'Your strength surpasses my own,

For why do you lord like a wild bull

Over the people of ramparted Uruk?

Are you not the king,

Shepherd of the people?

Gilgamesh answered, spoke to Enkidu:

'No one before opposed my strength

Now I have found a worthy companion.

Together we could go to the Cedar Forest.'

Enkidu puzzled said to Gilgamesh:

'Why do you wish to do such a thing?

It is a very long journey

To do what you say,

To go down to the Cedar Forest.

I will take a message for you.'

They kissed one another

And formed a friendship.

Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, said to him:

'Oh my friend, I have always wanted

To climb Cedar mountain (1).

There dwells fierce Humbaba

Who is evil and fearsome to look upon.

I wish to slay him

And banish what is evil from the land.

But he lives in the Cedar Forest

And I know not the way.'

[Here a large portion is lost]

The mother of Gilgamesh, who knows all,

Raises her hands to Shamash the Sun

[Here ten more lines are lost]

Enkidu's eyes brim tears, sick to the heart

Bitter sighs,

Yes, his eyes brim tears

Sick to heart and bitter sighs.

Gilgamesh, understanding, says to Enkidu:

'My friend, why eyes brimming tears? Sick to heart? Such bitter sighs?'

Enkidu said to Gilgamesh, told him:

'My friend, a cry chokes me, constricts my neck veins,

My arms are limp,

My strength gone into weakness'.

Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, said to him:

[Here four or five lines are lost.]

'In the forest terrible Humbaba lives

Let us, you and I, slay him,

And banish all that is evil from the land!'

[Here four lines are lost.]

Enkidu spoke, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, I found it out

When I was ranging forth over the steppe,

Running with the wild beasts,

For ten thousand double-hours the forest stretches,

Extending in every direction.

Who could there possibly be

To go down into this place?

And Humbaba - his roaring is the Great Flood,

His mouth is fire,

His breath is death!

Why do you wish to do sch a thing?

We are no match to fight fierce Humbaba!'

Gilgamesh spoke, saying to Enkidu:

'I will climb the Cedar Mountain!'

[Here seven lines are lost.]

Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh, said to him:

'But how can we go to the Cedar Forest?

Dread Wer is its guardian, who sleeps not at all and is strong.

Humbaba-Wer is his.....

Adad the storm is his voice,

He has the breath of death.

He was appointed guardian of the Cedar Forest

By Enlil, son of An, the Great God,

To terrify all mortals.

Humbaba - his roaring is the Great Flood.

His mouth is fire,

His breath is death!

At sixty double-hours he hears

Every wild cow in the forest.

Who can go down into his forest?

Enlil appointed him to be guard,

To watch the cedars, terrify mortals,

Weakness grips one who goes down into the Cedar Forest.'

Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, said to him:

'Who can climb into heaven, my friend?

Immortal under the Sun are the gods alone,

As for mortals their days must end -

What they achieve is but the wind!

Even now you fear death.

Where is your hero's strength?

I will lead you, then.

You may call to me:'Advance, fear not!'

If I fall, I shall have made my name:

"Gilgamesh", they will say, "against fierce Humbaba

Has fallen!" and long after,

My descendants born in my house

Shall honour my name

As one who struggled agains fierce Humbaba

And fell in fighting on Cedar Mountain.

Speaking as you have, you have grieved me.

I will ready my hand,

I will fell the cedar trees,

I will make my name a name that endures!

I will commission the smith

To cast weapons for us.'

And they commissioned the smith;

The artisans sat down to discuss it.

They cast mighty adzes, they cast axes of three talents each -

And a talent contains sixty minas!

They cast mighty swords -

The blades were two talents each,

The knobs on their sheaths thirty minas each,

The handles of the swords

Thirty minas of gold each

Gilgamesh and Enkidu were both laden with ten talents apiece.

[A fragment from Uruk published in 1972 by von Weiher gives a slightly different account:]

They sit and take counsel together with the smiths:

'We will cast the axe.....

The axe - it shall weigh one talent

Your sword - it shall weigh one talent

Your belt - it shall weigh one talent

Your belt.............................

[The main account now resumes:]

At the great gate of Uruk

With its seven bolts

Gathered all of the people.

There in the street and market of ramparted Uruk

Stood mighty Gilgamesh

King of Uruk of the ramparts,

The people all sat down before him.

Gilgamesh spoke to them, saying:

'O thou people of ramparted Uruk,

I am going on a journey to the Forest of Cedars,

Him of whom they speak,

At whose name all lands tremble,

I, Gilgamesh, will see.

I will conquer him in the Cedar Forest!

I will spread abroad among all lands

How strong are the progeny of Uruk!

I will raise my hand and cut down the cedars!

I will make my name a name that endures!'

[The 1972 fragment of von Weiher, just cited, preserves a different version, which highlights the astronomical references more clearly:]

'The men of Uruk who know..................

There would I be strong, I travel the wheel-rim......

I commence the struggle which I know not, the motion

Blesses me!...... the path....... before

I will enter the city gate of Uruk....

I will turn towards, and the Akitu Festival in.................

I will celebrate the Akitu Festival in......

The Akitu Festival shall be arranged and joyful singing shall be heard.

One shall ever cry out and cry out again against magnificent garments in....

Enkidu - to the elders he said:

'What the men of Uruk ............................

He spoke to him; he should not enter the foret.....

The wheel-rim should not be journeyed uppon; a man ............................(3)

The guardian of the forest.............................

[This is the end of the fragment In the main text, no speech by Enkidu is recorded at all. A fragment of about 1400 BCE published by Gernot Wilhelm gives a few lines of yet another version of these events. Gilgamesh explains why he wishes to go on the expedition against Humbaba and the elders of Uruk ask him to reconsider:}

'I wish to set up a name, a name which will endure perpetually in their mouths.

Of my deeds I wish the land to listen!

I wish my name to be a name which endures!

Such a name I wish to establish for myself!

The elders of Uruk replied to Gilgamesh:

'But Gilgamesh, why do you wish to do this?

The struggle at the abode of Humbaba is not to .....?'

[Here the short fragment breaks off. We return once more to the main text:]

The elders of ramparted Uruk replied to Gilgamesh, said to him:

'You are very young, Gilgamesh,

Your heart has swept away your reason.

You have no knowledge of what is involved

We are told that Humbaba is strange to see and terrifying.

Who can possibly whitstand his weapons?

For ten thousand double-hours in every direction

Extends his great forest.

Who would go down into such a place?

Humbaba - his roaring is the Great Flood.

His mouth is fire,

His breath is death!

Why do you wish to do such a thing?'

No one is a match to struggle with Humbaba.'

When Gilgamesh heard these words of his advisers,

He looked round, smiling to his friend:

'Now, my friend, thus do they tremble

And fear eaven to speak of fierce Humbaba.

O Enkidu, together we can face him

In his great forest of cedars, and gain renown.

O elders of Uruk, I go with my friend Enkidu,

He of the steppe who has strength.

Together we will face fierce Humbaba.'

The elders answered Gilgamesh and said:

'May they own god protect thee

May he lead thee back safely along the road

May he bring thee back to the quay of Uruk.'

Gilgamesh then fell down before Shamash the Sun and spoke these words:

'I go, o Shamash, my hands raised in prayer;

Bless the future well-being of my soul.

Bring me back safely tot he quay of Uruk, and

Cause thy protection to be established over me.'

Gilgamesh called his friend

And inspected his omen.

[Here seven lines are lost. The omen, whih would have been read from the liver, gall bladder and intestines of a sacrificial lamb mus have been unfavourable.]

Tears ran down the face of Gilgamesh.

'I must travel a road I have never travelled,

I must follow a way I know not.

But I know I should fare well,

And I depart with a joyful heart.

May the blessings of the Great Gods be upon me!

They who are on their celestial thrones.'

And then were brought to him his weapons,

Those mighty swords,

Quiver and bow,

All placed in his hands,

He took the adzes,

And, with his quiver,

The bow of Anshan

Into his girdle he put his sword

That they might depart.

The people pressed around Gilgamesh:

'By the will of God may you return to the city!'

The elders paid homage

And counselled Gilgamesh concerning his journey:

'Trust not your strength alone!

Be wary and alert, on guard.

Let Enkidu walk before you.

He has seen the way, has travelled the road.

He who leads the way saves his companion,

He who knows the path protects his friend.

Enkidu has seen combat, knows it,

Knows the way to the Cedar Forest.

Over the obstacles and ditches will he carry you.

Let him penetrate and slip through

All the passes of the forest of Humbaba.

May Shamash grant your wish,

May he show you of what you speak.

May he open the unopened path for you,

Unbar the road for your coming,

Unclose for you the foot of the mountain!

May your nights bring you delights,

And may Lugulbanda stand by you,

May he stand by your wish!

May you attain your wish as does a child!

After slaying Humbaba, which you are attempting,

Wash then your feet.

When time to rest at night, dig a well -

May the water of your water-skin be ever pure! -

And offer cool water to Shamash.

And be ever mindful of Lugulbanda!

Enkidu, we the Assembly

Entrust our king to you.

Do you deliver him back to us!'

Gilgamesh spoke to Enkidu, said to him:

'Up, my friend, let us go to the Great Palace

To see Ninsun, the Great Queen

Ninsun the Wise, who has knowledge of everything,

Will make wise our feet in their course.'

Gilgamesh and Enkidu, to the Great Palace,

To see Ninsun, the Great Queen.

Gilgamesh stepped forward on entering the palace:

'O Ninsun, I make bold to depart

On a great journey to the place of Humbaba,

I must face battle strange to me,

Travel a road unknown to me.

Until I can return, until I come to the Cedar Forest,

And banish all that is evil from the land,

All that is hateful to Shamash,

Do pray to Shamash on my behalf.'

(Here several lines are lost)

Ninsun entered her chamber

(Here one line is lost)

She donned a garment suitable to her body

Also an ornament appropriate for her breast

Placed her tiara on her head,

Went out into the grounds,

Climbed the stairs, ascended the parapet

Attained the roof and there did offer up

To Shamash the Sun much incense

With this smoke-offering in progress

She raised her hands to Shamash:

'Having granted me as my son Gilgamesh,

Why have then have you given my him such a restless heart?

Why have you made him wish to go on a Great Journey to the place of Humbaba?

To face a battle strange to him?

To travel a road unknown to him?

Until the day he can return, until he reaches the Cedar Forest ,

Slays the fierce Humbaba

And banishes from the land all that is evil which you hate,

In the day hours when you shine forth,

May Aya your bride fear you not and keep you mindful

And may she also commend him

To those who watch over the hours of the night!

(Here many lines are lost)

She put out incense, chanting a spell.

Then she summoned Enkidu

To impart him this message:

'Mighty Enkidu, you who came not from my womb,

I have now adopted you,

As have the devotees of Gilgamesh,

The priestess, the votaries, the cult women!'

And around the neck of Enkidu she placed....

(The remainder of this line and several others are completely lost. In all probability Ninsun placed an amulet around Enkidu's neck. When the text resumes again, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are with the elders and about to depart.)

'Let Enkidu protect the friend, safeguard the companion,

Let him carry him through the pitfalls!

We, the Assembly, entrust to you our king:

Do you deliver him back to us!'

Enkidu then spoke to Gilgamesh, said to him:

'Since you are determined upon the struggle,

Then come away.

Let your heart not be troubled and follow me.

My friend, turn not away from the journey.

A way not known to you

Need hold no fears when I shall lead you.

In the Cedar Forest I know the dwelling place

And also the road which Humbaba travels.'

(Here seven lines are lost)

When the elders had heard this speech of his

They sent the hero on his way

'Go, Gilgamesh - may Shamash grant your wish,

And may your God be at your side.'

Go Back

(Most of this tablet is mutilated and lost.)

After twenty intervals

They broke off a morsel

After thirty more

Rested for the night

Fifty were the intervals

Which they trod in a day

In three days, one month and fifteen days

Before Utu/Shamash the Sun they dug a well.

(The rest of the column is missing. After a missing portion of the next column, the text recommences.)

After twenty intervals

They broke off a morsel

After thirty more

Rested for the night

Fifty were the intervals

Which they trod in a day

In three days, one month and fifteen days

(Here then lines are missing)

Gilgamesh went up the mountain

Poured out the fine-meal and intoned

'O Mountain, bring me a dream that is favourable.'

(The rest of the column is missing, as well as the following two columns in their entirety and the beginning of the fifty column. By the time the text resumes in the incomplete fifth column, Gilgamesh and Enkidu have arrived at the doorway or gate of the Cedar Forest. Enkidu is encouraging a hesitant and wavering Gilgamesh.)

'Remember your words when in Uruk?

Come, rise, that you may slay him!

Are you not Gilgamesh, the progeny of Great Uruk?'

Gilgamesh heard these words from his mouth

And great became his confidence.

'Quickly, step up to him, let him not go -

Not go down into the woods and vanish there,

Where he cloaks himself with seven cloaks (2)

One is on him now, six are still off...'

Like unto a lordly bull he rages and is full of...

He the Guardian of the Forest calls out....

Humbaba, like

(The rest of the column is missing, as is the beginning of the next. The text commences again as follows:)

Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh,

Said to him:

'Let us not go down into the heart of the forest!

'... my friend, as weaklings....

....we have travelled, all of them....

....before us.....

My friend - canny in combat, you are skilled in battle;

Only touch my garment and you will not fear death.

... and remain with me....'

(Here one line is undeciphrable)

'So that the limpness may leave your arm

That the weakness leave your hand...

Stay by me as my friend and let us go.

Together into the depths of the forest

Let not combat destroy your courage.

Forget death and do not...

A man determined to action but thoughtful...

He who leads the way preserves himself

And keeps his companion safe.

Though they may perish

Yet their name will endure.'

And so they both arrived at the green mountain.

They fell silent and stood quite still.

Go Back

They stood quite still and looked at the forest,

Saw how high were the great cedars,

And gazed upon the entrance to the forest.

There, where Humbaba was wont to tread,

Was a fine path; straight it was and easy to travel.

They saw also the Cedar Mountain, where lived the gods

And Irnini, Goddess of Love, holy Inanna had her throne seat

The cedar raised aloft its great luxuriant growth:

What cool shade, what delight!

Covering the brushwood, covering the....

(Here the text breaks off. It resumes, after an indeterminate lapse, with Gilgamesh speaking to Enkidu:)

'Rise up, cast your gaze tot he mountain....!

My divine sleep has been torn from me.

My friend, I saw a dream - Oh, how ill-omed!

How....! How disturbing!

I seized a wild bull of the steppe;

He bellowed, he kicked up the earth,

And the duks darkened the sky.

I gave way before him.

He was seizing.... strength, my flank

He tore out the ............................

He provided food.......................he drank

He gave me water to drink from his water-skin.'

[The text continues unbroken without identifying the speakers, but Enkidu is obviously replying to Gilgamesh:]

'My friend, the god to whom we go is not a wild bull,

Although his form is surpassing strange.

What you saw as a wild bull is really

The radiant Shamash the Sun

He will take us by the hand in our dire need,

He who gave you the water to drink from his water-skin -

He is your special god who brings you honour, Shamash the Sun.

We should therefore join him together

With Lugulbanda, your father, your own god, your familiar,

So that we might do a deed, such deed,

Which, though we die, yet will not be inglorious.'

[There may be a break here, as the order of the fragments is uncertain. But the text continues coherently:]

They took hold one of the other

And went to their nightly rest

Sleep descended upon them -

As it were the great surge of night.

But upon midnight hour a-sudden,

Sleep flew from Gilgamesh.

To Enkidu, his friend, he tells his dream:

'If you have not waked me, then how do I wake?

Enkidu, my friend, I must have seen a dream!

Have you not waked me? Why ......?

Aside from that first dream,

I now have seen a second dream;

In my dream a great mountain fell,

Pinned me to the ground, trapped my feet beneath it.

A great glare of light overwhelmed me.

A man like any other -

Such a man as we have never seen -

Stepped forth from the light.

His grace and beauty were more,

More than any on this earth.

He freed me from the mountain,

Gave me water to drink,

Quieted my heart.

He put my feet back on the earth.'

Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh,

Said to him:

'My friend, let us go down into the plain,

Let us go take counsel together.'

[Several lines are lost here, and we don't have Enkidu's interpretation of the dream. Perhaps the wondrous man is again Shamash, who was seen as a bull, probably because the Epic was written in the Age of Taurus, between 4,000 and 2,000 BCE, when the sun rose at the spring equinox in the sign of the Bull. Shamash is also the root deity of Gilgamesh. After a break, the text resumes as follows, with Gilgamesh again speaking:]

'A second dream I saw:

We were standing in mountain gorges

And a mountain fell upon us.

It was so large that by comparison

We were like small reed flies -

Like the little fly of the cane-brakes we were.'

He who was born on the steppe...

Enkidu said to his friend:

'My friend, the dream is auspicious,

It is a precious dream....

My friend, that mountain which you saw

That mountain is Humbaba.

We shall seize Humbaba, we shall kill him,

And cast his dead body on the plain.

On the morrow...'

After 20 intrvals, they broke off a morsel

After 30 more, rested for the night.

Before Shamash the Sun they dug a well....

Gilgamesh went up a mountain

Made offering of his fine-meal and intoned:

'O Mountain, bring a dream for Enkidu,

Bring for him a dream of mine to interpret!'

And the mountain did bring a dream for Enkidu.

It brought for him....

Cold rain passed overhead....

He had to take shelter....

.... and like unto the wild barley of the mountains.....

Gilgamesh puts his chin to his knees,

Sleep which falls upon mankind

Fell upon Gilgamesh.

He started, full awake, said to his friend:

'My friend, have you called me?

Why am I awake?

Did you touch me?

Why have I started so?

Did not some god pass by?

Why have I gone numb?

Why are my limbs paralysed?

My friend, I saw a 3rd dream,

And this dream was terrible in every way.

The heavens were roaring and screaming

The earth was blasted with booming sounds,

And darkness descended like a shroud -

A sudden streak of fire as lightning flashed,

The clouds grew bloated and full

And they rained down death!

Then the fire-glow of the skies died out

And all the fallen of the fire

Of that downpour of death

Crusted over to ashes.

Oh, let us go down into the plain!

There we can take counsel!'

When Enkidu heard this,

Heard the dream his friend offered him,

He said to Gilgamesh interpreting his dream,

Made him come to acceptance of his dream:

[Most unfortunately we do not have any account of Enkidu's interpretation of the dream as the text breaks here. When the text resumes, Gilgamesh and Enkidu are no longer conversing about the dream but have arrived at the forest of Humbaba:]

Gilgamesh gripped the axe

And with it felled the cedar.

Humbaba, hearing the sound of this,

Fell into a fury and raged:

'Who is it who has come -

Come and intefered with my trees?

My trees which have grown on my own mountains?

And has also felled the cedar?'

But just then from heaven came the voice

Of the Great God Shamash the Sun:

'Have no fear. Approach him and........

March, as long as...........

He enters not into his house........'

[Here the text breaks off. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are apparently given instructions by the voice of Shamash on how to approach Humbaba in order to kill him. This would seem to include specific directions and useful information about Humbaba's movements. But the heroes do not seem to fare very well even with such helpful hints:]

His tears streamed down from him

And Gilgamesh said to Shamash in heaven:

[Here two lines are mutilated in the tablet and cannot be read:]

'But I have taken the way of heavenly Shamash,

I have trod the way he said.'

Humbaba said to him, said to Gilgamesh:

'The fool, the stupid man -

They should take advice, Gilgamesh!

Why do you now approach me?

With that Enkidu, that son of a fish (2)

Who knew not his father,

Companion of the small turtles, of the large turtles,

And who never sucked the milk of his mother?

In your youth I beheld you

Now should I kill you to satisfy my belly?

Shamash brought you, Gilgamesh, and allowed you to reach me.

It is through his assistance that you are stepping along thus.

But, Gilgamesh, I will bite through the palate-pin

Of your throat and your neck.

I will allow the shrieking serpent-bird

The eagle and the raven to eat your flesh!'

Gilgamesh said to his friend, said to Enkidu:

'My friend, Humbaba's facial features have altered,

And their configuration raises itself to an equal height (3)

But my entrails are gripped by fear that we are too hasty.'

Enkidu said to him, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, why do you wail so miserably

And let your mouth go flabby

And conceal yourself?

For now, my friend,

The axe has been cast for you -

The copper-smith poured its molten metal from the gutter channel,

Annealed it by heating for a double-hour,

Allowed it then to cook for a double-hour,

Producing this weapon of the flood-storm.

Seize the whip -

Travel not on your feet,

Do no turn back!

Strike with the axe and make your blow strong!'

Shamash in heaven heard the prayer of Gilgamesh

And against Humbaba rose up mighty winds:

The Great Wind, the North Wind, the South Wind, the Whirlwind,

The Storm Wind, the Chill Wind the Tempestuous Wind

The Hot Wind - eight were the winds.

They rose up against Humbaba.

Lo! He cannot move forwards!

Lo! He cannot move backwards!

And so Humbaba relented.

Then Humbaba answered Gilgamesh:

'Oh, do let me go, Gilgamesh! You will be my master, I will be your servant.

And as for my trees, My trees which I have grown,

I will............................

Strong.........................

I will cut them down and build you houses.'

But Enkidu said to Gilgamesh:

'Do not listen to him.

Hark not to the word of Humbaba.

Humbaba must not live!'

[An earlier fragment from Uruk published in 1980 by von Weiher gives a variant version of this section, listing 13 winds rather than 8:]

......... they might be turned away,

......... distant are they.

He struck his head and drew himself up against him.

With the heels of their feet they removed the earth;

Mount Hermon and Lebanon and their surrounding districts

Are being destroyed.

Then the white clouds became black,

And it rained the presage of death on them

Like a light rain in a mist (4).

But Shamash raised up great winds against Humbaba:

The South Wind, the North Wind,

The East Wind, the West Wind,

The Blowing Wind,

The Squally Wind,

The Shaparziqqu Wind,

The Evil Storm,

The Sihurra Wind,

The Wind of Frost,

The Storm,

The Thunder Storm -

13 winds he raised against him

And Humbaba's face was darkened.

He cannot push forwards,

He cannot run backwards;

But the weapons of Gilgamesh could now reach Humbaba.

Humbaba now besought his life,

And said to Gilgamesh:

'Small you were, Gilgamesh -

Your mother bore you,

And you are of the offspring of ........

Agreable to the command of Shamash

Of the Lord of the Mountains, you rose up

"But he is the offspirng

In the midst of Uruk:

The king - Gilgamesh!"

[Here three lines are missing, except that the mention of the name of Gilgamesh can be made out twice:]

I will sit down with you and.............

Trees, as many as you already have said......

I will defend you! The wood of the myrtle................

It is enough...........

Enkidu said to him, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, do not listen

To what Humbaba says.'

[Here some lines are missing. A mutilated fragment published by Gernot Wilhelm in 1988 can be inserted about this point. Humbaba appears to castigate Enkidu for bringing Gilgamesh to him:]

'...... You have led him before me!

...... splendour.'

[Humbaba then appears to complain either to Gilgamesh or Enkidu that he did not stay at home enjoying simple comforts:]

'Could you not marry a wife

And satisfy yourself with her voluptuousness?'

[Humbaba then appears to be batterd by the various winds:]

But the great winds roared against Humbaba

.... the .... dust-storms flowed

Perpetually on his head.

[Enkidu then seems to plead with Gilgamesh to kill Humbaba:]

'I beg you to listen to me, my friend!'

..... he struck down once more speedily and

..... to the little child.

[We now return to won Weiher's 1980 fragment. Humbaba is speaking to Enkidu:]

'But you know the sign of my forest, the sign......

And you know precisely everything that is said.

I should have lifted you up on high,

I should have killed you upon your entrance

Into the branches of my forest!

I should have let the shrieking serpent-brid,

The eagle and the raven eat your flesh!

But now, o Enkidu,

It lies with you. Make limp your wrath.

Speak to Gilgamesh!

He might spare my life!'

Enkidu said to his friend, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, Humbaba the guardian of the Cedar Forest......

Strike him to maim him.

Kill him! Crush him! And quickly,

Humbaba, the guardian of the forest -

Strike him to maim him.

Kill him! Crush him! And quickly.

Before God Enlil, the Foremost hears his cries.

The gods will be filled with wrath against us for our deed.

Enlil in the city of Nippur, Shamash in.....

Put down and.....'

As Gilgamesh came nearer to Humbaba

But Humbaba heard his approach.

And ..... Humbaba......

[Here many lines are lost:]

He heard...............................

[Here three lines are lost. Humbaba is speaking to Enkidu:}

........... my forest.................

But denunciations are caused.....

You sit there like a shepherd.........

But as......................

But now, o Enkidu,

It lies with you. Make limp your wrath.

Speak to Gilgamesh!

He might spare my life!'

Enkidu said to his friend, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, Humbaba, the guardian of the forest......

Kill him and quickly

Before God Enlil, the Foremost, hears his cries.....

The gods will be filled with wrath agains us for our deed.

Enlil in the city of Nippur, Shamash in.....

But Humbaba heard his approach

And........

[Here many lines are lost. When the text resumes, Gilgamesh and Enkidu seem to be quarreling;]

'Should not......

Should not erect a higher altar than his friend?

Gilgamesh and Enkidu should never more

Have one another as friends!'

Enkidu said to him, said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, I speak to you

But do you not put a stop to my words.'

[The above may not have been a quarrel, but might instead have referred to them never again having each othr as friends because one of them might die. Now many lines are lost, including the description of the slaying of Humbaba, which however, survives in other versions. The last portion of the 1980 fragment comes at the end of this tablet.

We now turn to the Sumerian tale Gilgamesh and the Land of the Living, written in Sumerian language long before the Babylonian culture exited, and hence representing the earliest stage in the Gilgamesh literature. In this version the situation is slightly different. Gilgamesh and Enkidu did not go alone on their expedition but were accompanied by 50 strong warriors of Uruk, each of whom carried in his hands a felled tree - which there is some reasons to believe served as oars. These 50 warriors were probably the prototypes of the 50 Greek Argonauts, particularly as the tale of the Argo was current in the time of Homer, since Homer himself referred to it as the 'fabled' Argo. It is these 50 anonymous heroes who are referred to below collectively as the sons of the city:]

Gilgamesh prayed:

'O Shamash, by the life of my mother Ninsun, who gave birth to me,

And of pure Lugulbanda, my father, truly I have entered this land of the cedar

And here have I known your dwelling place.

My small weak strength truly have I brought into this land for you as......

.... in your.................would I enter.'

Then Humbaba himself uprooted for Gilgamesh

The first of his trees.

The sons of the city who had come

Come with Gilgamesh from Uruk

Cut down the tree's crown, bundled it,

Lay it at the foot of the mountain.

After Humbaba himself had finished off

The seventh tree for him,

Gilgamesh approached his chamber.

He ... d the ' snake of the wine quay' (5) in his wall'

Like one pressing a kiss, he slapped his cheek

Like a captured ox, A nose ring was thrown over HUmbaba.

Like a captured hero,

A rope was fastened about him.

Humbaba, his teeth shook,

He warded off Gilgamesh:

'Oh, I would say a word unto

But Enkidu answered Gilgamesh:

'She the tallest who discriminates not,

She Namtar, awful Fate,

She will devour.

Namtar knows no distinctions.

If the caught bird is let go free,

Flies back to his place;

If the captive man returns,

Returns to the bosom of his mother;

Then will you never return to your city

To that city of your mother who gave birth to you.'

Humbaba says to Enkidu:

'To him, o Enkidu

You have spoken evil against me!

O mere hireling, who carries the food,

Who stands next to the..... of the rival,

You have spoken evil words to him!'

Humbaba then uttered against them his first terrifying roar.

The 50 companions then moved forward with Gilgamesh;

They cut down the branches, they tied them,

They laid these at the foot of the mountain.

The companions moved forward with Gilgamesh;

They cut down the branches, they tied them,

They laid these at the foot of the mountain.

He uttered against them his third terrifying roar.

The companions moved forward with Gilgamesh;

They cut down the trunk, they cut the side of Humbaba,

He uttered his fourth terrifying roar.

The companions moved forward towards him;

They cut down the trunk, they cut his side

They laid them at the foot of the mountain.

He uttered against them his fifth terrifying roar,

The companions moved forward towards him

They cut his trunk, they cut his side,

They laid these at the foot of the mountain.

He uttered his sixth terrifying roar.

The companions advanced towards him

They cut his trunk, they cut his side.

They laid these at the foot of the mountain.

At the moment when his 7th roar was coming to an end,

He approached the room where he rested.

His figure was formed like a serpent of...... wine

Like someone who gets ready to give a kiss,

He laid the palm of his hand against his cheek (6)

As for Humbaba, his face now became noble.

Like a captured mountain bull on a leash, he approached;

Like a captured sailor, he had tied elbows.

Humbaba, the tears came to his eyes, he grew pale:

'Gilgamesh, you, you know?

My king? Let me say a word:

A mother, who would have brought me into the world

I did not know one.

A father, who would have raised me -

I did not know one.

The mountain begat me -

You, you will raise me!'

Gilgamesh swore by the sky,

Swore by the earth,

Swore by the Underworld;

He took the .... in his hand,

When he would not want to lose it?

And of Gilgamesh, sono of Ninsun,

Now is his heart moved to pity.

To his servant Enkidu, he spoke these words:

'Enkidu, a caught bird -

Ought he not to return to the arms of his mother?'

Enkidu interrupted him:

'But you, should you be taken prisoner,

You will not return to the arms of your mother.

Who has ever seen the hands of a prisoner of war unbound?

An imprisoned priest returned to the temple residence?

A lukur-priestess returned to her pleasures?

If you set him free,

He will obstruct the way up the mountain,

He will make the footpath impassable up the mountain.'

Humbaba, who had heard this speech,

Addressed these words to Enkidu:

'You, Enkidu, you have spoken these words,

Hostile and pernicious.

You, the mercenary, recruited for a pittance,

Who drags himself along after his fellow.

Such are you - that is why

The hostile words come!'

Because he had spoken in this manner,

Enkidu, in an excess of fury,

Cut off his head,

Wrapping it in a shroud.

[Another fragment gives the following version:]

When he had spoken thus,

They cut off his neck

They placed upon him....

They brought him before God Enlil and Goddess Ninlil

Enlil brought forth from the sea his palace servant

And Ninlil brought forth from.... her....

When Enlil and Ninlil.....

'Why thus......?

Let him come forth, let him seize.....'

[We now return to where we broke off a moment ago]

In front of Enlil they entered,

In front of Enlil, having kissed the earth,

They threw down the shroud,

They took out the head

And they rested it in front of Enlil.

Enlil, at the sight of Humbaba,

Grew angry at the words of Gilgamesh and said:

'Why do you act in this way?

May your faces be seared by fire!

May the food you eat be eaten by fire!

May the water you drink be drunk by fire!'

[There is a gap here, during which Enlil presents Gilgamesh with the seven melammus or roars of Humbaba:] (7)

At the end of their conversation,

After his servant had prepared a sweet....

Enlil said:

'Place him down before you,

Make him eat the bread that you eat,

Make him drink the drink that you drink.

After Enlil had taken away Humbaba,

He retained his exalted terrifying roar;

He attached the first roar to a large river;

He attached the second roar to................

He attached the third roar to ..... which carried....

He attached the fourth roar to a lion

He attached the fifth roar to barbarity,

He attached the sixth roar to a mountain

He attached the seventh roar to the goddess Nungal (8).

To the king, who subdued and conquered the terrifying roar,

To Gilgamesh the wild bull.

Who plunders the mountain.

Who goes from there to the sea -

Glory to him!

And from valiant Enkidu -glory to Enki!

God Enki, that your glory be sweet!

[The Sumerian text breaks off here. The text which follows is from a recently discovered fragment of a later period and also uses the imagery of the caught bird. As the reader will already have noted, the reference in the Sumerian material to the cutting down of the trees as a gesture of appeasement by Humbaba to Gilgamesh continues a theme in the fragment of a later period which cam just before the Sumerian inset.

We now return to the Epic of the later period, which offers another version of the death of Humbaba:]

Gilgamesh said to Enkidu:

'We will arrive in.....................,

In the confusion the melammus will vanish -

The melammus, the furies, the radiant beams,

The ordained haloes of the power, these -

They will vanish.

The melammus will vanish and then

The brilliance will become all clouded.'

Enkidu said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend, first catch the bird.

Then, where will the young birds fly?

Therefore let us see later those Melammus.

For, like young birds, they will only run about the grass!

First kill Humbaba, then kill his servants!'

Gilgamesh heeded the words of his friend.

With his hand he took the axe,

Drew the sword from his belt.

Gilgamesh struck the neck of Humbaba,

Enkidu, his friend, struck Humbaba twice also.

At the third blow Humbaba fell.

Confusion..... dumbfounded,

He struck the watchman, Humbaba, to the ground.

For two leagues the cedars resounded.

Enkidu killed with him

Forest.... cedars

At whose word Mount Hermon -Saria (9)

And all the Lebanon trembled.

All the mountains became.......

All the hills became.......

He slew the ......cedars,

Those destroyed.... after he killed the seven,

The net.... the sword which weighed eight talents,

The netam (10) of eight talents,

Bearing these he pressed on into the forest.

He opened up the secret dwelling of

The 50 Great Gods, the Anunnaki,

They who are seated on their thrones.

While Gilgamesh cut down the trees,

Enkidu dug up the urmazili (11)

Enkidu said to Gilgamesh:

'.........Gilgamesh, felled are the cedars.'

[The 1980 fragment of von Weiher provides a bit more of the text here:]

....... the blow of their rottenness,

Gilgamesh felled the trees,

Enkidu searched everywhere towards.....

Enkidu said to him

Said to Gilgamesh:

'My friend up to now the high-grown cedar's tip would have penetrated to heaven

I make from it a door whose height will be six dozen yards (12)

Whose width will be two dozen yards.

One yard will b its thickness. Its door-pole

Its lower door-hinge and its upper door=hinge

Each one will be one....

To the city of Nippur one might bring it,

To Nippur which is midway between the River Euphrates and the River Tigris

Then they joined together a raft....

Enkidu [steered?] ......

And Gilgamesh.......the head of Humbaba....

They washed......

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