Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world

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

v1.100
[{d}ga-ša-an-ki-gal-la-ra] kur-ra saĝ rig7-ga-še3 im-ma-ab-rig7-ga-a-ba
v1.101
ba-u5-a-ba ba-u5-a-ba
v1.102
a-a kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.103
{d}am-an-ki kur-še3 ba-u5-a-ba
v1.104
u3-mu-un-ra tur-tur ba-an-da-ri
v1.105
{d}am-an-ki-ra gal-gal ba-an-da-ri
v1.106
tur-tur-bi na4 šu-kam
v1.107
gal-gal-bi na4 gi gu4-ud-da-kam
v1.108
ur2 {ĝiš}ma2 tur-re {d}am-an-ki-ka3-ke4
v1.109
še-en-bun2-na du7-am3 i3-šu2-šu2
v1.110
u3-mu-un-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4
v1.111
ur-bar-ra-gin7 teš2 mu-un-na-gu7-e
v1.112
{d}am-an-ki-ra a {ĝiš}ma2-eĝer-ra-ke4
v1.113
ur-maḫ-gin7 saĝ ĝiš im-ra-ra
v1.114
ud-bi-a mu di-ta-am3 {ĝiš}ḫa-lu-ub2 di-ta-am3 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 Inana's luxuriant garden.
v1.115
gu2 {id2}buranun-na kug-ga-ka du3-[a]-ba
v1.116
{id2}buranun-na a na8-na8-da-bi
v1.117
a2 {tum9}u18-lu ur2-ba mu-ni-in-bur12 pa-ba mu-un-ni-in-suḫ
v1.118
{id2}buranun-na a im-ma-ni-ib-ra
v1.119
nu-nus-e e-ne-eĝ3 an-na-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.120
e-ne-eĝ3 {d}mu-ul-lil2-la2-ta ni2 te-a du
v1.121
mu šu-ĝa2 mu-un-dab5 unug{ki}-še3 ba-an-ni-kur9
v1.122
{ĝiš}kiri6 gi-rin ga-ša-an-an-na-še3 im-ma-ni-in-ku4-<ku4>-re
v1.123
nu-nus-e mu šu-na li-bi2-du11 ĝiri3-ni-ta bi2-in-du
The woman planted the tree with her feet, but not with her hands. Inana 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 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 I, holy Inana, cried! In the matter which his sister had told him about, her brother, the warrior Gilgameš, stood by her.
v1.124
{d}[ga]-ša-an-na-ke4 mu šu-na a li-bi2-de2 ĝiri3-ni-ta bi2-[in]-du
v1.125
me-na-am3 {ĝiš}gu-za gi-rin ba-ni-tuš-u3-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.126
me-na-am3 ĝiš-nu2 gi-rin ba-ni-nu2-de3-en bi2-in-dug4
v1.127
mu 5-am3 mu 10-am3 ba-e-zal-la re
v1.128
mu ba-gur4 kuš-bi nu-mu-un-da-dar
v1.129
ur2-bi-a muš tu6 nu-zu-e gud3 im-ma-ni-ib-us2
v1.130
pa-bi-a mušen anzud{mušen}-de3 amar-bi im-ma-ni-ib-ĝar
v1.131
šab-ba-bi-a ki-sikil lil2-la2-ke4 e2 im-ma-ni-in-du3
v1.132
ki-sikil zu2 li9-li9 šag4 ḫul2-ḫul2
v1.133
kug {d}inana-ke4 {d}ga-ša-an-na-ĝen er2 e-ne ba-še8-še8
v1.134
nin9-a-ni inim in-na-an-dug4-ga
v1.135
šeš-a-ni ur-saĝ {d}gilgameš2 inim-bi ba-de3-gub
v1.136
{tug2}ib2-ba-ru šag4-ba 50 ma-na-am3 ib2-ba-na ba-an-du3 ba-an-kar
He strapped …… his …… belt of 50 minas weight to his waist -- 50 minas were to him as 30 shekels. He took his bronze axe used for expeditions, which weighs seven talents and seven minas, in his hand. He killed the snake immune to incantations living at its roots. The Anzud bird living in its branches took up its young and went into the mountains. The phantom maid living in its trunk left (?) her dwelling and sought refuge in the wilderness. As for the tree, he uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the sons of his city, who went with him, cut up its branches and bundled them piled them up . He gave it to his sister holy Inana for her chair. He gave it to her for her bed. As for himself, from its roots, he manufactured his ball (?) and, from its branches, he manufactured his mallet (?).
v1.137
50-am3 30 giĝ4 ba-ši-in-ak
v1.138
{urud}ḫa-zi-in-na-ni ḫar-ra-an-na-ka-ni
v1.139
7 gun2 7 ma-na-ka-ni šu-ni-a ba-an-dab5
v1.140
ur2-bi-a muš tu6 nu-zu-e saĝ ĝiš ba-an-ra
v1.141
pa-bi-a mušen anzud{mušen}-de3 amar-bi šu ba-an-ti ḫur-saĝ-še3 ba-an-kur9
v1.142
šab-ba-bi-a ki-sikil lil2-la2-ke4 e2 im-ma-an-ni-in-zal
v1.143
e2-ri-e2-ri-še3 ba-an-kar-kar-re-<eš>
v1.144
ĝiš ur2-ba mu-ni-in-bur12 pa-ba mu-ni-in-suḫ šu bi2-in-kud
v1.145
dumu iri-na mu-un-de3-re7-eš-am3
v1.146
pa-bi i3-ku5-ru-ne zu2 ba-keše2-re-ne gu2 bi-ĝar-ĝar-re-eš
v1.147
nin9-a-ni kug {d}inana-ra {ĝiš}gu-za-ni-še3 mu-na-ab-šum2-mu
v1.148
ĝiš-nu2-da-ni-še3 mu-na-ab-šum2-mu
v1.149
e-ne ur2-bi {ĝiš}ellag-a-ni-še3 ba-da-ab-dim2-e
v1.150
pa-bi {ĝiš}e-ke4-ma-ni-še3 ba-ab-dim2-e
v1.151
{ĝiš}ellag al dug4-dug4-ge sila ur3-ra {ĝiš}ellag na-mu-un-e
He played with the ball (?) in the broad square, never wanting to stop playing it, and he praised himself in the broad square, never wanting to stop praising himself. The young men of his city were playing with the ball (?). For (?) him who made the team of the widows' children ……, they lamented: O my neck! O my hips! For those that had a mother, the mother brought bread for her son; for those that had a sister, the sister poured water for her brother. As the evening came, he marked the spot where the ball (?) had been placed, and he picked up his ball (?) from in front of him and took it home. But early in the morning as he …… the place marked, the widows' accusation and the young girls' complaint caused his ball (?) and his mallet (?) to fall down to the bottom of the nether world. He could not reach them by ……. He tried with his hand but could not reach touch them, tried with his foot but could not reach touch them.
v1.152
ni2 silim dug4-dug4-ge sila ur3-ra ni2 silim na-mu-un-e
v1.152A
ĝuruš iri-na-ka {ĝiš}ellag al dug4-dug4-ga-ne
v1.153
e-ne erin2 dumu nu-mu-un-su-a-ke4-ne TUM-ba u5-a
v1.154
a gu2-ĝu10 a ib2-ba-ĝu10 a-nir im-ĝa2-ĝa2-ne
v1.155
ama tuku dumu-ni-ir ninda mu-na-ab-de6
v1.156
nin9 tuku šeš-a-ni-ir a mu-na-de2-e
v1.157
u2-sa11-an-e um-ma-te-a-ra
v1.158
ki {ĝiš}ellag ĝar-ra-ka-ni ĝiš-ḫur in-ḫur-re
v1.159
{ĝiš}ellag-a-ni igi-ni-a mu-ni-in-il2 e2-a-ni-še3 mu-un-de6
v1.160
a2-gu2-zig3-ga-ta ki ĝiš-ḫur in-ḫur-ra TUM-ba u5-a
v1.161
šu du3-du3-a nu-mu-un-su-a-ta
v1.162
i-{d}utu ki-sikil tur-ra-ta
v1.163
{ĝiš}ellag-a-ni u3 {ĝiš}e-ke4-ma-ni dur2 kur-ra-še3 ba-da-an-šub
v1.163A
[…]-da-ta sa2 nu-mu-da-ab-dug4
v1.164
šu-ni mu-ni-in-dug4 sa2 nu-mu-un-da-dug4 šu-ni mu-re-en6-du šu nu-mu-un-de3-en6-tag
v1.165
ĝiri3-ni mu-ni-in-dug4 sa2 nu-mu-un-da-dug4 ĝiri3 mu-re-en6-du ĝiri3 nu-mu-de3-en6-tag
v1.166
abula ganzer igi kur-ra-ka dur2 im-ma-ni-in-ĝar
At the gate of Ganzer, in front of the nether world, he sat down. Gilgameš wept, crying bitterly: O my ball (?)! O my mallet (?)! O my ball (?), I am still not satiated with its charms, the game with it has not yet palled for me! If only my ball (?) waited still in the carpenter's house for me! I would treat the carpenter's wife like my own mother -- if only it waited still there for me! I would treat the carpenter's child like my little sister -- if only it waited still there for me! My ball (?) has fallen down to the nether world -- who will retrieve it for me? Who will retrieve my ball (?) from the nether world? My mallet (?) has fallen down to Ganzer -- who will retrieve it for me? Who will retrieve my mallet (?) from Ganzer?
v1.167
{d}gilgameš2 er2 im-ma-an-pad3 šex(SIG7)-šex(SIG7) i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
v1.168
a {ĝiš}ellag-ĝu10 a {ĝiš}e-ke4-ma-ĝu10
v1.169
{ĝiš}ellag la-la-bi nu-mu-un-gi4-a-ĝu10
v1.170
ešemen!(DI.E.NE.DI) di nu-mu-un-sug4-ga-ĝu10
v1.171
ud-ba {ĝiš}ellag-ĝu10 e2 nagar-ra-ka nu-uš-ma-da-ĝal2-am3
v1.172
dam nagar-ra ama ugu-ĝu10-gin7 nu-uš-ma-da-ĝal2-la-am3
v1.173
dumu nagar-ra nin9 ban3-da-ĝu10-gin7 nu-uš-ma-da-ĝal2-la-am3
v1.174
{ĝiš}ellag-ĝu10 kur-še3 mu-da-šub a-ba-a ma-ra-ab-ed3-de3 {ĝiš}ellag-ĝu10 kur-ta a-ba-a im-ta-ed3-de3
v1.175
{ĝiš}e-ke4-ma-ĝu10 ganzer-še3 mu-da-šub a-ba-a ma-ra-ab-ed3-de3 {ĝiš}e-AG-ma-ĝu10 ganzer3-ta a-ba-a im-ta-ed3-de3
v1.176
arad-da-ni en-ki-du10-e [{d}]gilgameš2 inim mu-un-ni-ib-gi4-gi4 gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
His servant Enkidu answered said to him Gilgameš : My king, you weep; why does your heart worry? Today I shall retrieve your ball (?) from the nether world, I shall retrieve your mallet (?) from Ganzer. Gilgameš answered Enkidu: If today If you are going to go down to the nether world, let me advise you! My instructions should be followed. Let me talk to you! Pay attention to my words My words should be followed !
v1.177
lugal-ĝu10 er2 e-ne ba-še8-še8 šag4 ḫul a-na-aš mu-e-dim2 šag4-zu a-na-aš ḫul ba-gig
v1.178
ud-da {ĝiš}ellag-zu kur-ta ĝe26-e ga-mu-ra-ab-ed3-de3
v1.179
{ĝiš}e-ke4-ma-zu ganzer-ta ĝe26-e ga-mu-ra-ab-ed3-de3
v1.180
{d}gilgameš2-e en-ki-du10-ra inim mu-[un-na-ni-ib-gi4]
v1.181
tukum-bi ud-da ud-da kur-še3 mu-ni-in-ed3-[de3]
v1.182
na ga-de5 na de5-ĝu10 ḫe2-dab5
v1.183
inim ga-ra-ab-dug4 inim-ĝu10-še3 ĝeštug2-zu inim-ĝu10 ḫe2-dab2
v1.184
tug2 dan2-dan2-na-zu na-an-mu4-mu4-un
You should not put on your clean garments: they would recognise immediately that you are alien. You should not anoint yourself with fine oil from a bowl: they would surround you at its your scent. You should not hurl throw-sticks in the nether world: those struck down by the throw-sticks would surround you. You should not not hold a cornel-wood stick in your hand: the spirits would feel insulted by you. You should not put sandals on your feet. You should not shout in the nether world. You should not kiss your beloved wife. You should not hit your wife even if you are annoyed with her. You should not kiss your beloved child. You should not hit your son even if you are annoyed with him. The outcry aroused would detain you in the nether world.
v1.185
gir5-gin7 ĝiškim na-an-ni-⌈ib⌉-e3-eš
v1.186
i3 dug3-ga bur-ra na-an-še22-še22-en
v1.187
ir-si-im-bi-še3 ir-sim-zu-še3 nam-mu-e-niĝin2-niĝin2-ne-eš
v1.188
{ĝiš}ilar kur-ra nam-mu-e-sag3-ge
v1.189
lu2 {ĝiš}ilar ra-a nam-mu-[e]-niĝin2-niĝin2-ne-eš
v1.190
{ĝiš}ma-nu šu-za nam-ba-e-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
v1.191
gidim ba-e-de3-ur4-re-eš
v1.192
{kuš}e-sir2 ĝiri3-za nam-mu-e-sig9-ge
v1.193
kur-ra gu3 nam-mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2-an
v1.194
dam ki aĝ2-ĝa2-zu ne na-an-su-ub-be2-en
v1.195
dam ḫul gig-ga-zu niĝ2 nam-mu-ra-ra-an
v1.196
dumu ki aĝ2-zu ne na-an-su-ub-be2-[en]
v1.197
dumu ḫul gig-ga-zu niĝ2 nam-mu-ra-ra-an

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.