Gilgameš and the bull of heaven

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 319 sections

v1.B.H
[…] [lugal]-gaba-ĝal2 mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
v1.B.J
[…] X-še3 IM ? […]
v1.B.K
[…] ⌈?⌉ im-ma-ni-[in-sig10]
v1.B.L
[…] X-še3 ba-ni-⌈in⌉-[…]
v1.B.M
[…]-na8-na8-en en […]
v1.B.N
[…] X i3-na8-na8-⌈en⌉ […]
v1.B.O
[…] ⌈an⌉-ta-an-⌈e3⌉ […]
v1.B.P
[…] u2 X […]
gap
(1 line missing)
v1.B.R
[…] X […]
v1.B.S
[…] E DI ki […]
v1.B.T
[…] ⌈AL⌉
gap
(1 line missing)
v1.B.V
[…] unug⌈{ki}⌉ […]
v1.B.68
en {d}⌈gilgameš2⌉ […]
Lord Gilgameš ……. Inana …… the Bull of Heaven. At Unug, the Bull ……, and drank the water of the river in great slurps. With each slurp it used up one mile of the river, but its thirst was not satisfied. It devoured the pasture and stripped the land bare. His lady ……. Gilgameš …… said, My mother ……, my sister ……, will …… the cattle to their tethering stakes, will …… the sheep to their tethering stakes, will …… to their tethering stakes. Gilgameš ……, Bull of Heaven, you, yes you, ……; you, yes you -- you do not ……. Gilgameš ……. (5 lines unclear) They will throw your corpse in the deserted streets, and throw your intestines in the broad square. They will send your carcass to the knacker's, and I shall share out your meat in baskets to the widows' sons who are citizens of my city ……. I shall make flasks of your two horns for pouring fine oil to Inana in E-ana.
v1.B.69
inana gud an-na […]
v1.B.70
gud unug{ki} […]
v1.B.71
id2 a-ĝi6 ! [a na8-na8]
v1.B.72
id2 a-ĝi6 lu dannana-[ta-am3 ib2-si šag4-bi nu-si-si]
v1.B.73
u2 mu-gu7-⌈e⌉ [ki im-sig9-ge-e]
v1.B.73A
nin-ni […]
v1.B.73B
{d}⌈gilgameš2⌉ […]
v1.B.73C
ama-ĝu10 EN ME […]
v1.B.73D
nin9-ĝu10 ?-a […]
v1.B.73E
gud dur2-bi-še3 i-im-⌈ma⌉-[…]
v1.B.73F
udu dur2-bi-še3 i-im-⌈ma⌉-[…]
v1.B.73G
kaš ?-bi-? ?-bi ? ḫe2-⌈em⌉-[…]
v1.B.73H
{d}gilgameš2 X […]
v1.B.73J
gud an-na u3 za-e […]
v1.B.73K
u3 za-e nu-ub-sig10-⌈ge⌉ […]
v1.B.73L
{d}gilgameš2 […]
v1.B.74
[…] X X X ⌈?⌉ [X X] X
v1.B.75
[…] X [X] mu-[na-ni]-⌈ib2⌉-gi-gi
v1.B.76
[…] ⌈lu2⌉ X X X X […]-ne-ne
v1.B.77
[…] X mu-na-ni-ib2-gi-gi
v1.B.78
⌈?⌉ a X-? ga-[…]
v1.B.79
ad6-zu sila sig9-ga ḫe2-en-šub
v1.B.80
šag4-maḫ-zu sila daĝal-la ḫe2-en-šub
v1.B.81
⌈kuš⌉-zu [su-si-ig]-ga-aš ḫe2-en-šub
v1.B.82
uzu-zu dumu nu-mu-un-su-a-? dumu iri-? […] {ĝiš}dusu-ta ga-am3-ta-ḫa-⌈la⌉ […]
v1.B.83
si-zu 2(MIN)-a-bi šaĝan i3 dug3-ga-še3 {d}inana-ra e2-an-na-še3 ga-mu-na-an-ĝar
v1.B.84
inana ⌈?⌉ igi mu-ni-la2
Inana watched from the top of the ramparts. The Bull bellowed in the dust, and Gilgameš walked (?) at its head as Enkidu climbed up the rope of its ……. Their fellow-citizens came along ……. It covered them with dust, like a young calf unused to the yoke. Enkidu stood behind the Bull and went round ……. He put …… and seized its tail. He spoke to his master Gilgameš:
v1.B.85
gud-de3 saḫar-ra gu3 bi2-in-dug4
v1.B.86
en {d}gilgameš2 saĝ-du-ta i3-?
v1.B.87
en-ki-du10 dur lib-ba-⌈na⌉ […] ⌈?⌉-an-ed3
v1.B.88
dumu iri-na [mu]-un-da-ni-re7-eš-am3 amar ĝiš nu-zu saḫar ba-e-ne-ši-?
v1.B.89
en-ki-du10 eĝer gud-da-še3 im-mi-gub […] ⌈?⌉ mu-un-niĝin2 […] u3-bi2-in-sig10 kun-bi im-ma-an-dab5
v1.B.90
lugal-a-ni-ir {d}gilgameš2-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e
v1.B.91
i3-a lum-lum u3-luḫ-ḫa sud-sud
Ho, magnificent one, extending your staff of office, born of noble lineage, splendour of the gods, furious bull standing ready for battle, who is respected as the great lord Gilgameš of Unug! Your mother was truly skilled in bearing children, and your nurse was truly skilled in suckling her charges! Lord born of noble lineage, …… Do not fear -- the warrior without strength …… himself (?). There where the road is straight ……. …… axe ……. (4 lines unclear)
v1.B.92
dumu-gir15 giri17-zal diĝir-re-ne
v1.B.93
gud lipiš-tuku me3-a gub-ba
v1.B.94
en gal {d}gilgameš2 ⌈unug?⌉ bi2-in-dug4-ga
v1.B.95
ama-zu dumu u3-tud-da maḫ-bi ⌈ḫe2-em⌉-zu
v1.B.96
emeda(UM.ME)-ga-<la2>-zu ⌈dumu-ra⌉ ga-ba maḫ-bi ḫe2-em-zu
v1.B.96A
en dumu-gir15 AN X […]
v1.B.97
ni2 na-teĝ3-ĝe26 ur-saĝ-ĝa2 usu nu-tuku ni2-te-a-ni
v1.B.98
ki a-ra2 gen6-na [X] X X X X […]
v1.B.99
{urud}ḫa-[zi-in …]
v1.B.100
gud-de3 […]
v1.B.101
gud an-[na …]
v1.B.102
a-gin7 […]
v1.B.103
ḪAR X […]
gap
(unknown no. of lines missing)
head
A version from Me-Turan
v2.A.1
šul !-kam šul !-kam in-du-ni ga-an-dug4
I will sing the song of the man of battle, the man of battle. I will sing the song of Lord Gilgameš, the man of battle, I will sing the song of the lord with the very black beard, the man of battle. I will sing the song of him with the well-proportioned limbs, the man of battle. I will sing the song of him in his prime (?), the man of battle. I will sing the song of him who batters the wicked, the man of battle. The king, the lord, having …… as his mother who bore him ……, wishing to wash (?) in the river.
v2.A.2
en {d}gilgameš2 šul ⌈me3-kam in-du-ni ga-an-dug4⌉
v2.A.3
en su ku10-ku10 šul !-kam ⌈in⌉-[du]-ni ga-an-dug4
v2.A.4
a2-ur2 sag9-sag9 šul me3-kam in-du-ni ga-an-dug4
v2.A.5
UL-nir-ma šul me3-kam in-du-ni ga-an-dug4
v2.A.6
niĝ2-erim2 du7-du7 šul me3-kam in-du-ni ga-an-dug4
v2.A.7
lugal-e en-e ama ugu-ne-ra A2 KAL IŠ ta-a-ni-[X] id2-da NAĜA-de3
v2.A.8
en-ĝu10 {ĝiš}kiri6 {ĝiš}za-ba-al-? ?-NE kiĝ2-a-zu-ne
My lord, having sought entry into the garden planted with junipers, the lord, coming from the ĝipar, sheared the wool of the fleecy sheep ……; …… he sat down ……. The king …… bending …… with the oar; the prince covered …… with the oar, as if it was of flourishing reed. You covered their wicked ones, as if ……, with water. He gave …… to his mother who bore him. In the wide courtyard ……, Gilgameš ……. (1 line unclear) In the great courtyard …….
v2.A.9
en ĝi6-par4-ta udu nir-ra-am3 siki am3-ze2 SAR-SAR
v2.A.10
KAL saĝ-ĝa2-ke4 dur2 bi-ĝar ZI-gin7 ? ⌈?⌉-na
v2.A.11
lugal-e ZI-gin7 ŠEN NE-na gi-⌈sal⌉-[la] ⌈gu2⌉ gur2
v2.A.12
nun gi-sal-la gi lum-lum-ma-⌈gin7⌉ [X X] X mu-ši-ib-šu2
v2.A.13
niĝ2-erim2-bi za-e ŠEN-gin7 X […] X-šu2
v2.A.14
ama ugu-ne-ra ⌈? NA⌉ mu-un-[…]-na-šum2
v2.A.15
kisal daĝal-la […]
v2.A.16
{d}gilgameš2 ĝiš ⌈?⌉ X […]
v2.A.17
KA ?-?-e ⌈?⌉ […]
v2.A.18
kisal maḫ-e KIĜ2 ⌈?⌉ […]
v2.A.19
ud-bi-a ⌈?-la2-?⌉ […]
Then …… the canopy ……. Holy Inana perceived the canopy, from the palace of the abzu, she perceived the canopy:
v2.A.20
kug {d}inana-ke4 [e2-la2-e igi mu-un-bar]
v2.A.21
e2 ⌈abzux(DE2)-?⌉ [e2-la2-e igi mu-un-bar]
v2.A.22
am-⌈ĝu10⌉ [lu]-ĝu10 IM ⌈MA⌉ [NI TA … šu nu-ri-bar-re]
My wild bull, my man, I shall not let you ……! Gilgameš, I shall not let you ……! I shall not let you dispense justice in my E-ana! I shall not let you pronounce verdicts in my holy ĝipar! I shall not let you dispense justice in the E-ana beloved by An! Gilgameš, may you ……, may I …….
v2.A.23
{d}gilgameš2 ⌈IM⌉ [MA NI TA … šu nu-ri-bar-re]
v2.A.24
e2-an-na-ĝu10 di [kud-de3 šu nu-ri-bar-re]
v2.A.25
ĝi6-par4 gu2-ĝu10 ⌈kaš⌉ [bar-re šu nu-ri-bar-re]
v2.A.26
e2-an-na an-na [ki aĝ2 di kud-de3 šu nu-ri-bar-re]
v2.A.27
{d}gilgameš2 za-[e … IM MA NI TA] ĝe26-⌈e⌉ [… IM MA NI TA]
v2.A.28
lugal-e ?-ga14-⌈ne⌉ […]
The king, …… his mouth, the king …… to his mother who bore him. Gilgameš …… to Ninsumun ……: O mother who bore me, how ……! By the door of the great gate ……. From the crenellations of the wall ……: My wild bull, my man, I shall not let you go ……! Gilgameš, I shall not let you go ……! You dispensed justice in my E-ana -- I shall not let you go! You pronounced verdicts in my holy ĝipar -- I shall not let you go, in his beloved …… E-ana!"
v2.A.29
lugal-e ama ugu-ne-ra […]
v2.A.30
{d}gilgameš2 {d}nin-sumunx(EŠ2) X […]
v2.A.31
ama ugu-ĝu10 ?-gin7 uzu X […]
v2.A.32
{ĝiš}ig abula-ke4 X […]
v2.A.33
suḫ10 bad3-ke4 […] ĝar-ĝar […]
v2.A.34
am-ĝu10 lu-ĝu10 IM MA NI [TA …] ⌈šu⌉ nu-mu-ni-bar-re
v2.A.35
{d}gilgameš2 IM MA NI [TA …] ⌈šu⌉ nu-mu-ni-bar-re
v2.A.36
e2-an-na-ĝu10 di mu-un-[kud-de3 šu] nu-mu-ni-bar-re

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.