mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== The Epic of Gilgamesh To My Home Page Originally written before 1900 BC, and probably existing much earlier, the most complete version of this tale belonged to the seventh century library of Assurbanipal, antiquary and last great king of the Assyrian Empire. He sent out his servants to search the archives of Babylon, Uruk and Nippur to copy and translate into the contemporary Akkadian Semitic those texts which were in the older Sumerian language of Mesopotamia. Additional translations of Sumerian texts have carried the history of the epic back into the third millennium BC. In 1839 a young Englishman named Austin Henry Layard began excavating at Ninevah and found this buried library. Decipherment was begun by Henry Rawlinson in Baghdad and continued in the British Museum in 1855. Rassam, Layard's collaborator, excavated the part of the library containing the Gilgamesh tablets in 1853. George Smith recognised the importance of Gilgamesh in 1872 and whipped up enthusiasm for a search for more tablets, particularly relating to the incomplete account of the deluge. There was a historical King Gilgamesh who lived and reigned c. 2700 BC. According to one account, he was fifth in line from the founding of the first dynasty of Uruk (after the flood) and reigned for 126 years. His son reigned for a mere 30 years. He built a temple to Ninlil in Nippur, and possibly the walls of Uruk, but not of burnt brick - this may be a mistake due to misunderstanding of an earlier text by later redactors. The is well told in the edition published by Penguin Classics. Plot Summary Prologue - Gilgamesh King in Uruk A eulogy to wise and handsome Gilgamesh, King of Uruk (Uruk being the biblical Erech, known today as Warka), who built brick walls, a rampart and a temple for Anu, god of the firmament. 1 - The Coming of Enkidu King Gilgamesh's strength and lust left him with no rivals, so the gods prevailed on the goddess Aruru to make him a brother, which she duly did. Thus Enkidu was created. Enkidu was brought up in the wild, eating grass in the hills. He was the strongest man in the world. He was discovered by a hill trapper who was so afraid of his strength that he sought advice from his father on what to do with the beast. The trapper's father instructed him to go to Gilgamesh and ask for his advice. Gilgamesh advised him to hire a harlot and introduce her to Enkidu. They duly did this and the harlot stripped before Enkidu, who was fascinated by her. She persuaded him to accompany her to see Gilgamesh in the city of Uruk. Gilgamesh told his mother Ninsun of his dreams. She interpreted them as presaging the arrival of Enkidu in Uruk. The harlot encouraged the wild Enkidu to be more genteel in manner. He was warned of the power of Gilgamesh. Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh by preventing him from entering the house of a newly wedded bride according to the custom ordained by the gods of 'the king to be first and the husband to follow'. Gilgamesh threw him aside. Enkidu acknowledged Gilgamesh's strength, and they became friends. 2 - The Forest Journey Enkidu regretted that he was losing his powers and becoming weak, so Gilgamesh had the idea of making a name for himself by raising a monument of cedars to the gods. The trouble was, as Enkidu knew all too well, the cedars were guarded by a fearsome giant called Humbaba. Gilgamesh was not afraid of Humbaba, however Enkidu (having seen him before) was very concerned, as were the rest of the king's subjects. Ninsun, Gilgamesh's mother, prayed to Shamash (the sun god) to protect them, and gave Enkidu an amulet. Gilgamesh was experiencing dreams that were worrying him, however Enkidu believed that they foretold victory - and indeed, as soon as the first cedars were felled, the great Humbaba was aroused and duly vanquished by the equal power of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The god of the earth, Enlil, was not happy about this and threatened revenge on them both. 3 - Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the Death of Enkidu Having returned from the aforementioned adventure, Gilgamesh washed himself and put on his royal robes. He looked very handsome and was noticed by Ishtar, the goddess of love. She asked him to marry her and promised all sorts of things. Gilgamesh was not having any of this, and reminded Ishtar of how unfaithful she had been to a whole list of previous lovers. Ishtar fell into a rage and went up to high heaven to ask her father, Anu, for the Bull of Heaven with which to avenge Gilgamesh. The fearsome Bull of Heaven rampaged the earth. With its first snort the earth cracked and a hundred young men fell down to their death. Early in the fight Enkidu was knocked down and got up immediately, but it was Gilgamesh who defeated the Bull. They cut out its heart and gave it to Shamash. Ishtar rose to the walls of Uruk and cursed Gilgamesh for killing the Bull of Heaven. When Enkidu heard these words he tore off the Bull's right thigh and threw it at her. Enraged by this, she called together the dancing and singing girls, prostitutes and courtesans and set up lamentation over the thigh of the Bull of Heaven. The smiths and armourers admired the build and body of the beautiful Bull of Heaven, and there were celebrations in the street as the crowd acknowledged the strength and might of Gilgamesh. That night, however, Enkidu had a dream which he related the following day to Gilgamesh, in which the gods were meeting in council, and Enlil was declaring that, because of his involvement with the deaths of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu must die. With tears in his eyes, Enkidu prayed to Shamash, cursing the trapper; and the harlot who civilised him, and thus led to his downfall. Shamash, however, reminded him of the good times he had had, and Enkidu repented for his harsh words. Enkidu told Gilgamesh of another of his dreams in which he was transformed into a bird and led to the palace of the Queen of Darkness. All the inhabitants of this dark place were clothed like birds, and they were once rulers of earthly kingdoms. The servants were those who once had the stature of gods. The Queen of the Underworld was there, and the recorder of the gods who held the book of death. She looked up and enquired as to who had brought Enkidu here. At this point Enkidu woke up. Despite Gilgamesh's prayers, his lingering illness worsened. Gilgamesh lamented greatly over his death, as did the people of Uruk who built a statue decorated with gold and lapis lazuli in his honour. 4 - The Search for Everlasting Life Gilgamesh wept bitterly for his brother, whose demise reminded him of his greatest fear - death. He decided to find Utnapishtim (known as the Faraway), who lived in the land of Dilmun, in the garden of the sun. To him alone had the gods granted eternal life. Our hero eventually arrived at the great mountains of Mashu, the gate of which was guarded by two man-scorpions. They warned him that no mortal man had ever done what he was to do. They opened the gate for him, and Gilgamesh walked in total darkness for twelve leagues, after which he found himself in the garden of the gods, surrounded by wonderful gems and riches. He came across Shamash, who warned him that he would not find what he was looking for. By the sea he encountered Siduri, goddess of wine, who looked on him as a thief and bolted her gate against him. He pleaded that he was the great hero King Gilgamesh. At first she didn't believe him, but later she relented, and warned him again that he would not find eternal life. Nevertheless, she told him that Utnapishtim lived across the Ocean. Gilgamesh was carried across by the boatman Urshanabi, to whom he had to introduce himself in much the same way as he did with Siduri; and likewise on meeting Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim reminded Gilgamesh that nothing on earth is permanent. With regard to how he came to enter the company of gods and possess everlasting life, he would tell Gilgamesh a secret: 5 - The Story of the Flood Utnapishtim told a story of a city called Shurrupak, on the banks of the Euphrates. The gods considered the noise made by man in this city to be intolerable - so they agreed to exterminate mankind. Enlil was the main protagonist, but Ea, god of waters, warned Utnapishtim of their plan in a dream; telling him to tear down his house and build a boat, giving precise measurements; and to take into it the seed of all living creatures. The boat was built and loaded, and the rain came. The storm raged fiercely for six days and nights. The great gods of heaven and hell wept. On the seventh day the storm subsided and Utnapishtim opened the hatch and saw water all around. The boat was grounded on the mountain of Nisir. When it had been becalmed for seven days, he released a dove, who found no resting place and returned. A swallow was then released who found no perch, but the raven did not return. Utnapishtim made a sacrifice and poured out a libation on the mountain top. All of the gods were pleased except Enlil, who had intended to destroy all mankind. Ea calmed him down, and Enlil took Utnapishtim and his wife into the boat and made them kneel down on either side of him saying "In times past Utnapishtim was a mortal man; now he shall live at the mouth of rivers." 6 - The Return Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh to prevail against sleep for six days and seven nights if he wished to gain eternal life. Gilgamesh, however, couldn't stay awake; and slept for seven days, waking up with his ever-present fear of death. Utnapishtim banished the boatman Urshanabi; commanding him to take Gilgamesh, let him wash, and give him new clothes. With this done, they were about to launch off when Utnapishtim promised Gilgamesh a memento of the trip - a plant, like a rose with a prickle like a thorn, found at the bottom of the sea. This would restore lost youth. Gilgamesh dived into the water to obtain this plant. Having travelled back twenty leagues, Gilgamesh and Urshanabi were attacked by a serpent and lost the plant. On returning to Uruk with Urshanabi, the hero was worn out. However he was able to engrave the story on a stone. 7 - The Death of Gilgamesh Gilgamesh's destiny, decreed by Enlil (the father of the gods), was now fulfilled. The people of Uruk and his mother Ninsun mourned. The mourners weighed out their offerings to Ereshkigal, the Queen of Death; Namtar, the god of fate; and to all the gods of the dead. Gilgamesh lies in his tomb. ŠJohn Crocker (November 1998).