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appearance after your death.
49 Clothed only in a lionskin, he will roam the open country.
50 Enkidu listened to the speech of Shamash, the warrior.
51 His anger abated;
52 His heart became quiet.
53 Come, Shamhat, I shall change your fate!
54 My utterance, which cursed thou, shall bless you instead.
55 Governors and princes shall love you,
60 The single-league man shall smite his thigh for you.
61 The herdsman shall not hold back for you,
62 He shall undo his belt for you.
63 He shall give you ivory, lapis lazuli, and gold, rings and brooches shall be presents for you.
64 Rain shall pour down for him, his storage jars shall be heaped full.
65 The diviner shall lead you into the palace of the Anunnagi.
66 Because of you, the mother of seven, the honored wife, shall be deserted.
63 Then Enkidu wept, for he was sick at heart.
64 He lay down alone.
65 He spoke what was in his mind to his friend.
66 Listen again, my friend!
67 I had a dream in the shadow hour.
68 The sky called out, the Earth replied,
69 I was standing in between them.
70 There was a young man, whose face was obscured.
71 His face was like that of an Anzu-bird.
72 He had the paws of a lion, he had the claws of an eagle.
73 He seized me by my locks, using great force against me.
74 I hit him, and he jumped like a Keppu-toy, he hit me and forced me down,
75 Like a wild bull he trampled on me,
76 He squeezed my whole body.
77 I cried out: "save me, my friend, don't desert me!"
78 But you were afraid, and did not help me,
79 He hit me and turned me into a dove.
80 Turns my arms, like a bird. He seized me, drove me down to the dark house, dwelling of Erkalla's god,
81 To the house which those who enter canst not leave, on the road where travelling is one way only,
82 To the house where those who stay are deprived of light,
83 Where dust is their food, and clay their bread.
84 They are clothed, like birds, with feathers,
85 And they see no light, and they dwell in darkness.
86 Over the door and the bolt, dust hast settled.
87 I looked at the house that I had entered,
88 And crowns were heaped up.
89 Like those with crowns who had ruled the land from time immemorial,
90 Priests of ANU and Enlil regularly set out cooked meats,
91 Set out baked bread, set out cold water from waterskins.
92 In the house of dust that I had entered dwelt the Enu and Lagaru-priests,
93 Dwelt the Isippu and Lumahu-priests, dwelt the Gudaspu-priests of the great gods, dwelt Etana, dwelt Shakkan,
94 Dwelt Ereshkigal, the queen of Earth.
95 Belet-Seri, the scribe of Earth, was kneeling before her.
96 She was holding a tablet and kept reading aloud to her.
97 She raised her head and looked at me:
98 "Who brought this man?"
99 I experienced all kinds of troubles,

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100 Remember me, my friend, and do not forget what I went through.
101 My friend saw an indescribable dream.
102 From the day he saw the dream, his strength was finished.
103 Enkidu lay there the first day, then a second day.
104 The illness of Enkidu, as he lay in bed, grew worse, his flesh weaker.
105 A third day and a fourth day, the illness of Enkidu grew worse, his flesh weaker,
106 A fifth, sixth and seventh day, eighth, ninth and tenth.
107 The illness of Enkidu grew worse, his flesh weaker.
108 An eleventh and twelfth day his illness grew worse, his flesh weaker.
109 Enkidu, as he lay in bed grew worse, Gilgamesh cried out,
110 My friend is cursing me, I was afraid of the fight.
111 My friend, who was so strong in the fight, cursed me,
112 When the first light of dawn appeared Gilgamesh said to his friend,
113 Enkidu, my friend, your mother a gazelle,
114 And your father a wild donkey sired you,
115 Their milk was from onagers; they reared you,
116 And cattle made you familiar with all the pastures.
117 Enkidu's paths led to the pine forest.
118 They shall weep for you shadow hour and day, never fall silent,
119 Weep for you, the elders of the broad city, of Uruk the sheepfold.
120 The summit will bless us after our death.
121 They shall weep for you, the mountains.
122 They shall mourn in the open country as if it were your father, the field as if it were your mother.
123 They shall weep for you, myrtle, cypress, and pine,
124 In the midst of which we armed ourselves in our fury.
125 They shall weep for you, the bear, hyena, leopard, tiger, stag, cheetah,
126 Lion, wild bulls, deer, mountain goat, cattle, and other wild beasts of open country.
127 It shall weep for you, the holy river Ulaya, along whose bank,
128 We used to walk so proudly.
129 It shall weep for you, the pure Euphrates,
130 With whose water in waterskins we used to refresh ourselves.
140 They shall weep for you; the young men of the broad city, of Uruk the sheepfold,
141 Who watched the fighting when we struck down the bull of heaven.
142 He shall weep for you, the ploughman at his plough who extols your name with sweet Alala.
143 He shall weep for thou, of the broad city of Uruk the sheepfold,
144 Who will extol your name in the first...
145 He shall weep for you, the shepherd, the herdsman,
146 Who used to make the beer mixture for your mouth.
147 She shall weep for you, the wet nurse who used to put butter on your lower parts.
148 He shall weep for you, the elder who used to put ale to your mouth.
149 She shall weep for you, the harlot Shamhat, by whom you were anointed with perfumed oil.
150 They shall weep for you, your parents in law who comfort the wife of your loins. They shall weep for thou, the young men, like brothers.
151 They shall weep for you and tear out

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their hair over thou.
152 For you, Enkidu, I, like your mother, your father, will weep on your plains.
153 Listen to me, young men, listen to me!
154 Listen to me, elders of Uruk, listen to me!
155 I myself must weep for Enkidu my friend,
156 Mourn bitterly, like a wailing woman.
157 As for the axe at my side, spur to my arm,
158 The sword in my belt, the shield for my front, my festival clothes, my manly sash.
159 Evil fate hast rose up and robbed me of them.
160 My friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountains, leopard of open country.
161 Enkidu the strong man was the hunted wild ass of the mountains, leopard of open country.
162 We who met, and scaled the mountain,
163 Seized the bull of heaven and slew it, demolished Humbaba the mighty one of the pine forest.
164 Now, what is the sleep that have taken hold of you?
165 Turn to me, you! You aren't listening to me!
166 But he cannot lift his head.
167 I touch his heart, but it does not beat at all.
168 My friend hast covered his face like a daughter in law.
169 He circled over him like an eagle,
170 Like a lioness whose cubs are trapped in a pit, he paced back and forth.
171 He tore out and spoilt his well-curled hair,
172 He stripped off and threw away finery as if it were taboo. When the first light of dawn appeared, Gilgamesh sent out a shout through the land.
173 The smith, the coppersmith, the silversmith and the jeweler were summoned.
174 He made a likeness of his friend, he fashioned a statue of his friend.
175 The 4 limbs of the friend were made of his chest was of lapis lazuli,
176 His skin was of gold. I will lay you to rest on a bed of loving care,
177 And will let you stay in a restful dwelling, a dwelling of the left.
178 Princes of the Earth will kiss your feet.
179 I will make the people of Uruk weep for you, mourn for thou.
180 I will fill the proud people with sorrow for you.
181 And I myself will neglect appearance after your death.
182 And only in a lionskin, I will roam the open country. When the first light of dawn appeared, he undid the fittings of his garments.
183 He displayed the Earth to Shamash.
184 It shall make the offering of cool water for him.
185 It shall speak, lest his heart feel sorrow.
186 Weigh its weight in Lapis lazuli,
187 Of the pure Furattu, Euphrates.
188 He displayed the Earth to Shamash.
189 He spoke of the broad Earth.
190 It shall go gladly at his side.
191 He displayed the Mashaltappu of the broad Earth to Shamash,
192 It shall go gladly at his side,
193 Whose top is lapis lazuli,
194 Inlaid with carnelian,
195 And the judge of the Anunnagi.
196 When Gilgamesh heard this,
197 He was surprised.
198 When the first light of dawn appeared, Gilgamesh opened it,
199 Set out a great table of alamkakku-wood,
200 And filled a carnelian bowl with honey.

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201 Filled a lapis lazuli bowl with butter,
202 He decorated and displayed it to Shamash.
203 Gilgamesh mourned bitterly for Enkidu his friend,
204 And roamed open country.
205 Shall I die too? Am I not like Enkidu?
206 Grief has entered my innermost being,
207 I am afraid of death, and so I roam open country.
208 I shall take the road and go quickly,
209 To see Utnafishtim, son of Ubara-Tutu.
210 When I reached, the mountain passes at shadow hour,
211 I saw lions and was afraid.
212 I raised my head, I prayed to Sin.
213 My prayers went to Sin, the light of the Anunnagi.
214 "Oh Anunnagi, keep me safe!"
215 He went to sleep, awoke at a dream,
216 He was glad to be alive.
217 He took up an axe to his side.
218 Drew the sword from his belt.
219 Like an arrow he fell among them, struck and, shattered.
220 Then on midday he threw down and gave in the name of the first the name of the second the name of the mountain is Mashu.
221 When he reached the mountain Mashu,
222 Which daily guards the coming out of Shamash.
223 Their upper parts touched the sky's foundation,
224 Below, their breasts reach Arallu.
225 They guard its gate, scorpion-men,
226 Whose aura is frightful, and whose glance is death.
227 Their terrifying mantles of radiance drape the mountains.
228 They guard the sun at dawn and dusk.
229 Gilgamesh looked at them, and fear and terror clouded his face.
230 He took the initiative and gestured to them in greeting.
231 A scorpion-man shouted to his woman,
232 Someone hast come to us. His body is the flesh gods.
233 The scorpion-man's woman answered him.
234 Two-thirds of him is divine, and one-third of him mortal.
235 The scorpion-man, the male, shouted, addressed his words to Gilgamesh,
236 The flesh of the Anunnagi.
237 Who are you, that comes to us on a distant journey?
238 Who are you that comes to my presence, whose crossing difficult?
239 Let me learn your personality. Utnafishtim, my father who stood in the Anunnagi's assembly and sought out eternal life.
240 Death and life, the scorpion-man made his voice heard and spoke,
241 He said to Gilgamesh,
242 It is impossible, Gilgamesh,
243 Nobody has passed through the mountain's inaccessible tract.
244 For even after twelve leagues,
245 The darkness is too dense, there is no light.
246 To the dawn, to the dusk, they sent out in grief.
247 By cold and heat my face is weathered in exhaustion.
248 The scorpion-man made his voice heard and spoke,
249 He said to Gilgamesh,
250 Go, Gilgamesh, to the Mashu mountains safely,
251 To the main gate of the land.
252 Gilgamesh listened to the scorpion-man,
253 To the words of the guardian of the gate.
254 The path of Shamash when he had achieved one league.

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255 The darkness was dense, there was no light,
256 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
257 When he had achieved two leagues,
258 When he had achieved four leagues, he hurried on;
259 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
260 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
261 When he had achieved five leagues, he hurried on;
262 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
263 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
264 When he had achieved six leagues, he hurried on;
265 The darkness was still dense, there was no light.
266 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
267 When he had achieved eight leagues, he hurried.
268 The darkness was still dense, there was no light,
269 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
270 When he had achieved nine leagues, the north wind.
271 But the darkness was still dense, there was no light,
272 It was impossible for him to see ahead or behind.
273 When he had achieved ten leagues he came close.
274 He came out in front of the sun.
275 Brightness was everywhere.
276 All kinds of thorny, prickly, spiky bushes were visible, blossoming with gemstones.
277 Carnelian bore fruit hanging in clusters, lovely to look at,
278 Lapis Lazuli bore foliage,
279 Bore fruit, and was delightful to view.
280 Its fronds of white pappardilu stone, sea-larussu of sasu-stone.
281 Like brambles and thorn bushes of stone.
282 Carob trees of green abasmnu-stone,
283 Subu-stone, Haematite, riches and wealth like turquoise which was of the sea.
284 As Gilgamesh walked around he raised his eyes.
285 Siduri the alewife, who lives down by the sea, vat-stands are made for her, fermentation-vats, are made for her, covered by a covering. Gilgamesh was pacing around.
286 Clad only in a lion skin.
287 He had the flesh of Aluhum upon his body,
288 But grief was in his innermost being.
289 His face was like that of a long-distance traveler.
290 The alewife looked at him from a distance.
291 She pondered in her heart, and spoke a word;
292 To herself, and she advised herself.
293 Perhaps this man is an assassin.
294 Is he going somewhere?
295 The alewife looked at him and locked her door.
296 She locked her door, locked it with a bolt.
297 Then he, Gilgamesh, noticed, raised his chin and Gilgamesh spoke to her, to the alewife;
298 'Alewife, why did you look at me and lock your door,
299 Lock your door, lock it with a bolt?'
300 I will smash the door, I will shatter the bolt.
301 We destroyed Humbaba, who lived in

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the pine forest.
302 We killed lions at the mountain passes.
303 The alewife spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
304 If you are truly Gilgamesh, that struck down the guardian,
305 Destroyed Humbaba, who lived in the pine forest,
306 Killed lions at the mountain passes,
307 Seized the bull of heaven who came down from the sky, struck him down,
308 Why are your cheeks wasted, your face dejected.
309 Your heart so wretched, your appearance worn out,
310 And grief in your innermost being?
311 Your face is like that of a long-distance traveller.
312 Your face is weathered by cold and heat.
313 Clad only in a lionskin you roam open country. Gilgamesh spoke to her, to Siduri the alewife,
314 How could my cheeks not be wasted, nor my face dejected,
315 Nor my heart wretched, nor my appearance worn out,
316 Nor grief in my innermost being,
317 Nor my face like that of a long-distance traveller,
318 Nor my face weathered by cold and heat,
319 Nor roaming open country, clad only in a lionskin?
320 My friend who I love so much, who experienced every hardship with me,
321 Enkidu, whom I love so much, who experienced every hardship with me,
322 The fate of mortals conquered him! 6 days and 7 shadow hours I wept over him,
323 I did not allow him to be buried, until a worm fell out of his nose.
324 I was frightened and I am afraid of death, and so I roam open country.
325 The words of my friend weigh upon me.
326 I roam open country for long distances; the words of my friend Enkidu weigh upon me.
327 I roam open country on long journeys.
328 How, O how could I stay silent, how, O how could I keep quiet?
329 Enkidu my friend who I love turned to clay.
330 Am I not like him? Must I lie down too,
331 Never to rise, ever again?
332 Gilgamesh spoke to her, to the alewife,
333 Now, Alewife, which is the way to Utnafishtim?
334 Give me directions, whatever they are; give me directions.
335 If it is possible, it shall cross the sea; if it is impossible I shall roam open country again.
336 The alewife spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
337 There has never been a ferry of any kind, Gilgamesh,
338 And nobody from time immemorial has crossed the sea.
339 Shamash the warrior is the only one who has crossed the sea: Apart from Shamash, nobody has crossed the sea.
340 The crossing is difficult, the way of it very difficult,
341 And in between are lethal waters which bar the way ahead.
342 Wherever, then, could you cross the sea, Gilgamesh?
343 And once you reached the lethal waters, what would you do?
344 Yet there is, Gilgamesh, a boatman of Utnafishtim, Ur-Shanabi,
345 He the "things of stone" identify him, it will be trimming a young pine in the

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forest.
346 Go, and let him see your face.
347 If it is possible, cross with him. If it is impossible retreat back.
348 When Gilgamesh heard this he took up an axe to his side,
349 Drew the sword from his belt, stole up and drove them off,
350 Like an arrow he fell among them.
351 In the midst of the forest the noise resounded.
352 Ur-Shanabi looked and drew his sword,
353 Took up an axe and crept up on him.
354 Then he Gilgamesh, hit him on the head,
355 Seized his arms and his chest.
356 And the "things of stone" the boat,
357 In the waters he held back.
358 He smashed them to the river.
359 Of the boat and on the bank.
360 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi the boatman,
361 I shall enter to you.
362 Ur-Shanabi spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
363 Why are your cheeks wasted, your face dejected,
364 Your heart so wretched, your appearance worn out,
365 And grief in your innermost being?
366 Your face is like that of a long-distance traveler.
367 Your face is weathered by cold and heat,
368 Clad only in a lionskin, you roam open country.
369 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi, the boatman,
370 How could my cheeks not be wasted, nor my face dejected,
371 Nor my heart wretched, nor my appearance worn out,
372 Nor grief in my innermost being,
373 Nor my face like that of a long-distance traveler,
374 Nor my face weathered by wind and heat,
375 Nor roaming open country clad only in a lionskin?
376 My friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountain, leopard of open country,
377 Enkidu my friend was the hunted mule, wild ass of the mountain, leopard of open country.
378 We who met, and scaled the mountain,
379 Seized the bull of heaven and slew it.
380 Demolished Humbaba who dwelt in the pine forest,
381 Killed lions in the passes of the mountains,
382 Enkidu my friend whom I love so much who experienced every hardship with me,
383 The fate of mortals conquered him!
384 For six days and seven shadow hours I wept over him: I did not allow him to be buried until a worm fell out of his nose.
385 I was frightened.
386 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Utnafishtim,
387 So I thought I would go to see Utnafishtim the far-distant, of whom people speak.
388 I searched, went through all countries, passed through and through difficult lands,
389 And crossed to and fro all seas.
390 My face never had enough of sweet sleep,
391 My fibre was filled with grief.
392 I made myself over-anxious by lack of sleep.
393 What did I gain from my toil?
394 I did not make a good impression on the alewife, for my clothes were finished.
395 I killed a bear, hyena, lion, leopard, tiger, deer, mountain goat, cattle, and other wild beasts of open country.
396 I ate meat from them, I spread out their skins.

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397 Let her door be bolted against grief with pitch and bitumen!
398 Because of me, games are spoiled,
399 My own misfortunes have reduced me to misery.
400 Utnafishtim spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
401 Why do you prolong grief, Gilgamesh?
402 Since the Anunnagi made you like your father and mother,
403 Death is inevitable at some time, both for Gilgamesh and for a fool,
404 But a throne is set down for you in the assembly.
405 To a fool is given dregs instead of butter, rubbish and sweepings clothed in a loincloth because he hast no sense hast no word of advice.
406 Gilgamesh raised his head,
407 Why have you exerted yourself? What have you achieved?
408 You have made yourself weary for lack of sleep,
409 You only fill your flesh with grief,
410 You only bring the distant days of reckoning closer.
411 Mankind's fame is cut down like reeds in a reed-bed.
412 A fine young man, a fine girl,
413 Nobody sees death,
414 Nobody sees the face of death,
415 Nobody hears the voice of death.
416 Savage death just cuts mankind down.
417 Sometimes we build a house, sometimes we make a nest,
418 But then brothers divide it upon inheritance.
419 Sometimes there is hostility in the land,
420 But then the river rises and brings flood-water.
421 Dragonflies drift on the river,
422 Their faces look upon the face of the sun,
423 But then suddenly there is nothing.
424 The primitive man is as any young man.
425 When they blessed me,
426 The Anunnagi, the great Anunnagi, assembled;
427 Mammium who creates fate decreed destinies with them.
428 They appointed death and life. They did not mark out days for death,
429 But they did so for life.
430 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Utnafishtim the far-distant,
431 I look at thou, Utnafishtim, and your limbs are no different, you are just like me.
432 Indeed, you are not at all different you are just like me.
433 I feel the urge to prove myself against thou, to pick a fight against thou,
434 You lie on your back.
435 How you came to stand in the Anunnagi's assembly and sought eternal life?
436 Utnafishtim spoke to him, to Gilgamesh, let me reveal to you a closely guarded matter, Gilgamesh, and let me tell you the secret of the Anunnagi.
437 The sleeping and the dead are just like each other, death's picture cannot be drawn.
438 Shuruppak is a city that you yourself know,
439 Situated on the ban of the Euphrates.
439 That city was already old when the Anunnagi within it decided that the great Anunnagi should make a flood.
440 There was ANU their father,
441 Warrior Enlil their counselor,
442 Ninurta was their chamberlain,
443 Ennugi their canal-controller.
444 Far-Sighted Enqi swore the oath of secrecy with them, so he repeated their speech to a reed hut,
445 "Reed hut, reed hut, brick wall, brick

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wall,
446 Listen, reed hut, and pay attention, brick wall:
447 Man of Shuruppal, son of Ubara-Tutu, dismantle your house, build a boat. Leave possessions, search out living things.
448 Reject chattels and save lives!
449 Put aboard the seed of all living things, into the boat.
450 The boat that you are to build shall have her dimensions inproportion,
451 Her width and length shall be in harmony,
452 Roof her like the Apsu.
453 I realized and spoke to my master Enqi,
454 “I have paid attention to the words that you spoke in this way,
455 My master, and I shall act upon them.
456 But how can I explain myself to the city, the men and the elders?
457 Enqi made his voice heard and spoke,
458 He said to me, his servant, you shall speak to them thus:
459 I think that Enlil has rejected me, and so I cannot stay in your city,
460 And I cannot set foot on Enlil's land again.
461 I must go down to the Apsu and stay with my master Enqi.
462 Then he will shower abundance upon thou,
463 A wealth of fowl, a treasure of fish, prosperity, a harvest,
464 In the morning cakes "darkness",
465 In the evening a rain of wheat "heavens he will shower upon thou."
466 When the first light of dawn appeared the country gathered about me.
467 The carpenter brought his axe,
468 The reed-worker brought his stone,
469 The young men and the children carried the bitumen,
470 The poor fetched what was needed.
471 On the fifth day, I laid down her form.
472 One acre was her circumference, ten poles each, the height of her walls.
473 Her top edge was likewise ten poles all round.
474 I laid down her structure, drew it out,
475 Gave her six decks,
476 Divided her into 7.
477 Her middle I divided into 9,
478 Drove the water pegs into her middle.
479 I saw to the paddles and put down what was needed:
480 Three sar of bitumen I poured into the kiln,
481 Three sar of pitch I poured into the inside.
482 Three sar of oil they fetched, the workmen who carried the baskets.
483 Not counting the sar of oil which the out soaked up,
484 The boatman stowed away two more sar of oil.
485 I slaughtered oxen,
486 I sacrificed sheep everyday.
487 I gave the workmen ale and beer to drink,
488 Oil and wine as if they were river water,
489 They made a feast, like a New Year's Day festival.
490 When the sun rose I provided hand oil.
491 When the sun went down the boat was complete.
492 The launching was difficult; launching rollers had to be fetched from above to below.
493 Two-thirds of it stood clear of the water line.
494 I loaded her with everything there was, loaded her with all the silver, loaded her with all the gold, loaded her with all the

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seed of living things,
495 All of them I put on board the boat all my kith and kin.
496 Put on board cattle from open country, wild beasts from open country, all kinds of craftsmen.
497 Shamash had fixed the hour;
498 In the daylight hours cakes darkened,
499 In the dusk period a rain of wheat heavens.
500 I shall shower down:
501 Enter into the boat and shut your door.
502 That hour arrived;
503 In the daylight hour, cakes "darkness", in the dusk period a rain of wheat "heaviness" showered down.
504 I saw the shape of the storm,
505 The storm was terrifying to see.
506 I went aboard the boat and closed the door.
507 To seal the boat I handed over the floating palace with her cargo to Puzur-Amurru the boatman.
508 When the first light of dawn appeared, a black cloud came up from the base of the sky.
509 Adad kept rumbling inside it.
510 Shullat and Hanish were marching ahead,
511 Marched as chamberlains over the mountain and country.
512 Erakal pulled out the mooring poles,
513 Ninurta marched on and made the weirs overflow.
514 The Anunnagi had to carry torches,
515 They lit up the land with their brightness.
516 The calm before the storm-god came over the sky,
517 Everything light turned to darkness.
518 On the first day the tempest rose up,
519 Blew swiftly and brought the flood-weapon,
520 Like a battle force the destructive Kasusu-Weapon passed over the people.
521 No man could see his fellow, nor could people be distinguished from the sky.
522 Even the Aluhum were afraid of the flood-weapon. They withdrew; they went up to the heaven of ANU.
523 The Aluhum cowered, like dogs crouched by an outside wall.
524 Ishtar screamed like a woman giving birth; the mistress of the Anunnagi, sweet of voice, was wailing,
525 Has that time really returned to clay, because I spoke evil in the Anunnagi's assembly?
526 How could I have spoken such evil in the Anunnagi's assembly? I should have ordered a battle to destroy my people,
527 Yet they fill the sea like fish spawn!
528 The Yahuwas of the Anunnagi were weeping with her. The Aluhum, humbled, sat there weeping. Their lips were closed and covered with scab.
529 For days and 7 shadow hours, the wind blew, flood and tempest overwhelmed the land;
530 When the seventh day arrived the tempest, flood and onslaught, which had struggled like a woman in labor, blew themselves out. The sea became calm, the Imhullu-Wind grew quiet, the flood held back.
531 I looked at the weather; silence reigned, for all mankind had returned to clay. The flood-pain was flat as a roof.
532 I opened a porthole and light fell on my cheeks. I bent down, then sat, I wept.
533 My tears ran down my cheeks. I looked for banks, for limits to the sea. Areas of land were emerging everywhere.
534 The boat had come to rest on Mount Nimush. The mountain Nimush held the

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Tablet 2:574

boat fast and did not let it budge.
535 The first and second day the mountain Nimush held the boat fast and did not let it budge.
536 The third and fourth day the mountain Nimush held the boat fast and did not let it budge.
537 The fifth and sixth day the mountain Nimush held the boat fast and did not let it budge.
538 When the seventh day arrived, I put out and released a dove. The dove went; it came back, for no perching place was visible to it and it turned round.
539 I put on and released a swallow. The swallow went; it came back, for no perching place was visible to it, and it turned round.
540 I put out and released a raven. The raven went, and saw the waters receding. And it ate, preened and lifted its tail and did not turn round.
541 Then I put everything out of the four winds, and I made a sacrifice, set out a Surqinnu-offering upon the mountain peak.
542 Arranged the jars seven and seven; into the bottom of them I poured essences of reeds, pine, and myrtle.
543 The Anunnagi smelt the fragrance,
544 The Anunnagi smelt the pleasant fragrance,
545 The Anunnagi like flies gathered over the sacrifice.
546 As soon as the mistress of the Anunnagi arrived, she raised the great flies which ANU had made to please her.
547 Behold, O Anunnagi I shall never forget the significance of my Lapis Lazuli necklace,
548 I shall remember these times, and I shall never forget.
549 Let other Anunnagi come to the Surqinnu-offering,
560 But let Enlil not come to the Surqinnu-offering, because he did not consult before imposing the flood, and consigned my people to destruction.
561 As soon as Enlil arrived, he saw the boat. Enlil was furious, filled with anger at the Igigi.
562 What sort of life survived? No man should have lived through the destruction.
563 Ninurta made his voice heard and spoke. He said to the warrior Enlil, who other than Enqi would have done such a thing?
564 For Enqi can do everything. Enqi made his voice heard and spoke, he said to the warrior Enlil, you are the sage of the Anunnagi, warrior.
565 So how, O how, could fail to consult, and impose the flood? Punish the sinner for his sin, punish the criminal for his crime, but ease off, let work not cease; be patient. Instead of your imposing a flood, let a lion come up and diminish the people.
566 Instead of your imposing a flood, let a wolf come up and diminish the people.
567 Instead of your imposing a flood, let a famine be imposed and diminish the people.
568 Instead of your imposing a flood, let a Erra rise up and savage the people.
569 I did not disclose the secret of the great Anunnagi,
570 I just showed Utnafishtim a dream, and thus he heard the secret of the Anunnagi.
571 Now the advice that prevailed was his advice. Enlil came up into the boat, and seized my hand and led me up.
572 He led up my woman and made her kneel down at my side. He touched our foreheads, stood between us, blessed us:
573 Until now Utnafishtim was mortal, but henceforth Utnafishtim and his woman shall be as we Anunnagi are.
574 Utnafishtim shall dwell far off at the

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mouth of the rivers. They took me and made me dwell far off, at the mouth of the rivers.
575 So now, who can gather the Anunnagi on your behalf Gilgamesh, that you too may find eternal life which you seek?
576 For a start, you must not sleep for six days and seven shadow hours. As soon as he was sitting, with his head between his knees, sleep breathed over him like a fog.
577 Utnafishtim spoke to her, to his wife, look at the young man who wants eternal life, sleep breathes over him like a fog.
578 His wife spoke to him, Utnafishtim the far-distant, touch him, and let man wake up.
579 Let him go back in peace the way he came. Go back to his country through the great gate, through which he once left.
580 Utnafishtim spoke to her, to his wife, man behaves badly: he will behave badly towards you.
581 For a start, bake a daily portion for him, put it each time by his head, and mark on the wall the days that he sleeps.
582 She baked a daily portion for him, put it each time by his head, and marked on the wall for him the days that he slept.
583 His first day's portion was dried out,
584 The second was going bad, the third was soggy,
585 The fourth had white mold on the fifth was discoloured,
586 The sixth was stinking,
587 The seventh at that moment that he touched him and the man woke up.
588 Gilgamesh spoke to Utnafishtim the far-distant.
589 No sooner had sleep come upon me,
590 Then you touched me, straight away, and roused me.
591 Utnafishtim spoke to him, to Gilgamesh,
592 Look, Gilgamesh, count your daily portions,
593 That the number of days you slept may be proved to you:
594 Your first day ration is dried out,
595 The second is going bad, the third is soggy,
596 The fourth hast white mold on it,
597 The fifth hast discoloured, the sixth is stinking,
598 The seventh at that moment you woke up.
599 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Utnafishtim,
600 How, O how could I have done it, Utnafishtim? Wherever can I go?
601 The snatchers have blocked my routes,
602 Death is waiting in my bedroom,
603 And wherever I set my foot, death is there too.
604 Utnafishtim spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi the boatman,
605 Ur-Shanabi, the quay will cast you out, the ferry will reject thou.
606 Be deprived of her side, at whose side you once went.
607 The man whom you led: filthy hair fetters his body.
608 Skins have ruined the beauty of his flesh.
609 Take him, Ur-Shanabi, bring him to a wash-bowl,
610 And let him wash in water his filthy hair, as clean as possible.
611 Let him throw away his skins, and let the sea carry them off.
612 Let his body be soaked until it is fresh.
613 Put a new headband on his head.
614 Have him wear a robe as a proud garment,
615 Until he comes to his city,
616 Until he reaches his journey's end.
617 The garment shall not discolor, but stay absolutely new.

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Tablet 2:618
Tablet 2:655

618 Ur-Shanabi took him and brought him to a wash-bowl, and he washed in water his filthy hair, as clean as possible.
619 He threw away his skins, and the sea carried them off.
620 His body was soaked until it was fresh. He put a new headband on his head. He wore a robe as a proud garment, until he came to his city, until he reached his journey's end.
621 The garment would not discolour, and stayed absolutely new.
622 Gilgamesh and Ur-shanabi embarked on the boat. They cast off the Magillu-Boat and sailed away.
623 His wife spoke to him, to Utnafishtim.
624 Gilgamesh came, weary, striving,
625 What will you give him to take back to his country?
626 And Gilgamesh out there raised the pole,
627 He brought the boat near the shore.
628 Utnafishtim spoke to him, to Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh, you came weary, striving,
629 What can I give you to take back to your country?
630 Let me reveal a closely guarded matter Gilgamesh,
631 And let me tell you the secret of the Anunnagi.
632 There is a plant whose root is like camel-thorn,
633 Whose thorn, like a rose, will spike your hands.
634 If you yourself can win that plant, you will find rejuvenation.
635 When Gilgamesh heard this, he opened the pipe, he tied heavy stones to his feet.
636 They dragged him down into the Apsu, and he saw the plant.
637 He took the plant himself, it spiked his hands.
638 He cut the heavy stones from his feet.
639 The sea threw him up on to its shore.
640 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ur-Shanabi, the boatman,
641 Ur-Shanabi, this plant is a plant to cure a crisis,
642 With it a man may win the breath of life.
643 I shall take it back to Uruk the sheepfold, I shall give it to an elder to eat, and so try out the plant.
644 Its name shall be: "an old man grows into a young man."
645 At twenty leagues they ate their ration.
646 At thirty the leagues stopped for the shadow hour.
647 Gilgamesh saw a pool whose water was cool, and went down into the water and washed.
648 A snake smelt the fragrance of the plant.
649 It came up silently and carried off the plant.
650 As it took it away, it shed its scaly skin.
651 Thereupon Gilgamesh sat down and wept. His tears flowed over his cheeks. He spoke to Ur-Shanabi the boatman, for what purpose, Urshanabi have my arms grown weary?
652 For what purpose was the blood inside me so red? I did not gain an advantage for myself, I have given the advantage to the "lion of the ground."
653 Now the current will carry twenty leagues away.
654 While I was opening the pipe, arranging the gear, I found a door-thong which must have been set there as an omen for me. I shall give up and I have left the boat on the shore. At twenty leagues they ate their ration.
655 At thirty leagues they stopped for the shadow hour. They reached Uruk the sheepfold.

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Tablet 2:700

656 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Urshanabi, the boatman, go up on to the wall of Uruk, Urshanabi, and walk around. Inspect the foundation platform and scrutinize the brickwork! Testify that its bricks are baked bricks and that the seven counselors must have laid its foundations!
657 One square mile is city, one square mile is orchards, one square mile is claypits, as well as the open ground of Ishtar's temple. Three square miles and the open ground comprise Uruk.
658 If only I had led the pukku in the carpenter's house today!
659 I would have left the carpenter's wife like the mother who bore me, I would have left the carpenter's daughter like my little sister.
660 Today the pukku fell into the Earth and my mekku fell into the Earth.
661 Enkidu asked Gilgamesh, my ruler, what did you weep for, and your heart grow sad?
662 I shall bring up the pukku and mekku from the Earth today.
663 Gilgamesh said to Enkidu, if you go down to the Earth, you must follow my instructions.
664 You must not put on a clean garment, for they will recognize that you are a stranger.
665 You must not be anointed with perfumed oil from an ointment jar, for they will gather around you at the smell of it.
666 You must not toss a throw-stick into the Earth, for those who are hit by the throw-stick will encircle you.
667 You must not raise a club in your hands,
668 For ghosts will flit around you.
669 You must not put shoes on your feet,
670 Lest you make a noise in the Earth.
671 You must not kiss the wife you love,
672 You must not hit the wife you hate,
673 You must not kiss the son you love,
674 You must not hit the son you hate,
675 For the Earth's outcry will seize you.
676 She who sleeps and sleeps, the mother of Ninazu who sleeps.
677 Her pure shoulders are not covered with a garment,
678 Her breasts are not pendulous like an ointment jar in a Sappatu-Basin.
679 He did not follow his ruler's instructions.
680 He put on a clean garment,
681 So they recognized that he was a stranger.
682 He was anointed with perfumed oil from an ointment jar.
683 So they gathered around him at the smell of it.
684 He tossed a throw-stick into the Earth,
685 So those who were hit by the throw-stick encircled him.
686 He raised a club in his hands,
687 So ghosts flitted around him.
688 He put shoes on his feet,
689 He made a noise in the Earth.
690 He kissed the wife he loved,
691 He hit the wife he hated,
692 He kissed the son he loved,
693 He hit the son he hated,
694 And the Earth's outcry did seize him.
695 She who sleeps and sleeps, the mother of Ninazu who sleeps.
696 Her pure shoulders were not covered with a garment,
697 Her breasts were not pendulous like an ointment jar in a Sikkatu-basin.
698 When Enkidu tried to go up again out of the Earth,
699 Namtar did not seize him, nor did Asakku seize him: the Earth seized him.
700 The croucher, Ukur the merciless, did not seize him, the Earth seized him.

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Tablet 2:701
Tablet 2:741

701 He did not fall in a fight among males, the Earth seized him.
702 Then the son of Ninsun went and wept for his servant Enkidu.
703 He went off on his own to Ekur, Enlil's temple.
704 Father Enlil, today the pukku and the mekku fell into the Earth.
705 The croucher, Ukur the merciless, did not seize him.
706 Father Enlil answered him not a word, so he went off alone to Sin's temple.
707 Father Sin, today the pukku and mekku fell into Earth.
708 The Earth seized Enkidu, who went down to bring them up.
709 Namtar did not seize him, nor did Asakku seize him: the Earth seized him.
710 The croucher, Ukur the merciless, did not seize him, the Earth seized him.
711 He did not fall in a fight among males, the Earth seized him.
712 Father Sin answered him not a word, so he went off alone to Enqi's temple.
713 Father Enqi, today the pukku and mekku fell into Earth.
714 The Earth seized Enkidu, who went down to bring them up.
715 Namtar did not seize him, nor did Asakku seize him: the Earth seized him.
716 The croucher, Ukur the merciless, did not seize him, the Earth seized him.
717 He did not fall in a fight among males the Earth seized him.
718 Father Enqi answered him,
719 He spoke to the warrior Ukur,
720 Warlike young man Ukur.
721 You must open up a hole in the Earth now,
722 So that the spirit of Enkidu came out of the Earth like a gust of wind.
723 They hugged and kissed, they discussed, they agonized. Tell me, my friend,
724 Tell me Earth's conditions that you found! I can't tell thou, my friend, I can't tell thou.
725 If I tell you Earth's conditions that I found, you must sit and weep.
726 Your wife whom you touched and you heart was glad,
727 Ermin eat like and old garment.
728 Your son whom you touched, and your heart was glad, sits in a crevice full of dust.
729 Woe she said, and grovelled in the dust. Woe he said, and grovelled in the dust.
730 I saw the father of one whom you once saw, he weeps bitterly over it.
731 I saw the father of two whom you once saw,
732 He eats bread sitting on two bricks. I saw the father of three whom you once saw,
733 He drinks water from a waterskin. I saw the father of four whom you once saw his heart glad with a team of four.
734 I saw the father of five whom you once saw like a first-rate scribe he is open-handed,
735 Enters the palace as a matter of course, like a fine emblem,
736 I saw him, whom you saw die a sudden death, he lies in bed and drinks pure water.
737 I saw the father of six whom you once saw,
738 I saw him, whom you saw killed in battle, his father and mother honor him and his wife weeps over him.
739 I saw him, whose corpse you saw abandoned in the open country,
740 His ghost does not sleep in the Earth.
741 I saw him whom you saw, whose ghost has nobody to supply it. He feeds on dregs from dishes, and bits of bread that lie abandoned in the streets.

This Is How It Was Recorded
And This Is How It Will Be

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LOWHA SHIL ETANA
TABLET OF

Begin All Acts And Thinking By Using El Kuluum, The All

Tablet One
Tablet Of Etana
(19x9=171)

Lo the great Aluhum the Igigi designed the blueprints of a city,
2 The Igigi laid the plans for its foundation.
3 The Anunnagi designed this actual city of kish!,
4 The Anunnagi made and laid its brickwork firm.
5 In counsel, they decided to 'let Etana be their shepherd and rule first in the great city.
6 Let Etana be their builder and ruler and holder of the staff of leadership.
7 The great Anunnagi who decree destinies,
8 Sat and conferred their counsel on the land.
9 They were creating the four quarters of the world and establishing the form of it.
10 The Igigi were greatly satisfied and decreed names of its provinces for them all.
11 They had not established a ruler over all the people of each province.
12 At that time the headband and crown had not been put together,
13 And the lapis lazuli scepter had not been decreed over him.
14 At the same time near them, the throne-dais had not been made.
15 The Sebitti barred the gates against armies attacks.
16 The Sebitti barred the against other settled peoples.
17 The Igigi would patrol the city from the skies.
18 Ishtar was looking for a shepherd.
19 And searching high and low for a ruler.
20 Inninna was looking for a shepherd.
21 And searching high and low for a shepherd.
22 Enlil was looking for a throne-dais for Etana.
23 'The young man for whom Ishtar is looking so diligently,
24 And searches endlessly day and shadow hour sleepless.
25 A ruler is hereby affirmed for the land, and in Kish it is established that Etana is that ruler.
26 He brought rulership down to Eridu.
27 The Anunnagi of the lands were satisfied in him.
28 He named him Fish-Man, serpent of the sea. He built a fort in his behalf.
29 The throne-dais of Adad his Anunnagi name Baal.
30 In the shade of that throne-dais a poplar sprouted fresh water.
31 On its crown, an eagle-man crouched, and a serpent-man lay at its base.
32 Everyday they would keep watch for their prey to come.
33 The eagle-man made its voice heard and said to the serpent-man,
34 'Come, let us be friends,
35 Let us be comrades, you and I,'
36 The serpent-man made its voice heard and spoke to the eagle-man,
37 'You are not fit for friendship in the sight of Shamash, whose consort is Aya!
38 You are wicked and you have

The Ruler Etana

 

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TABLET OF

Tablet 1:38
Tablet 1:77

grieved his heart.
39 You have done unforgivable deeds, an abomination to the Anunnagi.
40 But come, let us stand up and make a pledge together.
41 Let us swear an oath on the next of Shamash's great day'.
42 In the presence of Shamash, the warrior, they swore an oath,
43 'Whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
44 Shamash shall deliver into the hands of the smiter for harm,
45 Whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
46 May the mountain keep its pass far away from him,
47 May the prowling weapon make straight for him,
48 May the snares on which the oath to Shamash is sworn overturn him ensnare him!'
49 When they had sworn the oath.
50 On the next of Shamash's day,
51 They stood up straight and went up the mountain.
52 Each day they kept watch for their prey to come.
53 The eagle-man would catch a wild bull or wild ass,
54 And the serpent-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
55 The serpent-man would catch mountain goats or gazelles.
56 And the eagle-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
57 The eagle-man would catch wild boar and wild sheep,
58 And the serpent-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
59 The serpent-man would catch cattle from the plains and wild beasts from the country-side,
60 And the eagle-man would eat, then turn away so that its young could eat.
61 The young of the serpent-man had an abundance of food.
62 The eagle-man's young grew large and flourished. When the eagle-man's young grew large and flourished.
63 When the eagle-man's young had grown large and flourished,
64 The eagle-man plotted evil in its heart,
65 And in its heart it plotted evil,
66 And made up its mind to eat its friend's young ones.
67 The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to its young,
68 'I am going to eat the serpent man's young ones,
69 The serpent-man is sure to be angry.
70 So I shall go up and abide in the sky.
71 I shall come down from the tree top only to eat the fruit!'
72 A small fledging, especially wise, addressed its words to the eagle-man, its father.
73 'Father, don't eat! The net of Shamash will ensnare you.
74 The snares on which the oath of Shamash is sworn will overturn you and ensnare you.
75 Remember: whoever oversteps the limit set by Shamash,
76 Shamash shall deliver into the hands of the smiter for harm.'
77 It would not listen to them, and

The Great Deity Shamash

 

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Tablet 1:77
Tablet 1:118

would not listen to the word of its sons.
78 It went down and ate the serpent-man's young.
79 In the dusk period at the close of day,
80 The serpent-man came and was carrying its load,
81 Stared, for its nest was not there,
82 Daylight hour came he waited, but the eagle-man did not appear,
83 For with its talons it had clawed at the ground,
84 And its dust cloud covered the heavens on high.
85 The serpent-man lay down and wept,
86 Its tears flowed before Shamash.
87 'I trusted in you, Shamash, the warrior,
88 And I was helpful and sincere to the eagle-man who lives on the branches.
89 Now the serpent-man's nest is grief-stricken.
90 My own nest is not there, while its nest is safe.
91 My young ones are scattered and its young ones are safe.
92 It came down and ate my young ones!
93 You know the wrong which it has done me, Shamash!
94 Truly, O Shamash your net is as wide as Earth,
95 Your snare is as broad as the sky!
96 The eagle-man should not escape from your net,
97 As criminal as Anzu or Zuen, who wronged his comrade.'
98 When he heard the serpent-man's plea,
99 Shamash made his voice heard and spoke to the serpent-man,
100 'Go along the path, cross the mountain.
101 Where a wild bull abundant and has been bound for you.
102 Open up its innards, slit open its stomach.
103 Make a place to sit inside its stomach,
104 All kinds of birds will come down with them.
105 The eagle-man too will come down with them.
106 Since it will not be aware of danger to itself,
107 It will search out the most tender morsels will comb the area in search for it.
108 Penetrate to the lining of the innards.
109 When it enters the innards, you must seize it by the wing,
110 Cut its wings, feather and pinion,
111 Pluck it and throw it into a bottomless pit,
112 Let it die there of hunger and thirst!'
113 At the command of the warrior Shamash,
114 The serpent-man came upon the wild bull,
115 And opened up its innards and slit open its stomach.
116 And made a place to sit inside its stomach.
117 All kinds of birds came down from the sky and began to eat the flesh.
118 But the eagle-man was aware of the danger to itself.

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TABLET OF ETANA

Tablet 1:119
Tablet 1:161

119 And would not eat the flesh with the other birds.
120 The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to its son,
121 'Come, and let us go down and let us eat the flesh of this wild bull!'
124 The eagle-man reasoned this to itself:
125 'If the birds felt any fear,
126 How would they be eating the flesh so peacefully?'
127 It did not pay heed to them, did not listen to the words of its sons,
128 Came down and stood upon the wild bull.
129 The eagle-man inspected the flesh,
130 But kept scanning ahead of it and behind it.
131 It inspected the flesh again,
132 But kept scanning ahead of it and behind it.
133 It kept going further in the stomach until it penetrated to the lining of the innards.
134 As it went right in, the serpent-man, seized it by the wing.
135 'You robbed my young ones from my nest, you robbed my nest!'
136 The eagle-man made its voice heard and began to speak,
137 'Spare me, and I shall give you, as one betrothed, a Nudunnu-payment.'
138 The serpent-man made its voice heard and began to speak,
139 'If I were to free you, how would I answer, Shamash?
140 The punishment due to you would revert to me,
141 The punishment that I now I now inflict on you!'
142 It cut its wings, pinion and feather,
143 Plucked it and threw it into a pit,
144 It was left to die of hunger and thirst.
145 The eagle-man cried in regret. Everyday it prayed repeatedly to Shamash,
146 'Am I to die in the pit?
147 Who realizes that it is your punishment I bear?
148 Save my life for me; the eagle-man,
149 So that I may broadcast your fame for eternity!'
149 Shamash made his voice heard and spoke to the eagle-man,
150 'You are wicked, and you have grieved my heart.
151 You did an unforgivable deed, an abomination to the Baalim, the Nephilims.
152 You are dying, and I shall not go near you!
153 But a man, whom I am sending to you, is coming, let him help you.'
154 Everyday, Etana prayed repeatedly to Shamash,
155 'O Shamash, you have enjoyed the best cuts of my sheep,
156 Earth has drunk the blood of my lambs,
157 I have honored the Anunnagi and respect the souls of the dead,
158 The dream-interpreters have made full use of my incense.
159 The Baalims have made full use of my lambs at the slaughter.
160 O ruler, let the word to forth from your mouth,
161 And give me the plant of birth,

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 162 Remove my shame and provide me with a son!'

163 Shamash made his voice heard and spoke to Etana,
164 'Go along the road, cross the mountain,
165 Find a pit and look carefully down there.
166 It will show you the plant of birth.'
167 At the command of Shamash, the warrior,
168 Etana went across the mountain,
169 Found the pit and looked at what was inside it.
170 An eagle-man was abandoned down there.
171 The eagle-man raise itself up at once.

Tablet Two
Etana II
(19x6=114)

Lo! The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to Shamash,
2 'O ruler, I thank you.
3 The offspring of mine that of a bird I pledge to you.
4 Whatever I say, in honor of you.
5 At the command of Shamash, I am saved.
6 The Offspring of mine that is of the bird, I pledge to you.
7 The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to Etana,
8 "Why have you come to me? Tell me!"
9 Etana made his voice heard and spoke to the eagle-man:
10 'O my friend, give me the plant of birth,
11 Show me the plant of birth!
12 Remove my shame and provide me with a son!
13 Leave the plant with me when you get out, leave it I beg you.'
14 Then the eagle-man said to Etana, the ruler of Kish,
15 'All alone I shall search the mountains and cross the road.
16 Let me bring the plant of birth as I promised to you.'
17 When Etana heard this,
18 He covered the front of the pit with Juniper,
19 Made for it and threw down its wings and kept the plant.
20 Thus, he kept the eagle-man alive in the pit.
21 He began to teach it to fly again.
22 For one month, then a second month.
23 He kept the plant and the eagle-man alive in the pit.
24 And began to teach it to fly again.
25 For a third month, then a fourth month.
26 He kept the plant and the eagle-man alive in the pit.
27 And began to teach it to the fly again.
28 Etana helped it for seven months. In the eighth month he helped it out of its pit.
29 The eagle-man, now well fed, was as strong as a fierce lion.
30 The eagle-man made its voice heard and spoke to Etana,
31 'My friend, we really are friends, you and I!
32 Tell me what you wish from me, that I may give it to you.'
33 Etana made his voice heard and spoke to the eagle-man,

Chapter 18 - Tablet of Etana 2:34 - 2:76

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LOWHA SHIL ETANA                         TABLET OF

Tablet 2:34                                   Tablet 2:76

34  ‘Change my destiny for and disclose what is concealed!’

35  Etana did as he was ordered by shamash and went and helped the eagle-man out of the pit.

36  The eagle-man hunted around in the mountains day and shadow hour.

37  But the plant of birth was not to be found there.

38  ‘Come, my friend, let me carry you up to the sky,

39  Let us meet with Ishtar, the mistress of birth.

40  Beside Ishtar, the mistress of birth, let us find a new plant.’

41  Put your arms over my sides,

42  Put your hands over the quills of my wings.’

43  He put his arm over its sides,

44  Put his hands over the quills of its wings.

45  The eagle-man took him upwards for a mile.

46  ‘My friend, look at the country! How does it seem?’

47  ‘The affairs of the country buzz with prosperity like flies building their homes.

48  And the wide sea is no bigger than a sheepfold!’

49  The eagle-man took him up a second mile,

50  ‘My friend, look at the country! How does it seem,

51  ‘The country has turned into a garden of delight,

52  And the wide sea is no bigger than a bucket!’

53  It took him up a third mile.

54  ‘My friend, look at the country! how does it seem?’

55  ‘I am looking for the country, but I can’t see it!

56  And my eyes cannot even pick out the wise sea!

57  My friend, I cannot go any further towards heaven.

58  Retrace the way, and let me go back to my city!’

59  The eagle-man shrugged him off for one mile,

60  Then dropped down and retrieved him on its wings.

61  The eagle-man shrugged him off for a second mile,

62  Then dropped down and retrieved him on its wings.

63  The eagle-man shrugged him off for a third mile,

64  Then dropped down and retrieved him on its wings.

65  A meter from the ground, the eagle-man shrugged him off,

66  Then dropped down and retrieved him on its wings.

67  Etana said to the eagle-man,

68  ‘My friend, I saw a first bad ream.

69  The city of kish was sobbing from the disagreement between the Anunnagi.

70  Within it the people were in mourning for the disobedience of Enqi to ANU

71  I sang A song of lamentation for this great grief.

72  “O Kish, giver of life!

73  Etana cannot give you an heir for they are in exile.

74  O Kish, giver of life,

75  Etana cannot give you an heir for they have been runaway.

76  His wife said to Etana,

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Chapter 18 - Tablet of Etana 2:77 - 2:114

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LOWHA SHIL ETANA                             TABLET OF

Tablet 2:77                                         Tablet 2:114

77  “The Aluhum showed me a dream.

78  Liked Etana my husband I have had a dream of distress.

79  Like you the Aluhum have shown me a dream of distress.

80  And his ghost is most holy.

81  Etana opened his mouth and spoke to the eagle-man.

82  ‘My friend, that Aluhum showed me another dream of delight.

83  We were going through the entrance of the gate of ANU, father of Enlil and Enqi.

84  We bowed down together, you and I.

85  We were going through the entrance of the gate of Sin, Shamash, Baal-Adad and Ishtar.

86  We bowed down together, you and I.

87  I saw a house with a window that was not sealed.

88  I pushed it open and went inside.

89  Sitting in there was a girl.

90  Adorned with a crown, beautiful was her face.

91  A throne was set in place, and within this great house she sat.

92  Beneath the throne crouched snarling lions. I came up and the lions sprang at me.

93  I woke up terrified.’ The eagle-man said to Etana,

94  ‘My friend, the significance of the dream is quite clear! Come, let me carry you up to the heaven of ANU, the great ‘AL.’

95  Put your chest over its breast, put his hands over its sides.

96  Put your arms over my sides.’

97  He put his chest over its breast, put his hands over its feathers,

98  Put his arms over its sides.

99  The eagle-man tied its load on securely,

100 Took him up a mile.

101 And spoke to him, to Etana,

102 ‘See, my friend, how the country seems!

103 Inspect the sea, look carefully for its features!

104 The country is only the edge of a point seen of a mountain!

105 And whatever has become of the sea.’

106 The eagle-man took him up a second mile and spoke to Etana,

107 ‘See, my friend, how the country seems!

108 The sea has turned into a gardener’s ditch!’

109 When they came up to the heaven of ANU,

110 They went through the gate of ANU, father of Enlil and Enqi.

111 The eagle-man and Etana bowed down together.

112 They went through the gate of Sin, Shamash, Baal-Adad, also called Elyon, the foul, and Ishtar.

113 The eagle-man and Etana bowed down together.

114 He pushed it open and went inside.

This Is How It Was Recorded And This How It Will Be

1586