The Epic of Gilgamish/Translation and Transliteration

TRANSLITERATION AND TRANSLATION

1 it-bi-e-ma iluGilgamiš šu-na-tam i-pa-aš-šar.	1 Gilgamish arose interpreting dreams,
2 iz-za-kar-am[1] a-na um-mi-šu	2 addressing his mother.
3 um-mi i-na ša-a-at mu-ši-ti-i̭a	3 “My mother! during my night
4 ša-am-ḫa-ku-ma at-ta-na-al-la-ak	4 I, having become lusty, wandered about
5 i-na bi-ri-it id-da-tim	5 in the midst of omens.
6 ib-ba-šu-nim-ma ka-ka-’a[2] ša-ma-i	6 And there came out stars in the heavens,
7 ki-?-?-rum[3] ša a-nim im-ku-ut a-na ṣi-ri-i̭a	7 Like a … of heaven he fell upon me.
8 áš-ši-šu-ma ik-ta-bi-it[4] e-li-i̭a	8 I bore him but he was too heavy for me.
9 ilam[5] iš-šu-ma nu-uš-ša-šu[6] u-ul el-ti-’i̭	9 He bore a net but I was not able to bear it.
10 ad-ki ma-tum pa-ḫi-ir[7] e-li-šu	10 I summoned the land to assemble unto him,
11 id-lu-tum ú-na-ša-ku ši-pi-šu	11 that heroes might kiss his feet.
12 ú-um-mi-id-ma pu-ti	12 He stood up before me[8]
13 i-mi- du i̭a-ti	13 and they stood over against me.
14 aš-ši-a-šu-ma at-ba-la-áš-šu a-na ṣi-ri-ki	14 I lifted him and carried him away unto thee.”
15 um-mi iluGilgamiš mu-u-da-a-at ka-la-ma	15 The mother of Gilgamish she that knows all things,
16 iz-za-kar-am a-na iluGilgamiš	16 said unto Gilgamish:—
17 mi-in-di iluGilgamish ša ki-ma ka-ti	17 “Truly oh Gilgamish he is
18 i-na ṣi-ri i-wa-li-id-ma	18 born[9] in the fields like thee.
19 ú-ra-ab-bi-šu ša-du-ú	19 The mountains have reared him.
20 ta-mar-šu-ma [sa(?)]-ap-ḫa-ta at-ta	20 Thou beholdest him and art distracted(?)
21 id-lu-tum ú-na-ša-ku ši-pi-šu[10]	21 Heroes kiss his feet.
22 te-iṭ-ṭi-ra-šu(?) … šu-ú-zu	22 Thou shalt spare him….
23 ta-tar-ra-[’a]-šu a-na ṣi-[ri-i̭]a	23 Thou shalt lead him to me.”
24 [iš-(?)] ti-lam-ma[11] i-ta-mar ša-ni-tam	24 Again he dreamed and saw another dream
25 [šu-na-]ta i-ta-wa-a-am a-na um-mi-šu	25 and reported it unto his mother.
26 [um-m]i a-ta-mar ša-ni-tam	26 “My mother, I have seen another
27 [šu-na-ta a-ta]mar e-mi-a i-na zu-ki-im	27 [dream. I beheld] my likeness in the street.
28 [i-na?] Unuk-(ki) ri-bi-tim[12]	28 In Erech of the wide spaces[13]
29 ḫa-aṣ-ṣi-nu na-di-i-ma	29 he hurled the axe,
30 e-li-šu pa-aḫ- ru	30 and they assembled about him.
31 ḫa-aṣ-ṣi-nu-um-ma ša-ni bu-nu-šu	31 Another axe seemed his visage.
32 a-mur-šu-ma aḫ-ta-ta a-na-ku	32 I saw him and was astounded.
33 a-ra-am-šu-ma ki-ma áš-ša-tim	33 I loved him as a woman,
34 a-ḫa-ap-pu-up el-šu	34 falling upon him in embrace.
35 el-ki-šu-ma áš-ta-ka-an-šu	35 I took him and made him
36 a-na a-ḫi-i̭a	36 my brother.”
37 um-mi iluGilgamish mu-da-at ka-la-ma	37 The mother of Gilgamish she that knows all things
38 [iz-za-kar-am a-na iluGilgamish]	38 [said unto Gilgamish:—]
	".................................

Col. II

1 aš-šum uš-[tu-] ma-ḫa-ru it-ti-ka.	1 that he may join with thee in endeavor.”
2 iluGilgamish šu-na-tam i-pa-šar	2 (Thus) Gilgamish solves (his) dream.
3 iluEn-ki-[dû w]a?-ši-ib ma-ḫar ḫa-ri-im-tim	3 Enkidu sitting before the hierodule
4 UR []-ḫa-mu DI-?-al-lu-un	4
5 [] im-ta-ši a-šar i-wa-al-du	5 [] forgot where he was born.
6 ûmê 6[14] ù 7 mu-ši- a-tim	6 Six days and seven nights
7 iluEn-ki-dû te-bi-  i-ma	7 came forth Enkidu
8 ša-[am-ka-ta]  ir- ḫi	8 and cohabited with the courtesan.
9 ḫa-[ri-im-tu pa-a]-ša i-pu-ša-am-ma	9 The hierodule opened her mouth
10 iz-za-[kar-am] a-na iluEn-ki-dû[15]	10 speaking unto Enkidu.
11 a-na-ṭal-ka dEn-ki-dû ki-ma ili ta-ba-áš-ši	11 “I behold thee Enkidu; like a god thou art.
12 am-mi-nim it-ti na-ma-áš-te-e[16]	12 Why with the animals
13 ta-at-ta-[na-al-]la -ak ṣi-ra-am	13 wanderest thou on the plain?
14 al-kam lu-ùr-di- ka	14 Come! I will lead thee
15 a-na libbi Uruk-(ki) ri-bi-tim	15 into the midst of Erech of the wide places,
16 a-na biti [el-]lim mu-ša-bi ša A-nim	16 even unto the holy house, dwelling place of Anu.
17 dEn-ki-dû ti-bi lu-ru-ka	17 Oh Enkidu, arise, I will conduct thee
18 a-na É-[an-n]a mu-ša-bi ša A-nim	18 unto Eanna dwelling place of Anu,
19 a-šar [iluGilgamiš] it-[.........] ne-pi-ši-tim(?)	19 where Gilgamish [oppresses] the souls of men(?)
20 ù at-[] -di [-] ma	20 And as I ............
21 ta-[] ra-ma-an-  ka	21 thou shalt ........ thyself.
22 al-ka ti-ba i-[na] ga-ag-ga-ri	22 Come thou, arise from the ground
23 ma-a-a?[17] -ak ri-i-im	23 unto the place yonder (?) of the shepherd.”
24 iš-me a-wa-az-za im-ta-gár ga-ba-ša	24 He heard her speak and accepted her words with favor.
25 mi-il-kum ša sinništi	25 The advice of the woman
26 im-ta-[ku]-ut a-na libbi-šu	26 fell upon his heart.
27 iš-ḫu-uṭ li-ib-ša-am	27 She tore off one garment
28 iš-ti-nam [ú]-la-ab-bi-iš-šu	28 and clothed him with it.
29 li-ib- [ša-am] ša-ni-a-am	29 With a second garment
30 ši-i it-ta-al-ba- áš	30 she clothed herself.
31 ṣa-ab-ta-at ga-az- zu	31 She clasped his hand,
32 ki-ma ? i-ri-id-di-šu	32 guiding him like ..............
33 a-na gu-up-ri ša ri-i-im	33 unto the mighty presence of the shepherd,
34 a-š[ar] tar-ba-ṣi-im	34 unto the place of the ... of the sheepfolds.
35 i-na []-ḫu-ru ri-i̭a-ú[18]'	35 In ......... to shepherd
36 .............................	36 .............................

(About two lines broken away)

Col. III

1 ši-iz-ba ša na-ma-áš-te-e	1 Milk of the cattle
2 i-te-en-ni-iḳ	2 he drank.
3 a-ka-lam iš-ku-nu ma-ḫar-šu	3 Food they placed before him.
4 ip-te-iḳ-ma i-na -aṭ-ṭal[19]	4 He broke bread[20]
5 ù ip-pa-al-la-as	5 gazing and looking.
6 u-ul i-di dEn-ki- dû	6 But Enkidu understood not.
7 aklam a-na a-ka-lim	7 Bread to eat,
8 šikaram a-na ša-te-e-im	8 beer to drink,
9 la-a lum-mu- ud	9 he had not been taught.
10 ḫa-ri-im-lum pi-ša i-pu-ša-am- ma	10 The hierodule opened her mouth
11 iz-za-kar-am a-na iluEn-ki-dû	11 and said unto Enkidu:—
12 a-ku-ul ak-lam dEn-ki-dû	12 “Eat bread, oh Enkidu!
13 zi-ma-at ba-la-ṭi-im	13 It is the conformity of life,
14 bi-ši-ti ši-im-ti ma-ti	14 of the conditions and the fate of the land.”
15 i-ku-ul a-ak-lam iluEn-ki-dû	15 Enkidu ate bread,
16 a-di ši-bi-e-šu	16 until he was satiated.
17 šikaram iš-ti-a-am	17 Beer he drank
18 7 aṣ-ṣa-am-mi-im[21]	18 seven times(?).
19 it-tap-šar kab-ta-tum i-na-an-gu	19 His thoughts became unbounded and he shouted loudly.
20 i-li-iṣ libba- šu- ma	20 His heart became joyful,
21 pa-nu-šu [it-]ta(?)-bir -ru[22]'	21 and his face glowed.
22 ul-tap-pi-it [............]-i	22 He stroked.................
23 šu-ḫu-ra-am pa-ga-ar-šu	23 the hair of the head.[23] His body
24 ša-am-nam ip-ta-ša-áš-ma	24 with oil he anointed.
25 a-we-li-iš i-mē	25 He became like a man.
26 il-ba- áš li-ib-ša-am	26 He attired himself with clothes
27 ki-ma mu-ti i-ba-áš-ši	27 even as does a husband.
28 il-ki ka-ak-ka-šu	28 He seized his weapon,
29 la-bi ú gi-ir- ri	29 which the panther and lion
30 iš-sa-ak-pu šab-[ši]-eš mu-ši-a-ti	30 fells in the night time cruelly.
31 ut- tap -pi-iš šib-ba-ri[24]	31 He captured the wild mountain goats.
32 la-bi uk-t[a ]-ši-id	32 The panther he conquered.
33 it-ti immer na-ki-[e?] ra-bu-tum	33 Among the great sheep for sacrifice
34 iluEn-ki-dû ma-aṣ-ṣa-ar-šu-nu	34 Enkidu was their guard.
35 a-we-lum wa-ru-um	35 A man, a leader,
36 iš-[te]-en id-lum	36 A hero.
37 a-na[ ........ u]-za-ak-ki-ir	37 Unto .......... he elevated
.........................	.........................

(About five lines broken away)

Reverse I

..............................	..............................
1 i-ip-pu-uš ul-ṣa-am	1 And he made glad.
2 iš-ši-ma   i-ni-i-šu	2 He lifted up his eyes,
3 i-ta-mar   a-we-lam	3 and beheld the man,
4 iz[25]-za-kar-am a-na ḫarimti	4 and said unto the hierodule:—
5 ša-am-ka-at uk-ki-ši[26] a-we-lam	5 “Oh harlot, take away the man.
6 a-na mi-nim il-li-kam	6 Wherefore did he come to me?
7 zi-ki-ir-šu lu-uš-šu[27]	7 I would forget the memory of him.”
8 ḫa-ri-im-tum iš-ta-si a-we-lam	8 The hierodule called unto the man
9 i-ba-uš-šu-um-ma i-ta-mar-šu	9 and came unto him beholding him.
10 e-di-il[28] e-eš-ta-ḫi-[ṭa-am]	10 She sorrowed and was astonished
11 mi-nu a-la-ku-zu na-aḫ-[29] [-]ma	11 how his ways were ............
12 e pi-šu    i-pu-ša-am-[ma]	12 Behold she opened her mouth
13 iz-za-kar-am a-na iluEn-[ki-dû]	13 saying unto Enkidu:—
14 bi-ti-iš e-mu-tim []	14 “At home with a family [to dwell??]
15 ši-ma-a-at ni-ši-i- ma	15 is the fate of mankind.
16 tu-ṣa[30]-ar pa-a-ta-tim[31]	16 Thou shouldest design boundaries(??)
17 a-na âli dup-šak-ki-i e ṣi-en	17 for a city. The trencher-basket put (upon thy head).
18 UG-AD-AD-LIL e-mi ṣa-a-a-ḫa-tim	18 ...........an abode of comfort.
19 a-na šarri Unuk-(ki) ri-bi-tim	19 For the king of Erech of the wide places
20 pi-ti pu-uk epši[32] a-na ḫa-a-a-ri	20 open, addressing thy speech as unto a husband.
21 a-na iluGilgamiš šarri ša Unuk-(ki) ri-bi-tim	21 Unto Gilgamish king of Erech of the wide places
22 pi-ti pu-uk epši[33]	22 open, addressing thy speech
23 a-na ha-a-a-ri	23 as unto a husband.
24 áš-ša-at ši-ma-tim i-ra-aḫ-ḫi	24 He cohabits with the wife decreed for him,
25 šu-u pa-na-nu-um-ma	25 even he formerly.
26 mu-uk wa-ar-ka-nu	26 But henceforth
27 i-na mi-il-ki ša ili ga-bi-ma	27 in the counsel which god has spoken,
28 i-na bi-ti-iḳ a-pu-un-na-ti-šu[34]	28 in the work of his presence
29 ši- ma- az- zum	29 shall be his fate.”
30 a-na zi-ik-ri id-li-im	30 At the mention of the hero
31 i-ri-ku pa-nu-šu	31 his face became pale.

Reverse II

............................................................

(About five lines broken away)

1 i-il-la-ak- ..........	1 going .......................
2 ù ša-am-ka-at[]ar-ki-šu	2 and the harlot ..... after him.
3 i- ru- ub-ma[35] a-na[36] libbi Uruk-(ki) ri-bi-tim	3 He entered into the midst of Erech of the wide places.
4 ip-ḫur um-ma-nu-um i-na ṣi-ri-šu	4 The artisans gathered about him.
5 iz-zi-za-am-ma i-na zu-ki-im	5 And as he stood in the street
6 ša Unuk-(ki) ri-bi-tim	6 of Erech of the wide places,
7 pa-aḫ-ra-a-ma ni-šu	7 the people assembled
8 i-ta-mē-a i-na ṣi-ri-šu pi(?)-it-tam32	8 disputing round about him:—
9 a-na mi-[ni][37] iluGilgamiš ma-ši-il	9 “How is he become like Gilgamish suddenly?
10 la-nam ša- pi-  il	10 In form he is shorter.
11 e-ṣi[pu]-uk-ku-ul	11 In ........ he is made powerful.
12 i? -ak-ta	12
13 i[--]di i-ši?	13
14 ši-iz-ba ša[na-ma-]áš-[te]-e	14 Milk of the cattle
15 i-te- en- ni-   iḳ	15 he drank.
16 ka-i̭ā-na i-na [libbi] Uruk-(ki) kak-ki-a-tum[38]	16 Continually in the midst of Erech weapons
17 id-lu-tum u-te-el-li- lu	17 the heroes purified.
18 ša-ki-in ip-ša-   nu[39]	18 A project was instituted.
19 a-na idli ša i-tu-ru zi-mu-šu	19 Unto the hero whose countenance was turned away,
20 a-na iluGilgamiš ki-ma i-li-im	20 unto Gilgamish like a god
21 ša-ki-iš-šum[40] me-iḫ-rum	21 he became for him a fellow.
22 a-na ilatIš-ḫa-ra ma-i̭ā-lum	22 For Išhara a couch
23 na- [di]-i- ma	23 was laid.
24 iluGilgamish id-[]na-an(?)...	24 Gilgamish ...................
25 i-na mu-ši in-ni-[-]id	25 In the night he ..............
26 i-na-ak[41]-ša-am- ma	26 embracing her in sleep.
27 it-ta-[]i-na zûki	27 They ........ in the street
28 ip-ta-ra-[ku]-ak-tām	28 halting at the ................
29 ša iluGilgamish	29 of Gilgamish.
29 ........... da-na(?) ni-iš-šu	29 .......... mightily(?)

Col. III

1 ur-(?)ḫa .....................	1 A road(?) ....................
2 iluGilgamiš ................	2 Gilgamish ...................
3 i-na ṣi-ri ....................	3 in the plain ..................
4 i-ḫa-an-ni-ib [pi-ir-ta-šu?]	4 his hair growing thickly like the corn.
5 it-bi-ma .......	5 He came forth ...
6 a-na pa-ni- šu	6 into his presence.
7 it-tam-ḫa-ru i-na ri-bi-tu ma-ti	7 They met in the wide park of the land.
8 iluEn-ki-dû ba-ba-am ip-ta-ri-ik	8 Enkidu held fast the door
9 i-na ši-pi-šu	9 with his foot,
10 iluGilgamiš e-ri-ba-am u-ul id-di-in	10 and permitted not Gilgamish to enter.
11 iṣ-ṣa-ab-tu-ma ki-ma li-i-im	11 They grappled with each other
12 i- lu- du[42]	12 goring like an ox.
13 zi-ip-pa-am ’i-bu- tu	13 The threshold they destroyed.
14 i-ga-rum ir-tu-tū[43]	14 The wall they demolished.
15 iluGilgamiš ù iluEn-ki- dû	15 Gilgamish and Enkidu
16 iṣ-ṣa-ab-tu-ù- ma	16 grappled with each other,
17 ki-ma li-i-im i-lu-du	17 goring like an ox.
18 zi-ip-pa-am ’i-bu- tu	18 The threshold they destroyed.
19 i-ga-rum ir-tu-tū	19 The wall they demolished.
20 ik-mi-is-ma iluGilgamiš	20 Gilgamish bowed
21 i-na ga-ga-ag-ga-ri ši-ip-šu	21 to the ground at his feet
22 ip-ši-iḫ[44] uṣ-ṣa-šu- ma	22 and his javelin reposed.
23 i-ni-’i i-ra-az-zu	23 He turned back his breast.
24 iš-tu i-ra-zu i-ni-ḫu[45]	24 After he had turned back his breast,
25 iluEn-ki-dû a-na ša-ši-im	25 Enkidu unto that one
26 iz-za-kar-am a-na iluGilgamiš	26 spoke, even unto Gilgamish.
27 ki-ma iš-te-en-ma um-ma-ka	27 “Even as one[46] did thy mother
28 ú-li- id- ka	28 bear thee,
29 ri-im-tum ša zu- pu-ri	29 she the wild cow of the cattle stalls,
30 ilatNin- sun- na	30 Ninsunna,
31 ul-lu e-li mu-ti ri-eš-su	31 whose head she exalted more than a husband.
32 šar-ru-tam ša ni-ši	32 Royal power over the people
33 i-ši-im-kum iluEn-lil	33 Enlil has decreed for thee.”

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duppu 2 kam-ma	Second tablet.
šu-tu-ur e-li ..........	Written upon ..........
4 šu-ši[47]	240 (lines).

1. Here this late text includes both variants pašāru and zakāru. The earlier texts have only the one or the other.
2. For kakabê; b becomes u̯ and then is reduced to the breathing.
3. The variants have kima kiṣri; ki-[ma]?-rum is a possible reading. The standard Assyrian texts regard Enkidu as the subject.
4. Var. da-an
5. ŠAM-KAK = ilu, net. The variant has ultaprid ki-is-su-šu, “he shook his murderous weapon.” For kissu see ZA. 9,220,4 = CT. 12,14b 36, giš-kud = ki-is-su.
6. Var. nussu for nuš-šu = nušša-šu. The previous translations of this passage are erroneous.
7. This is to my knowledge the first occurence of the infinitive of this verb, paḫēru, not paḫāru.
8. Literally "he attained my front."
9. IV¹ of walādu.
10. Text ma?
11. ištanamma > ištilamma.
12. Cf. Code of Hammurapi IV 52 and Streck in Babyloniaca II 177.
13. I.e. in the suburb of Erech.
14. Restored from Tab. I Col. IV 21.
15. Cf. Dhorme Choix de Textes Religieux 198, 33.
16. namaštû a late form which has followed the analogy of reštû in assuming the feminine t as part of the root. The long û is due to analogy with namaššû a Sumerian loan-word with nisbe ending.
17. Room for a small sign only, perhaps A; māi̭āk? For mâka, there, see Behrens, LSS. II page 1 and index.
18. Infinitive “to shepherd”; see also Poebel, PBS. V 106 I, ri-i̭a-ú, ri-te-i̭a-ú.
19. The text has clearly AD-RI.
20. patāḳu has apparently the same sense originally as batāḳu, although the one forms its preterite iptiḳ, and the other ibtuḳ. Cf. also maḫāṣu break, hammer and construct.
21. Or azzammim? The word is probably an adverb; hardly a word for cup, mug (??).
22. it is uncertain and ta more likely than uš. One expects ittabriru. Cf. muttabrirru, CT. 17, 15, 2; littatabrar, Ebeling, KTA. 69, 4.
23. The passage is obscure. Here šuḫuru is taken as a loan-word from suģur = ḳimmatu, hair of the head. The infinitive II¹ of saḫāru is philologically possible.
24. For šapparu. Text and interpretation uncertain. uttappiš II² from tapāšu, Hebrew tāpaś, seize.
25. Text ta!
26. On ekēšu, drive away, see Zimmern, Shurpu, p. 56. Cf. uk-kiš, Myhrman, PBS. I 14, 17; uk-ki-ši, King, Cr. App. V 55; etc., etc.
27. The Hebrew cognate of mašû, to forget, is našâ, Arabic nasijia, and occurs here in Babylonian for the first time. See also Brockelman, Vergleichende Grammatik 160 a.
28. Probably phonetic variant of edir. The preterite of edēru, to be in misery, has not been found. If this interpretation be correct the preterite edir is established. For the change r > l note also attalaḫ < attaraḫ, Harper, Letters 88, 10, bilku < birku, RA. 9, 77 II 13; uttakkalu < uttakkaru, Ebeling, KTA. 49 IV 10.
29. Also na-’-[-]ma is possible.
30. The text cannot be correct since it has no intelligible sign. My reading is uncertain.
31. Text uncertain, kal-lu-tim is possible.
32. KAK-ši.
33. KAK-ši.
34. Literally nostrils. pitik apunnati-šu, work done in his presence(?). The meaning of the idiom is uncertain.
35. Text ZU!
36. Text has erroneous form.
37. Omitted by the scribe.
38. Sic! The plural of kakku, kakkîtu(?).
39. Cf. e-pi-ša-an-šu-nu libâru, “May they see their doings,” Maḳlu VII 17.
40. For šakin-šum.
41. On the verb nâku see the Babylonian Book of Proverbs § 27.
42. The verb la’āṭu, to pierce, devour, forms its preterite iluṭ; see VAB. IV 216, 1. The present tense which occurs here as iluṭ also.
43. Note BUL(tu-ku) = ratātu (falsely entered in Meissner, SAI. 7993), and irattutu in Zimmern, Shurpu, Index.
44. “For ipšaḫ.”
45. Sic! ḫu reduced to the breathing ’u; read i-ni-’u.
46. I.e., an ordinary man.
47. The tablet is reckoned at forty lines in each column.