Gilgamesh

by Stephen Mitchell

“Why, dear friend, do you speak like a coward? What you just said is unworthy of you.

Shamash threw strong winds at Humbaba, the south wind, the north wind, the east and the west, storm wind, gale wind, hurricane, tornado, to pin him down and paralyze his steps.

Enlil put me here to terrify men,

you kill me, you will call down the gods’ wrath, and their judgment will be severe.

Establish your fame, so that forever men will speak of brave Gilgamesh, who killed Humbaba in the Cedar Forest.”

“I curse you both. Because you have done this, may Enkidu die, may he die in great pain, may Gilgamesh be inconsolable, may his merciless heart be crushed with grief.”

sliced him open, pulled out his intestines, cut off his head with its knife-sharp teeth

and horrible bloodshot staring eyes. A gentle rain fell onto the mountains. A gentle rain fell onto the mountains.

they went chopping down cedars,

we will float it down the Euphrates to Enlil’s temple in Nippur. No men shall go through it, but only the gods. May Enlil delight in it, may it be a joy to the people of Nippur.”

Gilgamesh carried Humbaba’s head.

The goddess Ishtar caught sight of him, she saw how splendid a man he was, her heart was smitten, her loins caught fire.

“marry me, give me your luscious fruits, be my husband, be my sweet man.

And I will bless everything that you own, your goats will bear triplets, your ewes will twin, your donkeys will be

faster than any mule, your chariot-horses will win every race, your oxen will be the envy of the world. These are the least of the gifts I will shower upon you. Come here. Be my sweet man.”

“Why would I want to be the lover of a broken oven that fails in the cold, a flimsy door that the wind blows through, a palace that falls on its staunchest defenders, a mouse that gnaws through its thin reed shelter, tar that blackens the workman’s hands, a waterskin that is full of holes and leaks all over its bearer, a piece of limestone that crumbles and undermines a solid stone wall, a battering ram that knocks down the rampart of an allied city, a shoe that mangles its owner’s foot?

Tammuz: you loved him when you were both young, then you changed, you sent him to the underworld and doomed him to be wailed for, year after year.

bright-speckled roller bird, then you changed, you attacked him and broke his wings, and he sits in the woods crying Ow-ee! Ow-ee!

lion, matchless in strength, then you changed, you dug seven pits for him, and when he ...

hot-blooded, war-bold stallion, then you changed, you doomed him to whip and spurs, to endlessly gallop, with a bit in his mouth, to muddy his own water when he drinks from a pool, and for his mother, the god...

shepherd, the master of the flocks, who every day would bake bread for you and would bring you a fresh-slaughtered, roasted lamb, then you changed, you touched him, he became a wolf, and now his own shepherd boys ...

gardener Ishullanu, who would bring you baskets of fresh-picked dates, every day, to brighten your table, you lusted for him, you drew close and said, ‘Sweet Ishullanu, let me suck your rod, touch my vagina, caress my jewel,’ and he frowned an...

you offer but the bread of dishonor, the beer of shame, and thin reeds as covers when the cold wind blows?’ But you kept up your sweet-talk and at last he gave in, then you changed, you turned him into ...

“Father, Gilgamesh slandered me! He hurled the worst insults at me, he said horrible, unforgivable things!”

Bull of Heaven, just for a little while. I want to bring it to the earth, I want it to kill that liar Gilgamesh and destroy his palace.

When the Bull snorted, the earth cracked open and a hundred warriors fell in and died.

the earth cracked open and two hundred warriors fell in and died.

third time, the earth cracked open and Enkidu fell in, up to his waist, he jumped out and grabbed the Bull’s horns, it spat its slobber into his face, it li...

After they had killed the Bull of Heaven, they ripped out its heart and they offered it to Shamash.

“Not only did Gilgamesh slander me-now the brute has killed his own punishment, the Bull of Heaven.”

Ishtar assembled her priestesses, those who offer themselves to all men in her honor. They placed the Bull’s gory thigh on the altar, and began a solemn lament.

dedicated to Lugalbanda.

We are the victors who in our fury flung the Bull’s thigh in Ishtar’s face, and now, in the streets, she has no one to avenge her.”

“last night I had a terrifying dream. I dreamed that we had offended the gods, they met in council and Anu said, ‘They have slaughtered the Bull of Heaven and killed Humbaba, watchman of the Cedar Forest. Therefore one of the two must die.’ Then Enlil said to him, ‘Enkidu, not Gilgamesh, is the one who must die.’”

A creature appeared with a lion’s head, his face was ghastly, he had a lion’s paws, an eagle’s talons and wings. He flew at me, he seized me by the hair, I tried to struggle, but with one blow he capsized me like a raft, he leaped upon me, like a bull he trampled my bones.

will pray to the great gods for help, I will pray to Shamash and to your god, to Anu, father of the gods, to Enlil the counselor, and to Ea the wise, I will beg them to show you mercy, then I will have a gold statue made in your image.

“Shamhat, I assign you an eternal fate, I curse you with the ultimate curse, may it seize you instantly, as it leaves my mouth. Never may you have a home and family, never caress a child of your own, may your man prefer younger, prettier girls, may he beat you as a housewife beats a rug, may you never acquire bright alabaster or shining silver, the delight of men, may your roof keep leaking and no carpenter fix it, may wild dogs camp in your bedroom, may owls nest in your attic, may drunkards vomit all over you, may a tavern wall be your place of business, may you be dressed in torn robes and filthy underwear, may angry wives sue you, may thorns and briars make your feet bloody, may young men jeer and the rabble mock you as you walk the streets.

seducing me in the wilderness when I was strong and innocent and free.”

heaven the voice of the god called out: “Enkidu, why are you cursing the priestess Shamhat? Wasn’t it she who gave you fine bread fit for a god and fine beer fit for a king, who clothed you in a glorious robe and gave you splendid Gilgamesh as your intimate friend? He will lay you down

on a bed of honor, he will put you on a royal bier, on his left he will place your statue in the seat of repose, the princes of the earth will kiss its feet, the people of Uruk will mourn you, and when you are gone, he will roam the wilderness with matted hair, in a lion skin.”

“Shamhat, I assign you a different fate, my mouth that cursed you will bless you now. May you be adored by nobles and princes, two miles away from you may your lover tremble with excitement, one mile away may he bite his lip in anticipation, may the warrior long to be naked beside you, may Ishtar give you generous lovers whose treasure chests brim with jewels and gold, may the mother of seven be abandoned for your sake.”

For twelve long days he was deathly sick, he lay in his bed in agony, unable to rest, and every day he grew worse.

beloved brother is dead, I will mourn as long as I breathe,

To the great queen Ishtar his offering was a polished javelin of pure cedar. “Let Ishtar accept this, let her welcome my friend and walk at his side in the underworld, so that Enkidu may not be sick at heart.”

“Let Sîn accept this, let him welcome my friend and walk at his side in the underworld, so that Enkidu may not be sick at heart.”

Ereshkigal, the dark queen of the dead, he offered a lapis lazuli flask. “Let the queen accept this, let her welcome my friend and walk at his side in the underwor...

Tammuz, the shepherd beloved by Ishtar, his offering was ...

Namtar, vizier of the dark gods, a lapis lazuli c...

Hushbishag, handmaid of the...

a golden necklace; to Qassa-tabat, the in...