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EPIC OF GILGAMESH

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west wind, moaning wind,
319 Gale, Sparziqqu-wind, Imhullu-wind, Asakku wind,
320 Wintry wind, tempest, whirlwind, 13 winds rose up at him and Humbaba’s face grew dark.
321 He could not charge forwards, he could not go run backwards.
322 Thus, the weapons of Gilgamesh succeeded against Humbaba.
323 Humbaba gasped for breath, he addressed Gilgamesh.
324 You are young, Gilgamesh; your mother gave birth to you,
325 And you are the offspring of Ninsun you rose up at the command of Shamash, ruler of the mountain.
326 And you are the scion of Uruk, ruler Gilgamesh.
327 Oh Gilgamesh, my friend Gilgamesh I shall make them grow luxuriantly for you in your sight,
328 As many trees as you wish.
329 I shall keep for you myrtle wood, timbers to be the pride of your palace in Uruk.
330 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
331 My friend, don’t listen to the words of Humbaba.
332 You have found out the nature of my forest, the nature of my dwelling;
333 And now you know all their natures.
334 I should have taken you and slain you at the entrance to my forest’s growth,
335 I should have given your flesh to be eaten by the birds of the forest, roaring lions, birds of prey, and scavengers.
336 But now, Enkidu, it is in your power to release me.
337 So tell Gilgamesh to spare my life.
338 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
339 My friend, finish him off, slay him, grind him up, that I may survive,
340 Humbaba, the guardian of the pine forest!
341 Do it before the leader Enlil hears about it.
342 Lest the Anunnagi will be filled with fury at us.
343 Enlil in Nippur, Shamash in Sippar,
344 Set up an eternal memorial to tell how Gilgamesh slew Humbaba!
345 Humbaba listened and said you sit like a shepherd,
346 Now, Enkidu, thus settle in, your own release.
347 And tell Gilgamesh that he may save his life.
348 Neither one of them shall outlive his friend Gilgamesh and Enkidu shall never become old men.
349 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
350 My friend, I talk to you, but you don’t listen to me.
351 Their dark patch of verdigris,
352 Gilgamesh was cutting down the trees; Enkidu kept tugging at the stumps.
353 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke; he said to Gilgamesh,
354 My friend, I have had a fully mature pine cut down,
355 The crown of which butted against the sky.
356 I made a door six poles high and two poles wide.
357 Its doorpost is a cubit feet, its lower and upper hinges are made from a single.
358 Let the Furattu, Euphrates carry it to Nippur.
359 They tied together a raft, they put it down Enkidu embarked on it and Gilgamesh took the head of Humbaba.
360 He washed his filthy hair, he cleaned

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his gear.
361 Shook out his locks over his back,
362 Threw away his dirty clothes, and put on fresh ones.
363 He clothed himself in robes and tied on a sash.
364 Gilgamesh put his crown on his head.
365 And Ishtar, the princess raised her eyes to the beauty of Gilgamesh.
366 Come to me, Gilgamesh, and be my lover!
367 Bestow on me the gift of your fruit!
368 You can be my husband, and I can be your wife.
369 I shall have a chariot of Lapis Lazuli and gold harnessed for you,
370 With wheels of gold, and horns of elmesu-stone.
371 You shall harness umu-demons as great mules!
372 Enter into our house through the fragrance of pine!
373 When you enter our house.
374 The wonderfully-wrought threshold shall kiss your feet!
375 Rulers, nobles, princes shall bow down beneath you.
376 The verdure of mountain and country shall bring you produce.
377 Your goats shall bear triplets, your ewes twins,
378 Your loaded donkey shall outpace the mule.
379 Your horses shall run proud at the chariot,
380 Your ox shall be unrivaled at the yoke.
381 Gilgamesh made his voice heard and spoke,
382 He said to Ishtar, the princess, what could I give you if I possessed you?
383 I would give you body oil and garments.
384 I would give you food and sustenance.
385 Could I provide you with bread fit for an Aluhum?
386 Could I provide you with ale fit for rulers?
387 Could I heap up a robe?
388 If I possess you, you would be like ice,
389 A draughty door that can’t keep out winds and gusts,
390 A palace that rejects its own warriors,
391 An elephant which its covering bitumen which stains its carrier,
392 A waterskin which soaks its carrier,
393 A juggernaut which smashes a stone wall,
394 A battering ram which destroys war,
395 A shoe which bites into the foot of its wearer.
396 Which of your lovers lasted forever?
397 Which of your masterful paramours went to heaven?
398 Come, let me describe all your lovers to you.
399 He of the sheep knew him:
400 For Dammuzi the lover of your youth you decreed that he should keep weeping year after year.
401 You loved the colorful Allallu-Bird,
402 But you hit him and broke his wing.
403 He stays in the woods crying “my wing”.
404 You loved the lion, whose strength is complete,
405 But you dug seven and seven pits for him.
406 You loved the horse, so trustworthy in battle,
407 But you decreed the whip, goad, and lash for him,
408 You decreed that he should gallop seven leagues non-stop,
409 You decreed that he should be overrought and thirsty,
410 You decreed that endless weeping for

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his mother Sililiu.
411 You loved the shepherd, herdsman, and chief shepherd,
412 Who was always heaping up the glowing ashes for thou,
413 And cooked ewe-lambs for you every day.
414 But you hit him and turned him into a wolf,
415 His own herd-boys hunts him down and his dogs tear at his haunches.
416 You loved Ishullanu, your father's gardener,
417 Who was always bringing your baskets of dates.
418 They brightened your table everyday;
419 You lifted your eyes to him and went to him.
420 My own Ishullanu, let us enjoy your strength,
421 So put your hand and touch our vulva.
423 But Ishullanu said to you,
424 What do you want of me?
425 Did my mother not bake for me, and did I not eat?
426 What I eat with you would be loaves of dishonor and disgrace,
427 Rushes would be my only covering against the cold.
428 You listened as he said this,
429 And you hit him, turned him into a frog,
430 Left him to stay amid the fruits of his labors.
431 But the pole goes up no more, his bucket goes down no more.
432 And how about me? You will love me and then treat me just like them.
433 When Ishtar heard this, Ishtar was furious, and went up to heaven.
434 Ishtar went up and wept before her father ANU,
435 Her tears flowed before her mother Antu.
436 Father, Gilgamesh, hast shamed me again and again Gilgamesh spelt out to me, my dishonour,
437 My dishonor and my disgrace.
438 ANU made his voice heard and spoke,
439 He said to the princess Ishtar,
440 Why didn't you accuse Gilgamesh the ruler for yourself,
441 Since Gilgamesh spelt out your dishonor,
442 Your dishonor and your disgrace?
443 Ishtar made her voice heard and spoke, she said to her father ANU,
444 Father, please give me the bull of heaven, and let me strike Gilgamesh down,
445 Let me capture Gilgamesh in his dwelling.
446 If you don't give me the bull of heaven,
447 I shall strike Gilgamesh.
448 I shall set my face towards the infernal regions,
449 I shall raise up the dead, and they will eat the living,
450 I shall make the dead outnumber the living,
451 ANU made his voice heard and spoke,
452 He said to the princess Ishtar,
453 On no account should you request the bull of heaven from me.
454 There would be seven years of chaff in the land of Uruk,
455 You would gather chalk instead of gems,
456 You would raise grass.
457 Ishtar made her voice heard and spoke.
458 She said to her father ANU,
459 I have heaped up a store of grain in Uruk,
460 I have ensured the production of the years of chaff hast been gathered.
461 ANU listened to Ishtar speaking,
462 And he put the bull of heaven's reins in