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Practice comparing and contrasting creation and/or flood stories. This discussion should build your critical reading and analysis skills, as well as help prepare you for your essays later in the course. Keep in mind that, as the Creation Stories and Flood Narratives page states, your central concern is to understand what these features reveal about the relationship between the divine creators and their creation, especially human beings. Tasks: After carefully reading the materials in this unit and completing the quiz and discussion, respond thoughtfully to the prompt below in an essay with a minimum of 750 words. Prompt: While reading Gilgamesh and the excerpt from Genesis included in the Unit 1 materials, consider the relationships depicted between divine creators and their creations, especially human beings. Select one brief passage roughly two to four sentences in length from each text (two total) that reveals something about these relationships, and then analyze them. In what ways might these relationships be similar? How do these relationships differ? Draw some conclusions from your analysis. In what ways are these similarities and differences significant?Criteria on which you will be graded:Your selection of passages to support your argument is thoughtfulYour analysis is specific and originalYour post speaks to the relationship between the divine creators and their creation, especially human beingsYour writing is clear and well-organizedYour in-text citations and Works Cited are correctly formatted in MLA style
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THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH
Translated by N. K. Sandars, 1962
Electronic text from Assyrian International News Agency; Books Online;
www.aina.org
Compiled, edited, and annotated by Rhonda L. Kelley, 2014
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE: GILGAMESH KING IN URUK …………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
1: THE COMING OF ENKIDU ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
2: THE FOREST JOURNEY ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
3: ISHTAR AND GILGAMESH, AND THE DEATH OF ENKIDU………………………………………………………………. 14
4: THE SEARCH FOR EVERLASTING LIFE ………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
5: THE STORY OF THE FLOOD ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 28
6: THE RETURN ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 31
7: THE DEATH OF GILGAMESH …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
GLOSSARY OF NAMES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34
PROLOGUE: GILGAMESH KING IN URUK
I WILL proclaim to the world the deeds of Gilgamesh. This was the man to whom all things were known;
this was the king who knew the countries of the world. He was wise, he saw mysteries, and he knew
secret things; he brought us a tale of the days before the flood. He went on a long journey, was weary,
worn-out with labour, returning he rested; he engraved on a stone the whole story.
When the gods created Gilgamesh they gave him a perfect body. Shamash the glorious sun endowed
him with beauty, Adad the god of the storm endowed him with courage, the great gods made his beauty
perfect, surpassing all others, terrifying like a great wild bull. Two thirds they made him god and one
third man.
In Uruk he built walls, a great rampart, and the temple of blessed Eanna for the god of the firmament
Anu, and for Ishtar the goddess of love. Look at it still today: the outer wall where the cornice runs, it
shines with the brilliance of copper; and the inner wall, it has no equal. Touch the threshold, it is
ancient. Approach Eanna the dwelling of Ishtar, our lady of love and war, the like of which no latter-day
king, no man alive can equal. Climb upon the wall of Uruk; walk along it, I say; regard the foundation
terrace and examine the masonry: is it not burnt brick and good? The seven sages laid the foundations.
1: THE COMING OF ENKIDU
GILGAMESH went abroad in the world, but he met with none who could withstand his arms till be came
to Uruk. But the men of Uruk muttered in their houses, ‘Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his
amusement, his arrogance has no bounds by day or night. No son is left with his father, for Gilgamesh
takes them all, even the children; yet the king should be a shepherd to his people. His lust leaves no
virgin to her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble; yet this is the shepherd of
the city, wise, comely, and resolute.’
The gods heard their lament, the gods of heaven cried to the Lord of Uruk, to Anu the god of Uruk: ‘A
goddess made him, strong as a savage bull, none can withstand his arms. No son is left with his father,
for Gilgamesh takes them all; and is this the king, the shepherd of his people? His lust leaves no virgin to
her lover, neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble. When Anu had heard their
lamentation the gods cried to Aruru, the goddess of creation, ‘You made him, O Aruru; now create his
equal; let it be as like him as his own reflection, his second self; stormy heart for stormy heart. Let them
contend together and leave Uruk in quiet.’
So the goddess conceived an image in her mind, and it was of the stuff of Anu of the firmament. She
dipped her hands in water and pinched off clay, she let it fall in the wilderness, and noble Enkidu was
created. There was virtue in him of the god of war, of Ninurta himself. His body was rough, he had long
hair like a woman’s; it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn. His body was covered with
matted hair like Samugan’s, the god of cattle. He was innocent of mankind; he knew nothing of the
cultivated land.
Enkidu ate grass in the hills with the gazelle and lurked with wild beasts at the water-holes; he had joy of
the water with the herds of wild game. But there was a trapper who met him one day face to face at the
drinking-hole, for the wild game had entered his territory. On three days he met him face to face, and
the trapper was frozen with fear. He went back to his house with the game that he had caught, and he
was dumb, benumbed with terror. His face was altered like that of one who has made a long journey.
With awe in his heart he spoke to his father: ‘Father, there is a man, unlike any other, who comes down
from the hills. He is the strongest in the world; he is like an immortal from heaven. He ranges over the
hills with wild beasts and eats grass; the ranges through your land and comes down to the wells. I am
afraid and dare not go near him. He fills in the pits which I dig and tears up-my traps set for the game;
he helps the beasts to escape and now they slip through my fingers.’
His father opened his mouth and said to the trapper, ‘My son, in Uruk lives Gilgamesh; no one has ever
prevailed against him, he is strong as a star from heaven. Go to Uruk, find Gilgamesh; extol the strength
of this wild man. Ask him to give you a harlot, a wanton from the temple of love; return with her, and let
her woman’s power overpower this man. When next he comes down to drink at the wells she will be
there, stripped naked; and when he sees her beckoning he will embrace her, and then the wild beasts
will reject him.’
So the trapper set out on his journey to Uruk and addressed himself to Gilgamesh saying, ‘A man unlike
any other is roaming now in the pastures; he is as strong as a star from heaven and I am afraid to
approach him. He helps the wild game to escape; he fills in my pits and pulls up my traps.’ Gilgamesh
said, ‘Trapper, go back, take with you a harlot, a child of pleasure. At the drinking hole she will strip, and
when, he sees her beckoning he will embrace her and the game of the wilderness will surely reject him.’
Now the trapper returned, taking the harlot with him. After a three days’ journey they came to the
drinking hole, and there they sat down; the harlot and the trapper sat facing one another and waited for
the game to come. For the first day and for the second day the two sat waiting, but on the third day the
herds came; they came down to drink and Enkidu was with them. The small wild creatures of the plains
were glad of the water and Enkidu with them, who ate grass with the gazelle and was born in the hills;
and she saw him, the savage man, come from far-off in the hills. The trapper spoke to her: ‘There he is.
Now, woman, make your breasts bare, have no shame, do not delay but welcome his love. Let him see
you naked; let him possess your body. When he comes near uncover yourself and lie with him; teach
him, the savage man, your woman’s art, for when he murmurs love to you the wild’ beasts that shared
his life in the hills will reject him.’
She was not ashamed to take him, she made herself naked and welcomed his eagerness; as he lay on
her murmuring love she taught him the woman’s art. For six days and seven nights they lay together, for
Enkidu had forgotten his home in the hills; but when he was satisfied he went back to the wild beasts.
Then, when the gazelle saw him, they bolted away; when the wild creatures saw him they fled. Enkidu
would have followed, but his body was bound as though with a cord, his knees gave way when he
started to run, his swiftness was gone. And now the wild creatures had all fled away; Enkidu was grown
weak, for wisdom was in him, and the thoughts of a man were in his heart. So he returned and sat down
at the woman’s feet, and listened intently to what she said. ‘You are wise, Enkidu, and now you have
become like a god. Why do you want to run wild with the beasts in the hills? Come with me. I will take
you to strong-walled Uruk, to the blessed temple of Ishtar and of Anu, of love and of heaven there
Gilgamesh lives, who is very strong, and like a wild bull he lords it over men.’
When she had spoken Enkidu was pleased; he longed for a comrade, for one who would understand his
heart. ‘Come, woman, and take me to that holy temple, to the house of Anu and of Ishtar, and to the
place where Gilgamesh lords it over the people. I will challenge him boldly, I will cry out aloud in Uruk, “I
am the strongest here, I have come to change the old order, I am he who was born in the hills, I am he
who is strongest of all.”‘
She said, ‘Let us go, and let him see your face. I know very well where Gilgamesh is in great Uruk. O
Enkidu, there all the people are dressed in their gorgeous robes, every day is holiday, the young men
and the girls are wonderful to see. How sweet they smell! All the great ones are roused from their beds.
O Enkidu, you who love life, I will show you Gilgamesh, a man of many moods; you shall look at him well
in his radiant manhood. His body is perfect in strength and maturity; he never rests by night or day. He is
stronger than you, so leave your boasting. Shamash the glorious sun has given favours to Gilgamesh, and
Anu of the heavens, and Enlil, and Ea the wise has given him deep understanding. I tell you, even before
you have left the wilderness, Gilgamesh will know in his dreams that you are coming.’
Now Gilgamesh got up to tell his dream to his mother; Ninsun, one of the wise gods. ‘Mother, last night I
had a dream. I was full of joy, the young heroes were round me and I walked through the night under
the stars of the firmament, and one, a meteor of the stuff of Anu, fell down from heaven. I tried to lift it
but it proved too heavy. All the people of Uruk came round to see it, the common people jostled and the
nobles thronged to kiss its feet; and to me its attraction was like the love of woman. They helped me, I
braced my forehead and I raised it with thongs and brought it to you, and you yourself pronounced it my
brother.’
Then Ninsun, who is well-beloved and wise, said to Gilgamesh, ‘This star of heaven which descended like
a meteor from the sky; which you tried to lift, but found too heavy, when you tried to move it would not
budge, and so you brought it to my feet; I made it for you, a goad and spur, and you were drawn as
though to a woman. This is the strong comrade, the one who brings help to his friend in his need. He is
the strongest of wild creatures, the stuff of Anu; born in the grass-lands and the wild hills reared him;
when you see him you will be glad; you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you. This is
the meaning of the dream.’
Gilgamesh said, ‘Mother, I dreamed a second dream. In the streets of strong-walled Uruk there lay an
axe; the shape of it was strange and the people thronged round. I saw it and was glad. I bent down,
deeply drawn towards it; I loved it like a woman and wore it at my side.’ Ninsun answered, ‘That axe,
which you saw, which drew you so powerfully like love of a woman, that is the comrade whom I give
you, and he will come in his strength like one of the host of heaven. He is the brave companion who
rescues his friend in necessity.’ Gilgamesh said to his mother, ‘A friend, a counsellor has come to me
from Enlil, and now I shall befriend and counsel him.’ So Gilgamesh told his dreams; and the harlot
retold them to Enkidu.
And now she said to Enkidu, ‘When I look at you; you have become like a god. Why do you yearn to run
wild again with the beasts in the hills? Get up from the ground, the bed of a shepherd.’ He listened to
her words with care. It was good advice that she gave. She divided her clothing in two and with the one
half she clothed him and with the other herself, and holding his hand she led him like a child to the
sheepfolds, into the shepherds’ tents. There all the shepherds crowded round to see him, they put down
bread in front of him, but Enkidu could only suck the milk of wild animals. He fumbled and gaped, at a
loss what to do or how he should eat the bread and drink the strong wine. Then the woman said,
‘Enkidu, eat bread, it is the staff of life; drink the wine, it is the custom of the land.’ So he ate till he was
full and drank strong wine, seven goblets. He became merry, his heart exulted and his face shone. He
rubbed down the matted hair of his body and anointed himself with oil. Enkidu had become a man; but
when he had put on man’s clothing he appeared like a bridegroom. He took arms to hunt the lion so that
the shepherds could rest at night. He caught wolves and lions and the herdsmen lay down in peace; for
Enkidu was their watchman, that strong man who had no rival.
He was merry living with the shepherds, till one day lifting his eyes he saw a man approaching. He said
to the harlot, ‘Woman, fetch that man here. Why has he come? I wish to know his name.’ She went and
called the man saying, ‘Sir, where are you going on this weary journey?’ The man answered, saying to
Enkidu, ‘Gilgamesh has gone into the marriage-house and shut out the people. He does strange things in
Uruk, the city of great streets. At the roll of the drum work begins for the men, and work for the women.
Gilgamesh the king is about to celebrate marriage with the Queen of Love, and he still demands to be
first with the bride, the king to be first and the husband to follow, for that was ordained by the gods
from his birth, from the time the umbilical cord was cut. But now the drums roll for the choice of the
bride and the city groans.’ At these words Enkidu turned white in the face. ‘I will go to the place where
Gilgamesh lords it over the people, I will challenge him boldly, and I will cry aloud in Uruk, “I have come
to change the old order, for I am the strongest here.”
Now Enkidu strode in front and the woman followed behind. He entered Uruk, that great market, and all
the folk thronged round him where he stood in the street in strong-walled Uruk. The people jostled;
speaking of him they said, ‘He is the spit of Gilgamesh. ‘He is shorter.’ ‘He is bigger of bone.’ This is the
one who was reared on the milk of wild beasts. His is the greatest strength.’ The men rejoiced: ‘Now
Gilgamesh has met his match. This great one, this hero whose beauty is like a god, he is a match even for
Gilgamesh.’
In Uruk the bridal bed was made, fit for the goddess of love. The bride waited for the bridegroom, but in
the night Gilgamesh got up and came to the house. Then Enkidu stepped out, he stood in the street and
blocked the way. Mighty Gilgamesh came on and Enkidu met him at the gate. He put out his foot and
prevented Gilgamesh from entering the house, so they grappled, holding each other like bulls. They
broke the doorposts and the walls shook, they snorted like bulls locked together. They shattered the
doorposts and the walls shook. Gilgamesh bent his knee with his foot planted on the ground and with a
turn Enkidu was thrown. Then immediately his fury died. When Enkidu was thrown he said to
Gilgamesh, ‘There is not another like you in the world. Ninsun, who is as strong as a wild ox in the byre,
she was the mother who bore you, and now you are raised above all men, and Enlil has given you the
kingship, for your strength surpasses the strength of men.’ So Enkidu and Gilgamesh embraced and their
friendship was sealed.
2: THE FOREST JOURNEY
ENLIL of the mountain, the father of the gods, had decreed the destiny of Gilgamesh. So Gilgamesh
dreamed and Enkidu said, ‘The meaning of the dream is this. The father of the gods has given you
kingship, such is your destiny; everlasting life is not your destiny. Because of this do not be sad at heart,
do not be grieved or oppressed. He has given you power to bind and to loose, to be the darkness and
the light of mankind. He has given you unexampled supremacy over the people, victory in battle from
which no fugitive returns, in forays and assaults from which there is no going back. But do not abuse this
power; deal justly with your servants in the palace, deal justly before Shamash.’
The eyes of Enkidu were full of tears and his heart was sick. He sighed bitterly and Gilgamesh met his
eye and said,’ My friend, why do you sigh so bitterly? But Enkidu opened his mouth and said, ‘I am weak,
my arms have lost their strength, the cry of sorrow sticks in my throat, I am oppressed by idleness.’ It
was then that the lord Gilgamesh turned his thoughts to the Country of the Living; on the Land of Cedars
the lord Gilgamesh reflected. He said to his servant Enkidu, ‘I have not established my name stamped on
bricks as my destiny decreed; therefore I will go to the country where the cedar is felled. I will set up my
name in the place where the names of famous men are written, and where no man’s name is written yet
I will raise a monument to the gods. Because of the evil that is in the land, we will go to the forest and
destroy the evil; for in the forest lives Humbaba whose name is “Hugeness,” a ferocious giant. But
Enkidu sighed bitterly and said, ‘When I went with the wild beasts ranging through the wilderness I
discovered the forest; its length is ten thousand leagues in every direction. Enlil has appointed Humbaba
to guard it and armed him with sevenfold terrors; terrible to all flesh is Humbaba. When he roars it is
like the torrent of the storm, his breath is like fire, and his jaws are death itself. He guards the cedars so
well that when the wild heifer stirs in the forest, though she is sixty leagues distant, he hears her. What
man would willingly walk into that country and explore its depths? I tell you, weakness overpowers
whoever goes near it: it is not an equal struggle when one fights with Humbaba; he is a great warrior, a
battering-ram. Gilgamesh, the watchman of the forest never sleeps.’
Gilgamesh replied: ‘Where is the man who can clamber to heaven? Only the gods live forever with
glorious Shamash, but as for us men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind. How
is this, already you are afraid! I will go first although I am your lord, and you may safely call out,
“Forward, there is nothing to fear!” Then if I fall I leave behind me a name that endures; men – will say of
me, “Gilgamesh has fallen in fight with ferocious Humbaba.” Long after the child has been born in my
house, they will say it, and remember.’ Enkidu spoke again to Gilgamesh, ‘O my lord, if you will enter
that country, go first to the hero Shamash, tell the Sun God, for the land is his. The country where the
cedar is cut belongs to Shamash.’
Gilgamesh took up a kid, white without spot, and a brown one with it; he held them against his breast,
and he carried them into the presence of the sun. He took in his hand his silver sceptre and he said to
glorious Shamash, ‘I am going to that country, O Shamash, I am going; my hands supplicate, so let it be
well with my soul and bring me back to the quay of Uruk. Grant, I beseech, your protection, and let the
omen be good.’ Glorious Shamash answered, ‘Gilgamesh, you are strong, but what is the Country of the
Living to you?
‘O Shamash, hear me, hear me, Shamash, let my voice be heard. Here in the city man dies oppressed at
heart, man perishes with despair in his heart. I have looked over the wall and I see the bodies floating on
the river, and that will be my lot also. Indeed I know it is so, for whoever is tallest among men cannot
reach the heavens, and the greatest cannot encompass the earth. Therefore I would enter that country:
because I have not established my name stamped on brick as my destiny decreed, I will go to the
country where the cedar is cut. I will set up my name where the names of famous men are written; and
where no man’s name is written I will raise a monument to the gods.’ The tears ran down his face and he
said, ‘Alas, it is a long journey that I must take to the Land of Humbaba. If this enterprise is not to be
accomplished, why did you move me, Shamash, with the restless desire to perform it? How can I
succeed if you will not succour me? If I die in that country I will die without rancour, but if I return I will
make a glorious offering of gifts and of praise to Shamash.’
So Shamash accepted the sacrifice of his tears; like the compassionate man he showed him mercy. He
appointed strong allies for Gilgamesh, sons of one mother, and stationed them in the mountain caves.
The great winds he appointed: the north wind, the whirlwind, the stone and the icy wind, the tempest
and the scorching wind. Like ‘ vipers, like dragons, like a scorching fire, like a serpent that freezes the
heart, a destroying flood and the lightning’s fork, such were they and Gilgamesh rejoiced.
He went to the forge and said, ‘I will give orders to the armourers; they shall cast us our weapons while
we watch them.’ So they gave orders to the armourers and the craftsmen sat down in conference. They
went into the groves of the plain and cut willow and box-wood; they cast for them axes of nine score
pounds, and great swords they cast with blades of six score pounds each one, with pommels and hilts of
thirty pounds. They cast for Gilgamesh the axe ‘Might of Heroes’ and the bow of Anshan; and Gilgamesh
was armed and Enkidu; and the weight of the arms they carried was thirty score pounds.
The people collected and the counsellors in the streets and in the market-place of Uruk; they came
through the gate of seven bolts and Gilgamesh spoke to them in the market-place: ‘I, Gilgamesh, go to
see that creature of whom such things are spoken, the rumour of whose name fills the world. I will
conquer him in his cedar wood and show the strength of the sons of Uruk; all the world shall know of it.
I am committed to this enterprise: to climb the mountain, to cut down the cedar, and leave behind me
an enduring name.’ The counsellors of Uruk; the great market, answered him, ‘Gilgamesh, you are
young, your courage carries you too far, you cannot know what this enterprise means which you plan.
We have heard that Humbaba is not like men who die, his weapons are such that none can stand against
them; the forest stretches for ten thousand leagues in every direction; who would willingly go down to
explore its depths? As for Humbaba, when he roars it is like the torrent of the storm, his breath is like
fire and his jaws are death itself. Why do you crave to do this thing, Gilgamesh? It is no equal struggle
when one fights with Humbaba, that battering-ram:
When he heard these words of the counsellors Gilgamesh looked at his friend and laughed, ‘How shall I
answer them; shall I say I am afraid of Humbaba, I will sit at home all the rest of my days?’ Then
Gilgamesh opened his mouth again and said to Enkidu, ‘My friend, let us go to the Great Palace, to
Egalmah, and stand before Ninsun the queen. Ninsun is wise with deep knowledge; she will give us
counsel for the road we must go.’ They took each other by the hand as they went to Egalmah, and they
went to Ninsun the great queen. Gilgamesh approached, he entered the palace and spoke to Ninsun.
‘Ninsun, will you listen to me; I have a long journey to go, to the Land of Humbaba, I must travel an
unknown road and fight a strange battle. From the day I go until I return, till I reach the cedar forest and
destroy the evil which Shamash abhors, pray for me to Shamash.’
Ninsun went into her room, she put on a dress becoming to her body, she put on jewels to make her
breast beautiful, she placed a tiara on her head and her skirts swept the ground. Then she went up to
the altar of the Sun, standing upon the roof of the palace; she burnt incense and lifted her arms to
Shamash as the smoke ascended: ‘O Shamash, why did you give this restless heart to Gilgamesh, my son;
why did you give it? You have moved him and now he sets out on a long journey to the Land of
Humbaba, to travel an unknown road and fight a strange battle. Therefore from the day that he goes till
the day he returns, until he reaches the cedar forest, until he kills Humbaba and destroys the evil thing
which you, Shamash, abhor, do not forget him; but let the dawn, Aya, your dear bride, remind you
always, and when day is done give him to the watchman of the night to keep him from harm.’ Then
Ninsun the mother of Gilgamesh extinguished the incense, and she called to Enkidu with this
exhortation: ‘Strong Enkidu, you are not the child of my body, but I will receive you as my adopted son;
you are my other child like the foundlings they bring to the temple. Serve Gilgamesh as a foundling
serves the temple and the priestess who reared him. In the presence of my women, any votaries and
hierophants, I declare it.’ Then she placed the amulet for a pledge round his neck, and she said to him, ‘I
entrust my son to you; bring him back to me safely.’
And now they brought to them the weapons, they put in their hands the great swords in their golden
scabbards, and the bow and the quiver. Gilgamesh took the axe, he slung the quiver from his shoulder,
and the bow of Anshan, and buckled the sword to his belt; and so they were armed and ready for the
journey. Now all the people came and pressed on them and said, ‘When will you return to the city? The
counsellors blessed Gilgamesh and warned him, ‘Do not trust too much in your own strength, be
watchful; restrain your blows at first. The one who goes in front protects his companion; the good guide
who knows the way guards his friend. Let Enkidu lead the way, he knows the road to the forest, he has
seen Humbaba and is experienced in battles; let him press first into the passes, let him be watchful and
look to himself. Let Enkidu protect his friend, and guard his companion, and bring him safe through the
pitfalls of the road. We, the counsellors of Uruk entrust our king to you, O Enkidu; bring him back safely
to us.’ Again to Gilgamesh, they said, ‘May Shamash give you your heart’s desire, may he let you see
with your eyes the thing accomplished which your lips have spoken; may he open a path for you where
it is blocked, and a road for your feet to tread. May he open the mountains for your crossing, and may
the night-time bring you the blessings of night, and Lugulbanda, your guardian god, stand beside you for
victory. May you have victory in the battle as though you fought with a child. Wash your feet in the river
of Humbaba to which you are journeying; in the evening dig a well, and let there always be pure water
in your water-skin. Offer cold water to Shamash and do not forget Lugulbanda.’
Then Enkidu opened his mouth and said, ‘Forward, there is nothing to fear. Follow me, for I know the
place where Humbaba lives and the paths where he walks. Let the counsellors go back. Here is no cause
for fear.’ When the counsellors heard this they sped the hero on his way. ‘Go, Gilgamesh, may your
guardian god protect you on the road and bring you safely back to the quay of Uruk.’
After twenty leagues they broke their fast; after another thirty leagues they stopped for the night. Fifty
leagues they walked in one day; in three days they had walked as much as a journey of a month and two
weeks. They crossed seven mountains before they came to the gate of the forest. Then Enkidu called out
to Gilgamesh, ‘Do not go down into the forest; when I opened the gate my hand lost its strength.’
Gilgamesh answered him, ‘Dear friend, do not speak like a coward. Have we got the better of so many
dangers and travelled so far, to turn back at last? You, who are tried in wars and battles, hold close to
me now and you will feel no fear of death; keep beside me and your weakness will pass, the trembling
will leave your hand. Would my friend rather stay behind? No, we will go down together into the heart
of the forest. Let your courage be roused by the battle to come; forget death and follow me, a man
resolute in action, but one who is not foolhardy. When two go together each will protect himself and
shield his companion, and if they fall they leave an enduring name.’
Together they went down into the forest and they came to the green mountain. There they stood still;
they were struck dumb; they stood still and gazed at the forest. They saw the height of the cedar, they
saw the way into the forest and the track where Humbaba was used to walk. The way was broad and the
going was good. They gazed at the mountain of cedars, the dwelling-place of the gods and the throne of
Ishtar. The hugeness of the cedar rose in front of the mountain, its shade was beautiful, full of comfort;
mountain and glade were green with brushwood.
There Gilgamesh dug a well before the setting sun. He went up the mountain and poured out fine meal
on the ground and said, ‘O mountain, dwelling of the gods, bring me a favourable dream.’ Then they
took each other by the hand and lay down to sleep; and sleep that flows from the night lapped over
them. Gilgamesh dreamed, and at midnight sleep left him, and he told his dream to his friend. ‘Enkidu,
what was it that woke me if you did not? My friend, I have dreamed a dream. Get up, look at the
mountain precipice. The sleep that the gods sent me is broken. Ah, my friend, what a dream I have had!
Terror and confusion; I seized hold of a wild bull in the wilderness. It bellowed and beat up the dust till
the whole sky was dark, my arm was seized and my tongue bitten. I fell back on my knee; then someone
refreshed me with water from his water-skin.’
Enkidu said, ‘Dear friend, the god to whom we are travelling is no wild bull, though his form is
mysterious. That wild bull which you saw is Shamash the Protector; in our moment of peril he will take
our hands. The one who gave water from his water-skin, who is your own god who cares for your good
name, your Lugulbanda. United with him, together we will accomplish a work the fame of which will
never die.’
Gilgamesh said, ‘I dreamed again. We stood in a deep gorge of the mountain, and beside it we two were
like the smallest of swamp flies; and suddenly the mountain fell, it struck me and caught my feet from
under me. Then came an intolerable light blazing out, and in it was one whose grace and whose beauty
were greater than the beauty of this world. He pulled me out from under the mountain, he gave me
water to drink and my heart was comforted, and he set my feet on the ground.’
Then Enkidu the child of the plains said, ‘Let us go down from the mountain and talk this thing over
together.’ He said to Gilgamesh the young god, ‘Your dream is good; your dream is excellent, the
mountain which you saw is Humbaba. Now, surely, we will seize and kill him, and throw his body down
as the mountain fell on the plain.’
The next day after twenty leagues they broke their fast, and after another thirty they stopped for the
night. They dug a well before the sun had set and Gilgamesh ascended the mountain. He poured out fine
meal on the ground and said, ‘O mountain, dwelling of the gods, send a dream for Enkidu, make him a
favourable dream.’ The mountain fashioned a dream for Enkidu; it came, an ominous dream; a cold
shower passed over him; it caused him to cower like the mountain barley under a storm of rain. But
Gilgamesh sat with his chin on his knees till the sleep which flows over all mankind lapped over him.
Then, at midnight, sleep left him; he got up and said to his friend, ‘Did you call me, or why did I wake?
Did you touch me, or why am I terrified? Did not some god pass by, for my limbs are numb with fear?
My friend, I saw a third dream and this dream was altogether frightful. The heavens roared and the
earth roared again, daylight failed and darkness fell, lightning flashed, fire blazed out, the clouds
lowered, they rained down death. Then the brightness departed, the fire went out, and all was turned to
ashes fallen about us. Let us go down from the mountain and talk this over, and consider what we
should do.’
When they had come down from the mountain Gilgamesh seized the axe in his hand; he felled the
cedar. When Humbaba heard the noise far off he was enraged; he cried out, ‘Who is this that has
violated my woods and cut down my cedar?’ But glorious Shamash called to them out of heaven, ‘Go
forward, and do not be afraid.’ But now G
