Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 472 sections

head
Version A, from Nibru, Urim, and elsewhere
v1.1
ud re-a ud su3-ra2 re-a
In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those remote nights, in those years, in those distant years; in days of yore, when the necessary things had been brought into manifest existence, in days of yore, when the necessary things had been for the first time properly cared for, when bread had been tasted for the first time in the shrines of the Land, when the ovens of the Land had been made to work, when the heavens had been separated from the earth, when the earth had been delimited from the heavens, when the fame of mankind had been established, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the king a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the king like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion.
v1.2
ĝi6 re-a ĝi6 ba9-ra2 re-a
v1.3
mu re-a mu su3-ra2 re-a
v1.4
ud ul niĝ2-du7-e pa e3-a-ba
v1.5
ud ul niĝ2-du7-e mi2 zid dug4-ga-a-ba
v1.6
eš3 kalam-ma-ka ninda šu2-a-ba
v1.7
{im}šu-rin-na kalam-ma-ka niĝ2-tab ak-a-ba
v1.8
an ki-ta ba-da-ba9-ra2-a-ba
v1.9
ki an-ta ba-da-sur-ra-a-ba
v1.10
mu nam-lu2-u18-lu ba-an-ĝar-ra-a-ba
v1.11
ud an-ne2 an ba-an-de6-a-ba
v1.12
{d}en-lil2-le ki ba-an-de6-a-ba
v1.13
{d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ra kur-ra saĝ rig7-bi-še3 im-ma-ab-rig7-a-ba
v1.14
ba-u5-a-ba ba-u5-a-ba
v1.15
a-a kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.16
{d}en-ki kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.17
lugal-ra tur-tur ba-an-da-ri
v1.18
{d}en-ki-ra gal-gal ba-an-da-ri
v1.19
tur-tur-bi na4 šu-kam
v1.20
gal-gal-bi na4 gi gu4-ud-da-kam
v1.21
ur2 {ĝiš}ma2 tur-re {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4
v1.22
niĝ2-bun2-na du7-am3 mi-šu2-šu2
v1.23
lugal-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4
v1.24
ur-bar-ra-gin7 teš2 mu-na-gu7-e
v1.25
{d}en-ki-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-eĝer-ra-ke4
v1.26
ur-maḫ-gin7 saĝ ĝiš im-ra-ra
v1.27
ud-bi-a ĝiš 1-am3 {ĝiš}ḫa-lu-ub2 1-am3 ĝiš 1-am3
At that time, there was a single tree, a single ḫalub tree, a single tree, growing on the bank of the pure Euphrates, being watered by the Euphrates. The force of the south wind uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the Euphrates picked it up and carried it away. A woman, respectful of An's words, was walking along; a woman, respectful of Enlil's words, was walking along, and took the tree and brought it into Unug, into Inana's luxuriant garden.
v1.28
gu2 {id2}buranun-na kug-ga-ka du3-a-bi
v1.29
{id2}buranun-na a na8-na8-da-bi
v1.30
a2 u18-lu ur2-ba mu-ni-in-bur12 pa-ba mu-ni-in-suḫ
v1.31
{id2}buranun-na a im-ma-ni-ib-ra
v1.32
munus-e inim an-na-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.33
inim {d}en-lil2-la2-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.34
ĝiš šu-na mu-un-dab5 unug{ki}-še3 ba-ni-in-kur9-re
v1.35
{ĝiš}kiri6 gi-rin {d}inana-še3 im-ma-ni-in-ku4-ku4-re
v1.36
munus-e ĝiš šu-na li-bi2-in-du ĝiri3-ni-ta bi2-in-du
The woman planted the tree with her feet, but not with her hands. The woman watered it using her feet but not her hands. She said: When will this be a luxuriant chair on which I can take a seat? She said: When this will be a luxuriant bed on which I can lie down? Five years, 10 years went by, the tree grew massive; its bark, however, did not split. At its roots, a snake immune to incantations made itself a nest. In its branches, the Anzud bird settled its young. In its trunk, the phantom maid built herself a dwelling, the maid who laughs with a joyful heart. But holy Inana cried!
v1.37
munus-e ĝiš šu-na a li-bi2-in-dug4 ĝiri3-ni-ta bi2-in-dug4
v1.38
me-na-am3 {ĝiš}gu-za gi-rin ba-ni-tuš-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.39
me-na-am3 ĝiš-nu2 gi-rin ba-ni-nu2-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.40
mu 5-am3 ⌈mu⌉ [10-am3 ba-e-zal-la re]
v1.41
ĝiš ba-gur4 kuš-bi nu-mu-un-da-dar
v1.42
ur2-bi-a muš tu6 nu-zu-e gud3 im-ma-ni-ib-us2
v1.43
pa-bi-a mušen anzud{mušen}-de3 amar im-ma-ni-ib-ĝar
v1.44
šab-bi-a ki-sikil lil2-la2-ke4 e2 im-ma-ni-ib-du3
v1.45
ki-sikil zu2 li9-li9 šag4 ḫul2-ḫul2
v1.46
kug {d}inana-ke4 er2 e-ne ba-še8-še8
v1.47
ud zal-le-da an-ur2 zalag-ge-da
When dawn was breaking, when the horizon became bright, when the little birds, at the break of dawn, began to clamour, when Utu had left his bedchamber, his sister holy Inana said to the young warrior Utu: My brother, in those days when destiny was determined, when abundance overflowed in the Land, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the lord a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the lord like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion.
v1.48
buru5 ud zal-le šeg10 gi4-gi4-da
v1.49
{d}utu agrun-ta e3-a-ni
v1.50
[nin9]-a-ni kug {d}inana-ke4 nin9-a-ni ur-saĝ šul {d}utu-ur2
v1.51
[ur-saĝ šul] {d}utu-ra kug {d}inana-ke4 gu3 mu-na-de2-e
v1.52
šeš-ĝu10 ud re-a na-aĝ2 ba-tar-ra-a-ba
v1.53
ud ḫe2-ma-al-la ka-na-aĝ2-ĝa2 ba-e-zal-la re
v1.54
ud an-ne2 an ba-an-ir-ra-a-ba
v1.55
{d}mu-ul-lil2-le ki ba-an-ir-ra-a-ba
v1.56
{d}ga-ša-an-ki-gal-la-ra kur-ra saĝ rig7-ga-še3 im-ma-ab-rig7-ga-a-ba
v1.57
ba-u5-a-ba ba-u5-a-ba
v1.58
a-a kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.59
{d}am-an-ki kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.60
u3-mu-un-ra tur-tur ba-an-da-ri
v1.61
{d}am-an-ki-ra gal-gal ba-an-da-ri
v1.62
tur-tur-bi na4 šu-a-kam
v1.63
gal-gal-bi na4 gi gu4-ud-[da-kam]
v1.64
ur2 {ĝiš}ma2 tur-re {d}am-an-ki-[ka3-ke4]
v1.65
še-en-bun2-na du7-am3 i3-[šu2-šu2]
v1.66
u3-mu-un-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-saĝ-⌈ĝa2⌉-[ke4]
v1.67
ur-bar-ra-gin7 teš2 mu-un-na-gu7-[e]
v1.68
{d}am-an-ki-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-eĝer-⌈ra⌉-[ke4]
v1.69
ur-maḫ-gin7 saĝ ĝiš im-ra-ra
v1.70
ud-bi-a mu di-ta-am3 {ĝiš}ḫa-lu-ub2 di-ta ĜIŠ TUG2 di-ta-am3
At that time, there was a single tree, a single ḫalub tree, a single tree (?), growing on the bank of the pure Euphrates, being watered by the Euphrates. The force of the south wind uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the Euphrates picked it up and carried it away. I, a woman, respectful of An's words, was walking along; I, a woman, respectful of Enlil's words, was walking along, and took the tree and brought it into Unug, into holy Inana's luxuriant garden.
v1.71
gu2 {id2}buranun-na kug-ga-ka du3-a-ba
v1.72
{id2}buranun-na a na8-na8-da-bi
v1.73
a2 {tum9}u18-lu ur2-ba mu-ni-in-bur12 pa-ba mu-ni-in-suḫ
v1.74
{id2}buranun-na a im-ma-ni-ib-ra
v1.75
nu-nus e-ne-eĝ3 an-na-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.76
e-ne-eĝ3 {d}mu-ul-lil2-la2-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.77
mu šu-ĝa2 mu-un-dab5 unug{ki}-še3 ba-ni-in-kur9
v1.78
{ĝiš}kiri6 gi-rin kug ga-ša-an-na-še3 im-ma-ni-in-ku4-ku4
v1.79
nu-nus-ĝen mu šu-ĝa2!(na) li-bi2-in-du me-ri-ĝu10-ta bi2-in-du
I, the woman, planted the tree with my feet, but not with my hands. I, Inana the woman , watered it using my feet but not my hands. She said: When will this be a luxuriant chair on which I can take a seat? She said: When will this be a luxuriant bed on which I can lie down? Five years, 10 years had gone by, the tree had grown massive; its bark, however, did not split. At its roots, a snake immune to incantations made itself a nest. In its branches, the Anzud bird settled its young. In its trunk, the phantom maid built herself a dwelling, the maid who laughs with a joyful heart. But holy Inana cried! Her brother, the young warrior Utu, however, did not stand by her in the matter.
v1.80
{d}ga-[ša-an]-na-ĝen nu-nus-ĝen mu šu-ĝa2 a li-bi2-in-de2 me-ri-ĝu10-ta a bi2-du
v1.81
me-na-am3 {ĝiš}gu-za gi-rin ba-ni-tuš-u3-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.82
me-na-am3 ĝiš-nu2 gi-rin ba-ni-nu2-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.83
mu 5-am3 mu 10-am3 ba-e-zal-la re
v1.84
mu ba-gur4 [kuš]-⌈bi⌉ nu-mu-un-da-dar
v1.85
ur2-bi-[a muš tu6] nu-zu-e gud3 im-ma-ni-ib-us2
v1.86
pa-bi-a mušen anzud{mušen} amar im-ma-ni-ib-ĝar
v1.87
šab-ba-⌈bi⌉-a [ki]-sikil lil2-la2-ke4 e2 im-ma-ni-in-us2
v1.88
ki-sikil ⌈zu2⌉ [li9]-li9 šag4 ḫul2-ḫul2
v1.89
kug {d}inana-ke4 er2 e-ne ba-še8-še8
v1.90
⌈šeš⌉-a-ni ur-saĝ šul {d}utu inim-bi nu-mu-de3-gub
v1.91
ud ⌈zal-le⌉-da an-ur2 zalag-ge-de3
When dawn was breaking, when the horizon became bright, when the little birds, at the break of dawn, began to clamour, when Utu had left his bedchamber, his sister holy Inana said to the warrior Gilgameš: My brother, in those days when destiny was determined, when abundance overflowed in the Land, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the lord a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the lord like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion.
v1.92
mušen buru5{mušen} ud zal-le šeg10 gi4-gi4-da
v1.93
{d}utu ⌈agrun⌉-ta e3-a-ni
v1.94
nin9-a-ni kug {d}inana-ke4
v1.95
ur-saĝ {d}gilgameš2 gu3 mu-na-[de2-e]
v1.96
šeš-ĝu10 ud re-a na-aĝ2 ba-tar-ra-a-[ba]
v1.97
ud [ḫe2-ma-al-la] ka-na-aĝ2 ba-e-zal-la re
v1.98
[ud an-ne2 an] [ba-an]-ir-ra-a-ba
v1.99
[{d}mu-ul-lil2-le ki] [ba]-an-ir-ra-a-ba

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.