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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LATUM SHIL GILGAMESH
EPIC OF GILGAMESH

Tablet 1:462
Tablet 1:509

her hands.
463 Ishtar took hold and directed it. When it arrived in the land of Uruk,
464 It went down to the seven rivers.
465 At the snorting of the bull of heaven a chasm opened up, and one hundred young men of Uruk fell into it,
466 Two hundred young men, three hundred young men.
467 At its second snorting another chasm opened up, and another hundred young men of Uruk fell into it,
468 Two hundred young men, three hundred young men fell into it,
469 At its third snorting a chasm opened up,
470 And Enkidu fell into it.
471 But Enkidu leapt out. He seized the bull of heaven by the horns.
472 The bull of heaven blew spittle into his face,
473 With its thick tail it whipped up its dung.
474 Enkidu made his voice heard and spoke,
475 He said to Gilgamesh,
476 My friend, we were too arrogant when we killed Humbaba.
477 How can we give recompense for our action?
478 In between the base of the horns and the neck tendons.
479 Enkidu spun round to the bull of heaven,
480 And seized it by its thick tail, and then Gilgamesh, like a butcher, heroic and brave,
481 Plunged his sword in between the base of the horns and the neck tendons.
482 When they had struck the bull of heaven they pulled out its innards,
483 Set them before Shamash,
484 Backed away and prostrated themselves before Shamash.
485 Then the two brothers sat down.
486 Ishtar went up on to the wall of Uruk, the sheepfold.
487 She was contorted with rage. She hurled down curses,
488 That man Gilgamesh who reviled me, hast killed the bull of heaven.
489 Enkidu listened to Ishtar saying this,
490 And he pulled out the bull of heaven's shoulder and slapped it into her face.
491 If I could only get at you as that does,
492 I would do the same to you myself, I would hang its intestines on your arms. Ishtar gathered the crimped courtesans, prostitutes and harlots.
493 She arranged for weeping over the bull of heaven's shoulder.
494 Gilgamesh called craftsmen, all the armorers,
495 And the craftsmen admired the thickness of its horns.
496 Thirty minas of lapis lazuli was needed for each of their pouring ends.
497 Two minas of gold was needed for each of their sheathings.
498 Six kor of oil was the capacity of both.
499 He dedicated them for anointing his god, Lugalbanda,
500 Took them in and hung them on his bed where he slept as head of the family.
501 In the Furattu, Euphrates they washed their hands and held hands and came,
502 Riding through the main street of Uruk.
503 The people of Uruk gathered and gazed at them.
504 Who is finest among the young men?
505 Who is proudest among the males?
506 Gilgamesh is the finest among the young men,
507 Gilgamesh is finest among the males.
508 We knew in our anger there is nobody like him who can please her.
509 Gilgamesh made merry in his palace.