Epic of Gilgamesh

[Guest guest]

Dear All, Anyone interested in the Epic of Gilgamesh? Here is the link: http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/ The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth.

It comes to us from Ancient Sumeria, and was originally written on 12

clay tablets in cunieform script. It is about the adventures of the

historical King of Uruk (somewhere between 2750 and 2500 BCE).Love and regards,Sreenadh

[Guest guest]

Dear All, I know that many of you might have visited the link on Gilgamesh I provided, but the chances are that nobody might have taken much interest in the same, since it is not much readable. I was also feeling uncomfortable, but was much interested to study more about Gilgamesh epic that is more than 4700 years old! A text that dates back to the Vedic period; a text that tells stories in similar lines with Vedas and Mahabharata; a text that might have several secrets to reveal! So I started editing it making it more readable and putting in some notes that I felt relevant for understanding. I have just started this work only, just for my benefit - but I thought it would be beneficial to many, and will arouse the interest of many in this ancient epic if I share it here. So I am providing the content of the Tablet 1 here (Gilgamesh epic was originally written in 12 lapis lasooli tablets). Enjoy the reading! Note: And don't ask for the remaining story, I am yet to edit it. But now you may find it interesting reading it even from : http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/ Love and regards,Sreenadh==================================

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Translated by Maureen Gallery Kovacs,

Electronic Edition by Wolf Carnahan, I998

[The original document prepared by the above scholars, is modified here to

make it more readable and coherent]

[The term "Sumerian" is the common name given to the ancient

inhabitants of southern Mesopotamia by their successors, the Akkadians. The

Sumerians called their land - kiengir (Land of the Lord of the GIR, where GIR

means living beings; thus in short kiengir means land of god, divine land) but

referred to themselves as ug-sag-gig-ga (ugsagiga), literally meaning "the

black-headed people".]

Tablet I

(The poet says) Me who has seen everything, I will make known to the lands

the following story. I will teach you about him who experienced all things alike.

Anu (the sky god; one among the trinity â€" Anu, Bel, Ea) granted him the

totality of knowledge of all. He saw the secret, discovered the hidden, he

brought information about the time before the Flood.

He went on a distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion, but then was

brought to peace. He carved on a stone stela all of his toils, and built the

wall of Uruk port city, the wall of the sacred city temple, the holy sanctuary.

Look at its wall which gleams like copper; inspect its inner wall, the likes of

which no one can equal! Take hold of the threshold stone-it dates from ancient

times! Go close to the city temple, the residence of Ishtar (the mother goddess

- and Anu), such as no later king or man ever equaled!

Go up on the wall of Uruk, and walk around, examine its foundation, inspect

its brickwork thoroughly. Is not even the core of the brick structure made of

kiln-fired (baked) brick, and did not the seven sages (Saptarshis) themselves

lay out its plans?

One city, connected palm gardens, connected lowlands, the open stadium of

the Ishtar Temple, three open stadiums of Uruk city â€" all connected, unanimous

under one rule - all enclosed within the surrounding fort wall of Uruk.

Find the copper tablet box, open its lock of bronze, and undo the fastening

of its secret opening. Take and read out from the lapis lazuli tablet how

Gilgamesh went through every hardship.

Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the hero, born of

Uruk, the goring wild bull. He walks out in front, the leader, and walks at the

rear, trusted by his companions, mighty protective net, protector of his

people, raging flood-wave who destroys even walls of stone! Offspring of

Lugalbanda (king of Uruk, father of Gilgamesh), Gilgamesh is strong to

perfection, son of the august cow goddess, Rimat-Ninsun (mother of Gilgamesh) -

Gilgamesh is awesome to perfection.

It was he who opened the mountain passes, who dug wells on the flank of the

mountain. It was he who crossed the ocean, the vast seas, to the rising sun (to

the east), who explored the world regions, seeking life. It was he (Gilgamesh)

who reached by his own sheer strength, (and met) Utanapishtim (the rice powder

like â€" one among the numerous â€" predecessors of the great king Utana), the

faraway one (of the polar region), who restored the sanctuaries (or: cities)

that the Flood had destroyed for teeming mankind!

[Note: Utanapishtim is also known by the name Nachiketas or Dhruva in Vedas;

Nachiketas is the son of king the great king Utana or Utana-pada. Utana pada

means ‘the one who came by feet from outside’. As per Germanic languages -

utana means ‘from outside’, innana means ‘from within’, aftana means ‘from

behind’, hindana means ‘from beyond’. Utanapishtim is depicted here as the

savior of man kind, one who knew the secret of deathlessness, one who could

covey the stories before the great flood]

Who can compare with him in kingliness? Who can say like Gilgamesh: "I

am King!"? Whose name, from the day of his birth, was called

"Gilgamesh" (the lord of mountains)? Two-thirds of him is god,

one-third of him is human. The Great Goddess Aruru (mother and earth goddess)

designed the model for his body; she prepared his form as beautiful, handsomest

of men, perfect.

He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk, like a wild bull he makes himself

mighty, head raised over others. There is no rival who can raise his weapon

against him. His fellows stand at the alert, attentive to his orders. And the

men of Uruk become anxious in Gilgamesh. He was yet to leave a descendent to

his father (since he was not yet married with his sister â€" since he did not had

a sister yet). [Note: Remember that summer followed matriarchy where the

brother married his sister]

Is Gilgamesh the shepherd of Uruk port city, is he the shepherd? Bold,

eminent, knowing and wise! Gilgamesh did not leave a descendent to his mother,

since she did not have a daughter yet - a daughter to the warrior king

Lugalbanda, a bride to the young man Gilgamesh. The gods kept hearing their

(Lugalbanda’s and Ninsun’s) complaints. So the gods of the heavens implored the

Lord of Uruk [Anu]:

"You have indeed brought into being a mighty wild bull (Gilgamesh),

head raised! There is no rival who can raise a weapon against him. His fellows

stand at the alert, attentive to his orders! But you do not leave a descendent

to his father (by providing with a girl to be married to Gilgamesh). Day and

night he (Lugalbanda) complaints and pray. Certainly, Gilgamesh is the shepherd

of Uruk port city; he is their shepherd - bold, eminent, knowing, and wise. But

you did not leave a descendent to his mother (since Gilgamesh is not married

yet, since he didn’t have any sister to marry and have a child)! (Ninsun is not

having a daughter, so that she - the daughter - could become) A daughter to the

warrior king Lugalbanda, a bride to the young man Gilgameshâ€

Anu listened to their complaints, and (the gods) called out to Aruru: "it

was you, Aruru, who created mankind, now create a idea that equals him - let

that new creation be equal to his (Gilgamesh's) stormy heart, let them be a

match for each other so that Uruk may find peace (in friendship with an equal

one)!"

When Aruru heard this she created within herself the one as per the idea or

structure provided by Anu. Aruru washed her hands; she pinched off some clay;

and threw it into the wilderness. In the wilderness she created valiant Enkidu

(wild warrior), born of Silence, endowed with strength by Ninurta (the Kiengir

â€" Sumerian - war god).

His whole body was shaggy with hair, he had a full head of hair like a woman,

and his locks billowed in profusion like Ashnan (the goddess of grain). He knew

neither people nor settled living, but wore a garment like Sumukan (the god of

the wild and herding animals). He ate grasses with the gazelles, and jostled at

the watering hole with the animals; as with animals, his thirst was slaked with

(mere) water.

A notorious trapper came face-to-face with him opposite the watering hole. A

first, a second, and a third day he came face-to-face with him opposite the

watering hole. On seeing him the trapper's face went stark with fear, and

Enkidu and his animals went back. The trapper was rigid with fear; though

stock-still his heart pounded and his face drained of color. He was miserable

to the core, and his face looked like one who had made a long journey.

The trapper addressed his father saying: "Father, a certain fellow

has come from the mountains. He is the mightiest in the land; his strength is

as mighty as the meteorite of Anu! He continually goes over the mountains, he

continually jostles at the watering place with the animals, and he continually

comes opposite the watering place. I was afraid, so I did not go up to him. He

filled in the pits that I had dug, wrenched out my traps that I had spread,

released from my grasp the wild animals. He does not let me make my rounds in

the wilderness!"

The trapper's father spoke to him saying: "My son, there lives in

Uruk one named Gilgamesh. There is no one stronger than he; he is as strong as

the meteorite of Anu. Go, set off to Uruk, tell Gilgamesh of this Man of Might.

He will give you a harlot Shamhat (the temple prostitute - harimtu - devadasi);

take her with you. The woman will overcome the fellow as if she were strong.

When the animals are drinking at the watering place have her take off her robe and expose her sex. When he sees

her he will draw near to her, and his animals, who grew up in his wilderness,

will be alien to him."

[Remember the story of Rishyasringa, the man of wilderness in Indian

mythology. Apart from Rishya-sringa (dear horned), in Indian mythology he is

also known by the name Eka-sringa (one horned). There is a lot of word

similarity to this with the name ‘Enkidu’ or En-kudu. En means lord. Enki is

the god of fresh water, magic, and invention and kudu is a kind of antelope or

deer. Thus enkudu could mean ‘one horned deer’, same as Eka-sringa]

He heeded his father's advice. The trapper went off to Uruk, he made the

journey, stood inside of Uruk, and told to Gilgamesh: "There is a

certain fellow has come from the mountains. He is the mightiest in the land;

his strength is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu! He continually goes over the

mountains, he continually jostles at the watering place with the animals, and

he continually comes opposite the watering place. I was afraid, so I did not go

up to him. He filled in the pits that I had dug, wrenched out my traps that I

had spread, released from my grasp the wild animals. He does not let me make my

rounds in the wilderness!" And he requested for a temple prostitute to

tame this wild man, as advised by his father.

Gilgamesh said to the trapper: "(Your father was right, I agree with

his opinion). Go, trapper, take the harlot shamhat with you. When the animals

are drinking at the watering place have her take off her robe and expose her

sex. When he sees her he will draw near to her, and his animals, who grew up in

his wilderness, will be alien to him"

The trapper went, bringing the harlot shamhat with him. They set off on the

journey, making direct way. On the third day they arrived at the appointed

place, and the trapper and the harlot sat down waiting. For two days they sat

opposite the watering hole. The animals arrived and drank at the watering hole;

the wild beasts arrived and slaked their thirst with water. Then (on the third

day) he, Enkidu, offspring of the mountains, who eats grasses with the

gazelles, came to drink at the watering hole with the animals, with the wild

beasts he slaked his thirst with water. Then shamhat saw him-a primitive, a

savage fellow from the depths of the wilderness!

The trapper said the harlot shamhat: "That is he, shamhat! Release

your clenched arms; expose your sex so he can take in your voluptuousness. Do

not be restrained-take his energy! When he sees you he will draw near to you.

Spread out your robe so he can lie upon you, and perform for this primitive the

task of womankind! His animals, who grew up in his wilderness, will become

alien to him, and his lust will groan over you."

Shamhat un-clutched her bosom, exposed her sex, and he took in her

voluptuousness. She was not restrained, but took his energy. She spread out her

robe and he lay upon her, she performed for the primitive the task of

womankind. His lust groaned over her; for six days and seven nights Enkidu

stayed aroused, and had intercourse with the harlot until he was sated with her

charms. But when he turned his attention to his animals, the gazelles saw

Enkidu and darted off, the wild animals distanced themselves from his body.

Enkidu was very tiered, his knees that wanted to go off with his animals went

rigid; Enkidu was diminished, his running was not as before. But then he drew

himself up, for his understanding had broadened. Turning around, he sat down at

the harlot's feet, gazing into her face, his ears attentive as the harlot spoke.

 

The harlot said to Enkidu: "You are beautiful. Enkidu, you are like

a god. Why do you gallop around the

wilderness with the wild beasts? Come, let me bring you into Uruk port city, to

the Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the place of Gilgamesh, who

is wise to perfection, but who struts his power over the people like a wild

bull."

What she kept saying found favor with him. Becoming aware of himself, he

sought a friend. Enkidu spoke to the harlot: "Come, shamhat, take me

away with you to the sacred holy temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the

place of Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection, but who struts his power over

the people like a wild bull. I will challenge him. Let me shout out in Uruk: I

am the mighty one! Lead me in and I will change the order of things; he whose

strength is mightiest is the one born in the wilderness!"

Shamhat told to Enkidu: "Come, let us go, so he may see your face. I

will lead you to Gilgamesh-I know where he will be. Look about, Enkidu, inside

Uruk port city, where the people show off in skirted finery, where every day is

a day for some festival, where the lyre (a stringed musical instrument) and

drum play continually, where harlots stand about prettily, exuding

voluptuousness, full of laughter and on the couch of night the sheets are

spread (for sexual enjoyment)! Enkidu, you who do not know, how to live, I will

show you Gilgamesh, a man of great feelings!. Look at him, gaze at his face- he

is a handsome youth, lively, his entire body exudes voluptuousness. He has

mightier strength than you, without sleeping day or night (i.e. he never gets

tiered)! Enkidu, it is your wrong thoughts you must change! It is Gilgamesh

whom shamhat loves, and Anu, Enlil, and La have enlarged his mind. Even before

you came from the mountain Gilgamesh in Uruk had dreams about you."

Gilgamesh got up and revealed the dream, saying to his mother: "Mother,

I had a dream last night. Stars of the sky appeared, and some kind of meteorite

of Anu fell next to me. I tried to lift it but it was too mighty for me, I

tried to turn it over but I could not budge it. The Land of Uruk was standing

around it, the whole land had assembled about it, the populace was thronging

around it, the Men clustered about it, and kissed its feet as if it were a little

baby. I loved it and embraced it as my partner. I laid it down at your feet,

and you made it compete with me."

The mother of Gilgamesh, the wise, all-knowing, Rimat-Ninsun, thought about

the dream: "As for the stars of the sky that appeared and the meteorite

of Anu which fell next to you, you tried to lift but it was too mighty for you,

you tried to turn it over but were unable to budge it, you laid it down at my

feet, and I made it compete with you,

and you loved and embraced it as a wifeâ€.

And then she said to Gilgamesh: "There will come to you a mighty

man, a comrade who saves his friend- he is the mightiest in the land, he is

strongest, his strength is mighty as the meteorite of Anu! You loved him and

embraced him as a partner; and it is he who will repeatedly save you. Your

dream is good and propitious!"

A second time Gilgamesh said to his mother: "Mother, I have had

another dream. At the gate of my marital chamber there lay an axe, and people

had collected about it. The land of Uruk was standing around it, the whole land

had assembled about it, and the populace was thronging around it. I laid it

down at your feet, I loved it and embraced it as a partner, and you made it

compete with me."

The mother of Gilgamesh, the wise, all knowing, Rimat-Ninsun, said to her

son Gilgamesh: "The axe that you saw is a man. You love him and embrace

as a partner whom I will make compete with you. There will come to you a mighty

man, a comrade, who saves his friend. He is the mightiest in the land, he is

strongest, he is as mighty as the meteorite of Anu!"

Gilgamesh spoke to his mother saying: "By the command of Enlil, the

Great Counselor, so may it to pass! May I have a friend and adviser, a friend

and adviser may I have! You have interpreted for me the dreams about him!"

After the harlot recounted the dreams of Gilgamesh to Enkidu the two of them

made love.

================================== , "sreesog" <sreesog wrote:>> Dear All,> Anyone interested in the Epic of Gilgamesh? Here is the link:> http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/> <http://www.surfagain.com/browse.php/Oi8vd3d3L/mFuY2l/lbnR/0ZXh0cy5vcmcv\> bGlicmFye/S/9tZXNvc/G90YW1pYW4vZ2ls/Z2FtZXNoLw/_3D_3D/b0/>> The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth.> It comes to us from Ancient Sumeria, and was originally written on 12> clay tablets in cunieform script. It is about the adventures of the> historical King of Uruk (somewhere between 2750 and 2500 BCE).> Love and regards,> Sreenadh>

[Guest guest]

Dear All, A slightly edited content of Tablet II is given below.Love and regards,Sreenadh==========================

Tablet II

Enkidu sits in front of her. [The next 30 lines are missing; some of the

fragmentary lines from 35 on are restored from parallels in the Old Babylonian.]

Why? His own counsel ... At his instruction ... Who knows his heart...

Shamhat pulled off her clothing, and clothed him (Enkidu) with one piece while

she clothed herself with a second. She took hold of him as the gods do and

brought him to the hut of the shepherds. The shepherds gathered all around

about him, they marveled to themselves: "How the youth resembles

Gilgamesh- tall in stature, towering up to the battlements over the wall!

Surely he was born in the mountains; his strength is as mighty as the meteorite

of Anu!" They placed food in front of him, they placed beer in front

of him; Enkidu knew nothing about eating bread for food, and of drinking beer

he had not been taught. The harlot spoke to Enkidu, saying: "Eat the

food, Enkidu, it is the way one lives. Drink the beer, as is the custom of the

land". Enkidu ate the food

until he was sated; he drank the beer-seven jugs, and became expansive and sang

with joy! He was elated and his face glowed. He splashed his shaggy body with

water, and rubbed himself with oil, and turned into a human. He put on some

clothing and dressed like a warrior. He took up his weapon and chased lions so

that the shepherds could eat He routed the wolves, and chased the lions. With

Enkidu as their guard, the herders could lie down. A wakeful man, a singular

youth, he was twice as tall as normal men.

[The next 33 lines are missing in the Standard Version; lines 57-86 are

taken from the Old Babylonian.]

Then he raised his eyes and saw a man. He said to the harlot: “Shamhat, have

that man go away! Why has he come? I will call out his name!"

The harlot called out to the man and went over to him and spoke with him. "Young

man, where are you hurrying! Why this arduous pace!"

The young man spoke, saying to Enkidu: “They have invited me to a

wedding, as is the custom of the people - the selection of brides. I have

heaped up tasty delights for the wedding on the ceremonial platter. For the

King of Broad-Marted Uruk, open is the veil of the people for choosing a girl.

For Gilgamesh, the King of Broad-Marted Uruk, open is the veil of the people

for choosing. He will have intercourse with the destined wife, he first, the

husband afterward. This is ordered by the counsel of Anu, from the severing of

his umbilical cord it has been destined for him".

At the young man's speech his (Enkidu's) face flushed (with anger). [several lines are missing]

Enkidu walked in front, and Shamhat after him. [The Standard Version

resumes.]

He (Enkidu) walked down the street of Uruk port city. Mighty, he blocked the

way through Uruk the Sheepfold. The land of Uruk stood around him, the whole

land assembled about him, the populace was thronging around him, and the men

were clustered about him, and kissed his feet as if he was a little baby.

Suddenly a handsome young man said: “For Ishara (festival of the love

goddess, binding promise of marriage) the bed of first night after marriage is

ready, for Gilgamesh as for a god a counterpart is set up.†But Enkidu blocked the entry to the marital

chamber, and would not allow Gilgamesh to be brought in. They grappled with

each other at the entry to the marital chamber; in the street they attacked

each other, the public square of the land. The doorposts trembled and the wall

shook,

[About 42 lines are missing from the Standard Version; lines 103-129 are

taken from the Old Babylonian version.]

Gilgamesh bent his knees, with his other foot on the ground, his anger

abated and he turned his chest away. After he turned his chest Enkidu said to

Gilgamesh: "Your mother, the

Wild Cow of the Enclosure, Ninsunm, bore you ever unique. Your head is elevated

over (other) men, Enlil has destined for you the kingship over the

people." [19 lines are missing

here.]

[Note: Ninsun is the mother of Gilgamesh, and Ninsum the mother of Enkidu!

Ninsum was the august cow goddess and Ninsum the wild cow goddess! Are they

sisters and Gilgamesh and Enkidu cousin brothers?]

They kissed each other and became friends.

[The Old Babylonian becomes fragmentary. The Standard Version resumes]

The mother of Gilgamesh Rimat-Ninsun spoke to Gilgamesh, her son: "His

(Enkidu’s) strength is the mightiest in the land! His strength is as mighty as

the meteorite of Anu. My son, (she went

up into his â€" Shamash, the sun god's - gateway, plaintively she implored) Enkidu

has no father or mother, his shaggy hair no one cuts. He was born in the

wilderness, no one raised him".

Enkidu was standing there, and heard the speech. He sat down and wept, his

eyes filled with tears, his arms felt limp, his strength weakened. They took

each other by the hand, and Enkidu made a declaration of friendship to

Gilgamesh. And thus they became friends. [32 lines are missing here.]

(Once Gilgamesh called Enkidu and spoke to him): "In order to

protect the Cedar Forest (the Cedar Forest is the glorious realm of the gods of

Mesopotamian mythology; Cedar is the tree with which boats and ships are made),

Enlil (god of the earth and the air) assigned Humbaba (the lion faced monstrous

giant, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, where the gods lived) as a terror to

human beings, Humbaba's roar is a Flood, his mouth is Fire, and his breath is

Death! He can hear 100 leagues away any rustling in his forest! Who would go

down into his forest! Enlil assigned him as a terror to human beings, and

whoever goes down into his forest paralysis (due to fear) will strike! I want

to go to that Cedar forest and conquer Humbaba; I want to achieve fame for

eternity and know what is there beyond death. What do you say?â€

[About 42 lines are missing here in the Standard Version; lines 228-249 are

taken from the Old Babylonian.]

Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu: "Who, my Friend, can ascend to the

heavens! (Only) the gods can dwell forever with Shamash (the sun god). As for

human beings, their days are numbered, and whatever they keep trying to achieve

is but wind! Now you are afraid of death-what has become of your bold strength!

I will go in front of you, and your mouth can call out, Go on closer, do not be

afraid! Should I fall, I will have established my fame. (They will say) It was

Gilgamesh who locked in battle with Humbaba the Terrible! You were born and

raised in the wilderness, a

lion leaped up on you, so you have experienced it all! [5 lines are

fragmentary] I will undertake it and I will cut down the Cedar. It is I who

will establish fame for eternity! Come, my friend, I will go over to the forge

and have them cast the weapons in our presence!"

Holding each other by the hand they went over to the forge. [The Standard

Version resumes at this point.]

They asked the craftsmen to make weapons for them, for their journey to

Cedar forest to face Humbaba. The craftsmen sat and discussed with one another.

"We should fashion the axe in one talent, the hatchet should be one

talent in weight, their swords should be one talent, their armor one

talent".

Gilgamesh said to the men of Uruk: "Listen to me men, [5 lines are

missing here] You, knowledgeable men of Uruk, I want to make myself mightier,

and will go on a distant journey! I will face fighting such as I have never

known, I will set out on a road I have never traveled! Give me your blessings!

(Only after that) I will enter the city gate of Uruk. I will devote myself to

the New Year's Festival. I will perform the New Year's (ceremonies). The New

Year's Festival will take place with celebrations. They will keep shouting

'Hurrah!' in joy!"

Enkidu spoke to the Elders: "What the men of Uruk say to him? He

must not go to the Cedar Forest- the journey is not to be made! A man who

should rule this kingdom should not go for long journeys. The Guardian of the Cedar Forest is Humbaba

the fierce one, he should not try to confront him as wellâ€

The noble counselors of Uruk arose and delivered their advice to Gilgamesh: "You

are young, Gilgamesh, your heart carries you off you do not know what you are talking

about! Humbaba's roar is a flood; his mouth is Fire, his breath Death! He can

hear any rustling in his forest 100 leagues away! Who would go down into his

forest! Who among even the Igigi gods (group of heavenly spirits under the god

Anu) can confront him? In order to keep the Cedar safe, Enlil assigned him as a

terror to human beings".

Gilgamesh listened to the

statement of his noble counselors. [About 5 lines are missing to the end of

Tablet II.]==========================