o t h e l i t t l e one t h a t h o l d s on t o t h y hand.
L e t t h y spouse d e l i g h t i nt h ybosom!
For t h i s I St h e t a s k o f mankind!". . .
G i l g a m e s h n e x t s e a r c h e s o u t U t n a p i s h t i m , t h e immortal h e r o o f
the F l o o d who a l s o c a n n o t h e l p him. The d e j e c t e d G i l g a m e s h i s
about t o d e p a r t when he i st o l d o f t h e P l a n t o f L i f e — h i s
l a s t and most d i s a p p o i n t i n g hope.
His spouse s a y s t o him, t o U t n a p i s h t i m t h e Faraway:
"Gilgamesh h a s come h i t h e r , t o i l i n g and s t r a i n i n g .
What w i l t thou g i v e him t h a t he may r e t u r n t o h i s l a n d ? "
At t h a t he, G i l g a m e s h , r a i s e d up h i s p o l e .
To b r i n g t h e b o a t n i g h t o t h e s h o r e .
U t n a p i s h t i m s a y s t o him, t o G i l g a m e s h :
"Gilgamesh, t h o u h a s come h i t h e r , t o i l i n g and s t r a i n i n g .
What s h a l l I g i v e t h e e t h a t thou mayest r e t u r n t o t h y l a n d ?
1 w i l l d i s c l o s e , O Gilgamesh, a hidden t h i n g .
And about a p l a n t I w i l l t e l l t h e e :
T h i s p l a n t , l i k e t h e B u c k t h o r n i s [. . . ] .
I t s t h o r n s w i l l p r i c k t h y hands j u s t a s does t h e r o s e .
I f t h y hands o b t a i n t h e p l a n t , thou w i l t a t t a i n e t e r n a l
life."
No sooner had G i l g a m e s h h e a r d t h i s , . . .
He t i e d heavy s t o n e s t o h i s f e e t .
They p u l l e d him down i n t o t h e deep and he saw t h e p l a n t .
He took t h e p l a n t , though i t p r i c k e d h i s hands.
He c u tt h e heavy s t o n e s from h i s f e e t .
The s e a c a s t him upon i t ss h o r e .
G i l g a m e s h s a y s t o him, t o U r s h a n a b i , t h e boatman:
" U r s h a n a b i , t h i s p l a n t i sa p l a n t a p a r t .
Whereby a man may r e g a i n h i s l i f e ' s b r e a t h .
I w i l l t a k e i t t o ramparted Uruk. . .
If
I t s name s h a l l be 'Man Becomes Young i nO l d Age.'
I myself s h a l l e a t i t
And t h u s r e t u r n t ot h es t a t e o fmy youth."
A f t e r twenty l e a g u e s t h e y broke o f fa m o r s e l .
A f t e r t h i r t y l e a g u e s t h e y p r e p a r e d f o rt h e n i g h t .
G i l g a m e s h sawa w e l l whose w a t e r was c o o l .
He went down i n t o i t t o bathe i nt h e w a t e r .
A s e r p e n t s n u f f e d t h ef r a g r a n c e o f t h e p l a n t ;
I t came up from t h e w a t e r and c a r r i e d o f ft h e p l a n t .
Going back t o shed i t s s l o u g h .
Thereupon G i l g a m e s h s i t s down andweeps.
His t e a r s r u n n i n g down o v e r h i s f a c e .
He took t h e hand o f U r s h a n a b i , t h e boatman:
"For whom, U r s h a n a b i , have my hands t o i l e d ?
F o r whom i sb e i n g s p e n t t h e b l o o d o fmy h e a r t ?
I have n o to b t a i n e d a boon f o r m y s e l f .
F o r t h e s e r p e n t have I e f f e c t e d a boon!"
From A n c i e n t Near E a s t e r n T e x t s R e l a t i n g t ot h eO l dTestament
E d i t o r , James B. P r i t c h a r d , 3 r dR e v i s i o n ; C o p y r i g h t , 1969 by
Princeton University Press
it
saj;