“The Epic of Gilgamish”, or the poem “Of the One Who Has Seen Everything” (Akkadian ?a nagba imuru) is one of the oldest surviving literary works in the world, the largest work written in cuneiform, one of the greatest works of literature of the Ancient East. The “Epic” was created in the Akkadian language based on Sumerian legends over a period of one and a half thousand years, starting from the 18th-17th centuries BC. e. Its most complete version was discovered in the mid-19th century during excavations of the cuneiform library of King Ashurbanipal in Nineveh. It was written on 12 six-column tablets in small cuneiform, included about 3 thousand verses and was dated to the 7th century BC. e. Also in the 20th century, fragments of other versions of the epic were found, including in the Hurrian and Hittite languages.
The main characters of the epic are Gilgamesh and Enkidu, about whom separate songs have also survived in the Sumerian language, some of them were created at the end of the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. e. The heroes had the same enemy - Humbaba (Huwava), guarding the sacred cedars. Their exploits are watched over by the gods, who bear Sumerian names in Sumerian songs, and Akkadian names in the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, the Sumerian songs lack the connecting core found by the Akkadian poet. The strength of character of the Akkadian Gilgamesh, the greatness of his soul, lies not in external manifestations, but in his relationship with the man Enkidu. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” is a hymn to friendship, which not only helps to overcome external obstacles, but transforms and ennobles.
Gilgamesh is a real historical person who lived at the end of the 27th - beginning of the 26th century. BC e. Gilgamesh was the ruler of the city of Uruk in Sumer. He began to be considered a deity only after his death. It was said that he was two-thirds god, only one-third man, and reigned for almost 126 years.
At first his name sounded different. The Sumerian version of his name, according to historians, comes from the form “Bilge - mes”, which means “ancestor - hero”.
Strong, brave, decisive, Gilgamesh was distinguished by his enormous height and loved military fun. The inhabitants of Uruk turned to the gods and asked to pacify the militant Gilgamesh. Then the gods created the wild man Enkidu, thinking that he could quench the giant. Enkidu entered into a duel with Gilgamesh, but the heroes quickly found out they were of equal strength. They became friends and accomplished many glorious deeds together.
One day they went to the land of cedar. In this distant country, on the top of a mountain lived the evil giant Huwawa. He caused a lot of harm to people. The heroes defeated the giant and cut off his head. But the gods were angry with them for such insolence and, on the advice of Inanna, sent an amazing bull to Uruk. Inanna had long been very angry with Gilgamesh for remaining indifferent to her, despite all her signs of respect. But Gilgamesh, together with Enkidu, killed the bull, which angered the gods even more. To take revenge on the hero, the gods killed his friend.
Enkidu - This was the most terrible disaster for Gilgamesh. After the death of his friend, Gilgamesh went to find out the secret of immortality from the immortal man Ut-Napishtim. He told the guest about how he survived the Flood. He told him that it was precisely for his persistence in overcoming difficulties that the gods gave him eternal life. The immortal man knew that the gods would not hold a council for Gilgamesh. But, wanting to help the unfortunate hero, he revealed to him the secret of the flower of eternal youth. Gilgamesh managed to find the mysterious flower. And at that moment, when he tried to pick it, a snake grabbed the flower and immediately became a young snake. Gilgamesh, upset, returned to Uruk. But the sight of a prosperous and well-fortified city pleased him. The people of Uruk were glad to see him return.
The legend of Gilgamesh tells of the futility of man's attempts to achieve immortality. A person can become immortal only in the memory of people if they tell about her good deeds and exploits to their children and grandchildren.
source: http://dlib.rsl.ru/viewer/01004969646#?page=1, http://dnevnik-legend.ru, Gumilyov?. S. Gilgamesh. - Pg.: Ed. Grzhebina, 1919
5. THE TALE OF GILGAMESH
The clay tablets on which the earliest recordings of folk tales about Gilgamesh were made date back to the mid-3rd millennium BC. e.
There is reason to believe that Gilgamesh was a real historical figure. His name is preserved in the list of the most ancient kings of Sumer. The real Gilgamesh ruled in the city of Uruk at the end of the 27th - beginning of the 26th century BC. e. Legends call Gilgamesh the son of the Uruk king Lugalbanda and the goddess Ninsun. This statement is not as fantastic as it may seem, since in ancient Sumer there was a custom for a king to enter into a “sacred marriage” with a priestess, who was considered the living embodiment of the goddess she served.
The name "Gilgamesh" supposedly means "ancestor-hero". There are several versions of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The most complete and interesting is the so-called “Nineveh version”, written in Assyrian cuneiform in Akkadian for the Nineveh library of King Ashurbanipal. This recording was made in the 7th century BC. uh... but, according to the copyist, it is an exact copy of an older original. According to tradition, the author of this original is considered to be the Uruk spellcaster Sinlikeunninni, who lived at the end of the 2nd millennium BC. e.
The Nineveh version of the poem about Gilgamesh is called "Of the One Who Has Seen All." This is one of the most remarkable works of ancient Eastern literature. Scattered legends and tales are brought here to a harmonious plot unity, the characters of the heroes are given in psychological development, and the entire narrative is imbued with philosophical reflections on life, death and the meaning of human existence.
At the beginning of the poem, Gilgamesh is a young and frivolous ruler. Not knowing what to do with his strength, he cruelly oppresses his subjects, and he himself indulges in revelry.
The inhabitants of Uruk, driven to despair, prayed to the gods to create a worthy opponent for Gilgamesh.
The goddess Aruru molded from clay a powerful half-man, half-beast named Enkidu. Enkidu was endowed with bestial speed and agility, he had long hair, and his body was covered with fur.
For the time being, Enkidu knew nothing about the human world, he lived in the forest, eating grass, and wild animals considered him theirs.
One day, Gilgamesh had a dream that a heavy stone fell from the sky, to which all the inhabitants of Uruk bowed, and Gilgamesh himself fell in love with it, like a living creature, and brought it to his mother.
Gilgamesh's mother, the wise goddess Ninsun, interpreted the dream this way: Gilgamesh will find a powerful friend whom he will love like a brother.
Soon a hunter came to Gilgamesh with a complaint that a wild man had appeared in the forest, who was scaring the hunters and stealing their prey, filling up the trapping pits and freeing the animals from the snares.
Gilgamesh advised the hunter to lure the wild man out of the forest with the help of a woman.
The hunter hired a beautiful harlot named Shamkhat in the city and went with her to the forest.
The harlot seduced Enkidu and took him to Uruk. There he tasted human food - bread and wine - and thereby joined the world of people, losing his bestial essence.
Enkidu resigned himself - he can’t run like before!
But he became smarter, with deeper understanding.
(Translation by I. Dyakonov)
After some time, Enkidu met Gilgamesh. A fight took place between them, but neither could defeat the other. They recognized that their strengths were equal - and fraternized. Gilgamesh took Enkidu to his mother Ninsun, who blessed them both as her sons.
Despite such a favorable turn of fate, Enkidu “was sad, sat down and cried.” And when Gilgamesh asked him about the reason for such sadness, he answered:
“The screams, my friend, tear my throat:
I sit idle, my strength disappears.”
Then Gilgamesh proposed that the two of them go to the Lebanese mountains, covered with cedar forests, and destroy the monster Humbaba that lives there.
Enkidu was scared. In his former forest life, he approached Humbaba’s dwelling and knew that “the hurricane is his voice, his mouth is flame, death is his breath.” In addition, the god Enlil endowed Humbaba with the ability, at will, to deprive anyone of courage.
Enkidu began to dissuade his friend from a hopeless undertaking. The sages of Uruk joined him. They said to Gilgamesh: “Why did you want to do this? The battle in Humbaba’s dwelling is unequal!” And Gilgamesh’s mother, the wise Ninsun, exclaimed, turning to the sun god:
“Why did you give me Gilgamesh as my son?
And put a restless heart into his chest?
But Gilgamesh had already made his decision. He said to Enkidu:
“I will go before you, and you shout to me:
“Go, don’t be afraid!” If I fall, I will leave my name;
Gilgamesh took on the fierce Humbaba!”
Then Enkidu swore that he would fight alongside Gilgamesh, and the brothers set off on their journey. In three days they traveled six weeks and reached the forest where Humbaba lived.
The monster appeared before them surrounded by “seven lights,” and these magical lights instilled irresistible fear in the heroes. But then the sun god Shamash himself came to the aid of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Courage returned to the heroes, they defeated Humbaba, defeated the seven lights, cut down the magic cedars, which contained the remnants of evil power, and uprooted the stumps.
After hard work, Gilgamesh bathed in a stream, “he was separated from the dirty, he put on the clean,” and the goddess Ishtar noticed his beauty. She descended from the sky and offered herself to Gilgamesh as his wife. But he refused due to the bad reputation of the goddess.
“What glory is given to you?
Let me list who you fornicated with!”
Some historians see in the conflict between Gilgamesh and Ishtar a reflection of the real-life conflict between royal and priestly power.
The offended goddess asked her father, the god Anu, to create a gigantic bull that would destroy the daring Gilgamesh. The bull appeared. But Gilgamesh, with the help of Enkidu, defeated this monster, and the heroes returned to Uruk with glory.
At night, Enkidu saw the Council of the Gods in a dream. The gods were angry because Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed Humbaba, who was under the protection of Enlil, and the bull created by Anu, and argued about whether both heroes should be punished or only one of them. In the end the gods decided.
"Let Enkidu die, But Gilgamesh must not die."
Enkidu told his dream to Gilgamesh - and both of them were saddened. Gilgamesh tried to appease the gods with sacrifices, promised to decorate their idols with gold, but the gods replied: “Do not waste, O king, gold on idols, God will not change the words that are said...” By the will of the gods, Enkidu fell ill and died. Gilgamesh mourned his friend bitterly:
“I cry for Enkidu, my friend,
Like a mourner, I weep bitterly.
My beloved friend has become earth!
Enkidu, my beloved friend, has become earth!”
Gilgamesh summoned the best craftsmen from all over the country and ordered them to make a statue of Enkidu: the body was made of gold, the face was made of alabaster, and the hair was made of lapis lazuli.
Having buried Enkidu with honors, Gilgamesh dressed himself in rags and fled into the desert. He was tormented not only by sadness for his dead friend, but also by the thought of his own mortality, which he only now realized: “And will I not die like Enkidu? Longing has entered my womb, I am afraid of Death and am running into the desert...” Gilgamesh decided to find the wise Utnapishtim, the only immortal among people, and learn from him the secret of immortality.
Gilgamesh walked for many days and finally reached high mountains, the tops of which supported the sky, and the bases went into the underworld. Here the world of people ended and an unknown path began, along which the sun rose into the sky at dawn and went into darkness at sunset.
This path was guarded by scorpion people. They tried to detain Gilgamesh:
"Never, Gilgamesh, has there been a road,
No one has ever walked the mountain route...
The darkness is thick, no light is visible.”
But Gilgamesh replied:
“In heat and cold, in darkness and darkness,
In sighs and tears - I will go forward!
He rushed into the darkness and, having passed through it, came out to the light of another world. He saw a wonderful garden, where the leaves on the trees were made of lapis lazuli, and the fruits were made of carnelian. Behind the garden stretched an endless sea - the Sea of Death, and on its shore, on a steep cliff, lived the mistress of the gods, Siduri.
Having learned that Gilgamesh wants to find immortality, Siduri did not approve of his intentions:
"Gilgamesh! Where are you heading?
You will not find the life you are looking for.
The gods, when they created man,
“Day and night may you be merry,
Celebrate the holiday every day...
Look how the child holds your hand,
Make your friend happy with your hugs -
This is the only thing that a person can do.”
But Gilgamesh refused to return to the human world and continued on his way. Swimming across the dark waters, he appeared before the immortal Utnapishtim, who lived on the other side of the Sea of Death.
Utnapishtim, like Siduri, tells Gilgamesh that the gods determined life and death for man and commanded him to “live for the living.” The wise old man reproaches Gilgamesh for neglecting the duty of a ruler and abandoning his people: “Turn your face, Gilgamesh, towards your people. Why does their ruler wear rags?” Then follows an inserted episode: Utnapishtim tells that during the Great Flood it was he who built the ark, saved his family and a couple of all the animals and birds, preventing life on earth from dying out. For this, the gods awarded him immortality.
The tale of the Great Flood is not connected with the epic of Gilgamesh and was included in the narrative only to emphasize the idea that only for an exceptional feat, unprecedented in the past and impossible in the future, a person could gain immortality, that this is the only case.
Gilgamesh falls into despair:
“What should I do, Unapishtim, where will I go?...
Death dwells in my chambers,
And wherever I look, death is everywhere!”
Wanting to console Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim told him that at the bottom of the Sea of Death there grows a flower that restores youth. The one who gets it, although he will not gain immortality, will still lengthen his life.
Gilgamesh tied two heavy stones to his feet, dived to the bottom of the sea and picked a wonderful flower. With the precious booty, Gilgamesh safely reached the world of men.
He stopped by the lake to wash himself with earthly water, but then a snake crawled out of a hole and stole a wonderful flower. The snake shed its old skin and gained new youth, and Gilgamesh returned to his hometown with nothing.
But when he saw the mighty walls of Uruk, once erected by his order, his soul was filled with pride.
The end of the poem is difficult to interpret, but most researchers are inclined to see here the optimistic idea that the true immortality of a person lies in his deeds accomplished during his life.
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Individual Sumerian tales about Gilgamesh were collected and carefully processed into the Akkadian epic. Three versions of the great epic poem survive. The most ancient is Old Babylonian version from which fragments of five tables have survived - the second, third, fourth, fifth and tenth, famous Meissner tables, kept in the British Museum. They date back to the 18th-17th centuries. BC e., but, apparently, the text dates back to the last third of the 3rd millennium BC. e.
Quite a lot of fragments dating back to the second half of the 2nd millennium BC were also found. e. This later, so-called Peripheral version, was widespread throughout the Middle East. A table from Ur was discovered on the territory of Sumer, telling about Enkidu's illness. In Northern Syria, in Emar, a library of the 13th century was excavated. BC e., containing the fourth and sixth tables of the Peripheral version. A fragment from the 14th century was found in Megiddo (near Haifa). BC e., describing Enkidu's dream and his conversation with Gilgamesh. The Hittite archive from Boğazköy (c. 1400 BC) reveals many fragments of this poem, as well as a translation of the entire Peripheral version into Hittite and Hurrian. During excavations on the territory of the kingdom of Urartu, three fragments of the poem in the Elamite translation, dating back to the 8th century, were discovered. BC e.
The most complete and definitive version of the Epic of Gilgamesh is called Nineveh version named after the city where about ten copies of the poem, consisting of eleven tables, were found in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (VII century BC). It is believed that this version was compiled by the learned “exorcist” Sinlikiunninni, who edited the Old Babylonian version by substituting some words and expressions. At the end of the 8th century. BC e. The Assyrian copyist of the texts, Nabuzukupken, added a twelfth table to the Nineveh version, telling about the adventures of Enkidu in the lower world. It is a literal translation from Sumerian of the second part of the myth “Gilgemesh, Enkidu and the Underworld” and is not compositionally related to the poem, although it continues the theme of the search for immortality.
The poem “About Who Has Seen Everything...” (“The Epic of Gilgamesh”) is published in a translation by I. M. Dyakonov. The text is divided into parts according to clay tablets found during excavations of the library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh. An asterisk (*) marks verses that were absent from the text of Ashurbanipal’s library and restored from other copies of the text.
Table I
Even the future king will not build such a thing, -
Rise and walk the walls of Uruk,
Look at the base, feel the bricks:
Are its bricks burnt?
And weren’t the walls laid by seven sages?
He is greater than all men,
He is two thirds god, one third he is human,
His body image is incomparable in appearance,
He raises the wall of Uruk.
A violent husband, whose head, like that of a tour, is raised,
All his comrades rise to the occasion!
The men of Uruk are afraid in their bedrooms:
“Gilgamesh will not leave his son to his father!
Is it Gilgamesh, the shepherd of fenced Uruk,
Is he the shepherd of the sons of Uruk,
Powerful, glorious, having comprehended everything?
Often the gods heard their complaint,
The gods of heaven called upon the Lord of Uruk:
“You have created a violent son, whose head is raised like that of an aurochs,
Whose weapon in battle has no equal, -
All his comrades rise to the drum,
Gilgamesh will not leave sons to fathers!
Day and night the flesh rages:
Is he the shepherd of fenced Uruk,
Is he the shepherd of the sons of Uruk,
Powerful, glorious, having comprehended everything?
Gilgamesh will not leave the virgin to his mother,
Conceived by a hero, betrothed to a husband!”
Anu often heard their complaint.
They called out to the great Arur:
“Aruru, you created Gilgamesh,
Now create his likeness!
When he equals Gilgamesh in courage,
Let them compete, let Uruk rest.”
Aruru, having heard these speeches,
His whole body is covered with fur,
Like a woman, she wears her hair,
The strands of hair are thick like bread;
I knew neither people nor the world,
He is dressed in clothes like Sumukan.
Man - hunter-hunter
He meets him in front of a watering hole.
The first day, and the second, and the third
He meets him in front of a watering hole.
The hunter saw him and his face changed,
He returned home with his cattle,
He became frightened, fell silent, became numb,
There is sorrow in his chest, his face is darkened,
Longing entered his womb,
His face became like one walking a long way.
The hunter opened his mouth and spoke, he spoke to his father:
“Father, a certain man who came from the mountains, -
His hands are as strong as stone from heaven, -
I'll dig holes and he'll fill them in,
His father opened his mouth and said, he said to the hunter:
“My son, Gilgamesh lives in Uruk,
There is no one stronger than him
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
Go, turn your face to him,
Tell him about the strength of man.
He will give you a harlot - bring her with you.
The woman will defeat him like a mighty husband!
When he feeds the animals at the watering hole,
Seeing her, he will approach her -
The animals that grew up with him in the desert will abandon him!
He obeyed his father's advice,
The hunter went to Gilgamesh,
He set out on his journey, turned his feet to Uruk,
In front of Gilgamesh's face he said a word.
“There is a certain man who came from the mountains,
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
His hands are strong, like stone from heaven!
He wanders forever in all the mountains,
Constantly crowds with animals to the watering hole,
Constantly directs steps towards a watering hole.
I'm afraid of him, I don't dare approach him!
I'll dig holes and he'll fill them in,
I'll set traps - he'll snatch them,
Beasts and creatures of the steppe are taken from my hands, -
He won’t let me work in the steppe!”
Gilgamesh tells him, the hunter:
“Go, my hunter, bring the harlot Shamkhat with you,
When he feeds the animals at the watering hole,
Let her tear off her clothes and reveal her beauty, -
When he sees her, he will approach her -
The animals that grew up with him in the desert will leave him.
The hunter went and took the harlot Shamkhat with him,
We hit the road, we hit the road,
On the third day we reached the agreed upon place.
The hunter and the harlot sat in ambush -
One day, two days they sit at a watering hole.
The animals come and drink at the watering hole,
The creatures come, the heart is gladdened by water,
And he, Enkidu, whose homeland is the mountains,
He eats grass with the gazelles,
Together with the animals he crowds to the watering hole,
Together with the creatures, the heart rejoices with water.
Shamkhat saw a savage man,
A fighter husband from the depths of the steppe:
“Here he is, Shamkhat! Open up your womb
Bare your shame, let your beauty be comprehended!
When he sees you, he will approach you -
Don't be embarrassed, take his breath
Open your clothes and let it fall on you!
Give him pleasure, the work of women, -
The animals that grew up with him in the desert will abandon him,
He will cling to you with passionate desire.”
Shamkhat opened her breasts, exposed her shame,
I wasn’t embarrassed, I accepted his breath,
She opened her clothes and he lay on top,
Gave him pleasure, the work of women,
And he clung to her with passionate desire.
Six days have passed, seven days have passed -
Enkidu tirelessly got to know the harlot.
When I've had enough of affection,
He turned his face to the beast.
Seeing Enkidu, the gazelles ran away,
The steppe animals avoided his body.
Enkidu jumped up, his muscles weakened,
His legs stopped, and his animals left.
Enkidu resigned himself - he can’t run like before!
But he became smarter, with deeper understanding, -
He returned and sat at the feet of the harlot,
He looks the harlot in the face,
And what the harlot says, his ears listen.
The harlot tells him, Enkidu:
“You are beautiful, Enkidu, you are like a god,”
Why are you wandering in the steppe with the beast?
Let me lead you into fenced Uruk,
To the bright house, the dwelling of Anu,
And, like a tour, it shows its power to people!”
She said that these speeches are pleasant to him,
His wise heart is looking for a friend.
Enkidu speaks to her, the harlot:
“Come on, Shamkhat, bring me
To the bright holy house, the dwelling of Anu,
Where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength
And, like a tour, it shows its power to people.
I will call him, I will say proudly,
I will shout in the midst of Uruk: I am mighty,
I alone change destinies,
Whoever was born in the steppe, his strength is great!”
“Come on, Enkidu, turn your face to Uruk,”
Where Gilgamesh goes, I truly know:
Let us go, Enkidu, to fenced Uruk,
Where people are proud of their royal dress,
Every day they celebrate a holiday,
Where the sounds of cymbals and harps are heard,
And the harlots. glorious in beauty:
Full of voluptuousness, - they promise joy -
They take the great ones away from the bed of the night.
Enkidu, you don't know life,
I will show Gilgamesh that I am happy with the lamentations.
Look at him, look at his face -
He is beautiful with courage, masculine strength,
His whole body carries voluptuousness,
He has more power than you,
There is no peace either day or night!
Enkidu, curb your insolence:
Gilgamesh - Shamash loves him,
Anu, Ellil and Ea brought him to his senses.
Before you came here from the mountains,
Gilgamesh saw you in a dream among Uruk.
Gilgamesh stood up and interpreted the dream,
He tells his mother:
“My mother, I saw a dream at night:
The heavenly stars appeared to me in it,
It fell on me like a stone from the sky.
I lifted him up - he was stronger than me,
I shook him, but I can’t shake him off,
The edge of Uruk rose to him,
People crowd towards him,
All the men surrounded him,
All my comrades kissed his feet.
I fell in love with him, just as I fell in love with my wife.
And I brought it to your feet,
You made him equal to me.”
Gilgamesh's mother is wise, she knows everything, she tells her master,
“He who appeared like the stars of heaven,
What fell on you like a stone from the sky -
You raised him - he was stronger than you,
You shook it and you can’t shake it off,
I fell in love with him, like I clung to my wife,
And you brought him to my feet,
I compared him to you -
The strong will come as a companion, a friend's savior,
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
His hands are strong, like stones from heaven, -
You will love him as you will cling to your wife,
He will be a friend, he will not leave you -
This is the interpretation of your dream.”
“My mother, I saw a dream again:
In fenced Uruk the ax fell, and people crowded around:
The edge of Uruk rose to him,
The whole region gathered against him,
People crowd towards him, -
I fell in love with him, like I fell in love with my wife,
And I brought it to your feet,
You made him equal to me.”
Gilgamesh's mother is wise, she knows everything, she tells her son,
Ninsun is wise, she knows everything, she tells Gilgamesh:
“You saw a man in that axe,
You will love him, just as you will cling to your wife,
I will compare him with you -
Strong, I said, a comrade will come, a savior of a Friend.
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
His hands are strong, like stone from heaven!”
Gilgamesh says to her, his mother:
"If. Ellil commanded - let an adviser arise,
Let my friend be my adviser,
Let me be an adviser to my friend!”
This is how he interpreted his dreams.”
She told Enkidu Shamhat the dreams of Gilgamesh, and both began to fall in love.
Table II
|
Chess brought Enkidu to the people, gave her water, food, and clothes, and he began to live with the shepherds, protecting the herds from lions at night. But one day he met Gilgamesh, and everything happened as the wise Ninsun predicted. First the heroes quarreled, fought in battle, and there was no battle like this on earth. They fought for a long time, but could not defeat each other. But, hugging, they became friends. Gilgamesh introduced Enkidu to his mother and called him his brother.
As time passed, Enkidu became more and more sad. Gilgamesh began to ask his new friend about the reasons for his melancholy and he replied that he regretted it when a force as violent and irrepressible as his was wasted uselessly in the city.
Gilgamesh immediately suggested that he start expelling all evil from the earth, and start with the mountains, where an evil monster named Humbaba lives (this is the Akkadian name of the monster, among the Sumerians it sounds like Huwava). Enkidu warns that the forces in this battle will be unequal, mortals cannot defeat Humbaba, but the ruler of Uruk is already excited about the campaign and now he cannot be stopped.
The friends began to prepare for the campaign, the craftsmen cast them weapons, battle axes, daggers and clubs. A council of the men of Uruk gathered and tried to dissuade Gilgamesh, but seeing that it was useless, they gave their blessing. The king prayed to the god Shamash, and they set off.
At the beginning of the table of the Nineveh version there is missing - apart from small fragments with cuneiform writing - about one hundred and thirty-five lines containing an episode that in the Old Babylonian version - the so-called Pennsylvania table- is stated as follows:
* “...Enkidu, get up, I will lead you
* To the temple of Eane, the dwelling of Anu,
* Where Gilgamesh is perfect in deeds.
* And you will love him as much as yourself!
* Get up from the ground, from the shepherd’s bed!”
* Heard her word, perceived her speech,
* Women's advice sank into his heart.
* I tore the fabric and dressed him alone,
* I dressed myself with the second fabric,
* Taking my hand, she led me like a child,
* To the shepherd's camp, to the cattle pens.
* There the shepherds gathered around them,
They whisper, looking at him:
“That man resembles Gilgamesh in appearance,
Shorter in stature, but stronger in bone.
It is true, Enkidu, creature of the steppe,
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
His hands are strong like stone from heaven:
* He sucked animal milk!”
* On the bread that was placed in front of him,
* Confused, he looks and looks:
* Enkidu did not know how to eat bread,
* Was not trained to drink strong drink.
* The harlot opened her mouth and spoke to Enkidu:
* “Eat bread, Enkidu, that is characteristic of life
* Drink strong drink - the world is destined!”
* Enkidu ate his fill of bread,
* He drank seven jugs of strong drink.
* His soul leaped and roamed,
* His heart rejoiced, his face shone.
* He felt his hairy body,
* He anointed himself with oil, became like people,
* I put on clothes and looked like my husband.
* He took weapons and fought with lions -
* The shepherds rested at night.
* He defeated lions and tamed wolves -
* The great shepherds slept:
* Enkidu is their guard, a vigilant husband.
The news was brought to Uruk, fenced off to Gilgamesh:
* Enkidu indulged in fun with the harlot,
* He looked up and saw a man, -
* He says to the harlot:
* “Shamhat, bring the man!
* Why did he come? I want to know his name!”
*Clicked, the harlot of man,
* He came up and saw him.
* “Where are you, O husband, in a hurry? Why is your journey difficult?”
* The man opened his mouth and spoke to Enkidu:
* “I was called into the bridal chamber,
* But the destiny of people is submission to the higher ones!
* Loads the city with baskets of bricks,
* The feeding of the city is entrusted to the laughing people,
* Only to the king of fenced Uruk
* The marriage peace is open,
* Only Gilgamesh, king of the fenced Uruk,
* Marriage peace is open, -
* He has a betrothed wife!
* So it was; I will say: so it will be,
* This is the decision of the Council of Gods,
* By cutting the umbilical cord, that’s how he was judged!”
* At the man’s words, his face turned pale.
About five verses are missing.
* Enkidu walks in front, and Shamhat walks behind,
Enkidu went out onto the street of fenced Uruk:
“Name at least thirty mighty ones, I will fight them!”
He blocked the way to the marriage peace.
The edge of Uruk rose to him,
The whole region gathered against him,
People crowd towards him,
The men gathered around him,
Like weak guys, they kiss his feet:
“From now on, a wonderful hero has appeared to us!”
That night a bed was made for Ishhara,
But a rival appeared to Gilgamesh, like a god:
Enkidu blocked the door to the marriage chamber with his foot,
He did not allow Gilgamesh to enter.
They grabbed at the door of the marriage chamber,
They began to fight in the street, on the wide road, -
The porch collapsed and the wall shook.
* Gilgamesh knelt on the ground,
* He humbled his anger, calmed his heart
* When his heart subsided, Enkidu spoke to Gilgamesh:
* “Your mother gave birth to you alone,
Two lion cubs together are stronger than a lion!”
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
“If you and I went down into the forest,
My body will weaken, my hands will go numb.”
Gilgamesh opened his mouth and said to Enkidu:
“My friend, are we really going to be so pitiful?
We have already crossed so many mountains,
Shall we be afraid of the one who is now in front of us,
Before we chop the cedar?
My friend, you are knowledgeable in battles, battles are familiar to you,
You rubbed yourself with the potion and are not afraid of death,
Let the numbness leave your hands,
Let the weakness leave your body,
Let's hold hands and let's go, my friend!
Let your heart light up with battle!
Forget about death - you will achieve life!
A cautious and undaunted man
Walking ahead, I would have saved myself and saved my comrade, -
They would glorify their name far!”
So they reached the cedar forest,
They stopped their speeches and both stood up.
Table V
The travelers finally reached the cedar forest and began to cut down the trees. Then Humbaba appeared and a battle ensued, the description of which is almost lost. Humbaba was armed with seven deadly rays that burned everything around. However, the god Shamash was on the side of the heroes; he sent them eight winds to help them, which helped them defeat the monster.
Humbaba began to beg for mercy, but Enkidu persuaded his friend to finish him off. They killed Humbaba with three blows and all the cedars groaned, mourning the death of their guardian. The friends also managed to destroy the mysterious deadly rays, so that they stopped burning people. All night Gilgamesh chopped down cedars, and Enkidu uprooted stumps.
We stopped at the edge of the forest,
They see the height of the cedars,
They see the depths of the forests,
Where Humbaba walks, no steps are heard:
The roads are paved and the path is convenient.
They see a mountain of cedar, the dwelling of the gods, the throne of Irnini.
Before the mountain the cedars bear their splendor,
Their tone is good, full of joy,
It's overgrown with thorns, overgrown with bushes,
Cedars are growing, oleanders are growing.
The whole forest is surrounded by ditches,
And another two-thirds are surrounded by ditches.
Next, almost sixty verses are missing. The surviving passages speak of “snatched leaks”, “poisoned iron”, that Humbaba (?) “put on” his terrible ray-robes (?), and the possible “curse of Ellil”.
Enkidu opened his mouth and spoke to Gilgamesh:
“Humbaba [...]
There is only one, he can’t do anything,
We will be strangers here alone,
One cannot climb a steep slope, but two can climb,
A rope twisted three times will not soon break,
Two lion cubs together - a lion is stronger!
Further to the end of Table V the text of the Nineveh Version has not been preserved; judging by a fragment of the Hittite translation of the epic, the heroes began to chop down cedars, but were frightened by the appearance of Humbaba, but Shamash shouted to them from the sky so that they were not afraid, and sent eight winds to their aid, with the help of which the heroes defeated Humbaba, Humbaba began to beg for mercy, but Enkidu advised Gilgamesh not to spare him. In addition, it was also necessary to “kill” Humbaba’s magical “robes-rays” individually. What follows is known only from the Old Babylonian version, in the so-called Bauer fragment.
* Gilgamesh tells him, Enkidu:
* “When we come to kill Humbaba,
* The rays of radiance will disappear in confusion,
* The rays of radiance will disappear, the light will be eclipsed!”
* Enkidu tells him, Gilgamesh:
* “My friend, catch the bird, and the chickens won’t escape!”
* We’ll look for the rays of radiance later,
* Like chickens in the grass, they will scatter.
* Slay yourself, and the servants later.”
* When Gilgamesh heard his comrade’s word, -
* He raised the battle ax with his hand,
* He grabbed his sword from his belt, -
* Gilgamesh struck him (Humbaba) on the back of the head,
* His friend, Enkidu, hit him in the chest;
* On the third blow he fell,
* His violent members froze,
* They struck down the guard, Humbaba, -
* The cedars groaned in two fields around:
* Enkidu killed forests and cedars with him.
* Enkidu defeated the guardian of the forest,
* Whose word Lebanon and Sariah honored,
* Peace embraced the high mountains,
* Peace enveloped the forested peaks.
* He defeated the defenders of the cedar -
* Humbaba's broken rays.
* When he killed all seven of them,
* A battle net and a dagger worth seven talents, -
* A load of eight talents was removed from his body,
Translation from Akkadian by I. M. Dyakonov
Humbaba- Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian analogue of Sumerian Huwavy. Huwawa(acc. Humbaba) - in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, the guardian of evergreen (perhaps therefore immortal) cedars. In the Sumerian epic Gilgamesh and the Land of Life, Huwawa calls Mount Khurrum his father and mother. Perhaps this reflected the acquaintance of the Sumerians with the Hurrians. Huvava was imagined as a multi-legged and multi-armed creature, surrounded by seven magical rays, which are somehow connected with cedars. At the moment the beam is launched, the cedars apparently become vulnerable, they can be cut down and thereby reduce the power of Huwawa.
Shamash(acc. Sun) - the god of the Sun in Akkadian mythology, the son of Sin, the god of the Moon, brother of the goddess Ishtar, his wife Aya, ambassador of Bunene. Shamash was revered as an all-seeing and all-knowing judge of human deeds. It was believed that at night he descends to the lower world, bringing there light, food and drink. His temple in Sippar was called Ebarra. He was considered the patron of divination. Sometimes depicted as an old man in the courtroom. Hammurabi placed the image of Shamash on the stele with the laws.
Fence- here is the same as Uruk.
God Ware- one of the incarnations of the god of thunder and rain Addu.
Egalmakh- Temple of the goddess Ninsun in Uruk.
Ordinary rope is twisted from two cords, so triple twisted rope(or thread) - an image of friendship between two.
Irnina- one of the names of the goddess Ishtar.
Anunnaki- in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, the gods were divided into two groups: igigov And Anunnaki. The essence of this division is not clearly explained anywhere; in different myths the same gods are ranked either as the Igigi or as the Anunnaki. In the Myth of Atrahasis, the Anunnaki occupy a dominant position, and the Igigi are subordinate to them. The god An was considered the father of the Anunnaki, in the Akkadian pantheon of gods - Marduk. The number of Anunnaki according to different texts ranges from 7 to 600, but the most common number is 50 Anunnaki.
Dumuzi(noise. true son, acc. Tammuz) deity in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, known since the time of the list of gods of Fara. His name is also mentioned in the Nippur royal list among the kings of Ur. Dumuzi is the hero of many myths that can be attributed to the cycle “Dumuzi and Inanna” (“Dumuzi and Enkimdu”, “The Descent of Inanna to the Lower World”), where he acts as the consort of the goddess. Also mentioned in the myths "Enki and the World Order". Dumuzi is a dying and resurrecting god, whose cult was very widespread in Mesopotamia and is associated with the seasonality of agricultural work.
Ishullanu- in Akkadian mythology, the gardener of Anu, the father of the goddess Ishtar. For refusing to share love with the goddess, he was turned by her into an animal - either a mole or a spider.
Ereshkigal(noise. mistress of the big land) - in Sumerian-Akkadian mythology, the mistress of the underworld, sister and rival of Inanna (Ishtar). Judging by the myth “Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the Underworld”, Ereshkigal receives the underworld as a “gift”. The power of the goddess is described in detail in the Sumerian myth “The Descent of Inanna into the Underworld” and in the Akkadian text “The Descent of Ishtar”. The Babylonian myth "Nergal and Ereshkigal" says that she had to share her dominion over the underworld with the god Nergal.
Belet-Tseri- Akkadian name of a female scribe of the underworld, corresponding to the Sumerian Geshtinanna. In Akkadian mythology, the wife of the god of nomadic tribes is Martu (Amurru).
Ur-Shanabi- in the Sumerian underworld, a carrier across the river. His wife is the goddess Nanshe.
Epic of Gilgamesh
Epic of Gilgamesh
"ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'VE SEEN"
IN THE WORDS OF SIN-LEKE-UNNINNI,>
CASTER
TABLE 1
About having seen everything to the ends of the world,
About the one who knew the seas, crossed all the mountains,
About conquering enemies together with a friend,
About the one who has comprehended wisdom, about the one who has penetrated everything:
He saw the secret, knew the secret,
He brought us news of the days before the flood,
I went on a long journey, but I was tired and humbled,
The story of the labors was carved in stone,
Uruk1 surrounded with a wall,
The bright barn of Eana2 is sacred. -
Look at the wall, whose crowns, like a thread,
Look at the shaft that knows no likeness,
Touch the thresholds that have been lying since ancient times,
And enter Eana, the dwelling of Ishtar3, -
Even the future king will not build such a thing, -
Rise and walk the walls of Uruk,
Look at the base, feel the bricks:
Are its bricks burnt?
And weren’t the walls laid by seven sages?
He is greater than all men,
He is two thirds god, one third he is human,
His body image is incomparable in appearance,
He raises the wall of Uruk.
A violent husband, whose head, like that of a tour, is raised,
Whose weapon in battle has no equal, -
All his comrades rise to the occasion!4
The men of Uruk are afraid in their bedrooms:
"Gilgamesh will not leave his son to his father!
Day and night it rages in the flesh.
Often the gods heard their complaint,
They called out to the great Arur5:
"Aruru, you created Gilgamesh,
Now create his likeness!
When he equals Gilgamesh in courage,
Let them compete, let Uruk rest."
Aruru, having heard these speeches,
She created the likeness of Anu6 in her heart
Aruru washed her hands,
She plucked off the clay and threw it on the ground,
She sculpted Enkidu, created a hero.
Spawn of midnight, warrior of Ninurta7,
His whole body is covered with fur,
Like a woman, she wears her hair,
The strands of hair are thick like bread;
I knew neither people nor the world,
He is dressed in clothes like Sumukan8.
He eats grass with the gazelles,
Together with the animals he crowds to the watering hole,
Together with the creatures, the heart rejoices with water
Man - hunter-hunter
He meets him in front of a watering hole.
The first day, and the second, and the third
He meets him in front of a watering hole.
The hunter saw him and his face changed,
He returned home with his cattle,
He became frightened, fell silent, became numb,
There is sorrow in his chest, his face is darkened,
Longing entered his womb,
His face became like one walking a long way.
The hunter went to Gilgamesh,
He set out on his journey, turned his feet to Uruk,
In front of Gilgamesh's face he said a word:
"There is a certain man who came from the mountains,
His hands are strong, like stone from heaven!
He wanders forever in all the mountains,
Constantly crowds with animals to the watering hole,
Constantly directs steps towards a watering hole.
I'm afraid of him, I don't dare approach him!
I'll dig holes and he'll fill them in,
I'll set traps - he'll snatch them,
Beasts and creatures of the steppe are taken from my hands, -
He won’t let me work in the steppe!”
Gilgamesh tells him, the hunter:
"Go, my hunter, bring the harlot Shamkhat with you
When he feeds the animals at the watering hole,
Let her tear off her clothes and reveal her beauty, -
When he sees her, he will approach her -
The beasts that grew up with him in the desert will leave him."
Six days have passed, seven days have passed -
Enkidu tirelessly knew the harlot,
When I've had enough of affection,
He turned his face to the beast.
Seeing Enkidu, the gazelles ran away,
The steppe animals avoided his body.
Enkidu jumped up, his muscles weakened,
His legs stopped and his animals left.
Enkidu resigned himself - he can’t run like before!
But he became smarter, with a deeper understanding, -
He returned and sat at the feet of the harlot,
He looks the harlot in the face,
And what the harlot says, ears listen to him.
The harlot tells him, Enkidu:
“You are beautiful, Enkidu, you are like a god,”
Why are you wandering in the steppe with the beast?
Let me lead you into fenced Uruk,
To the bright house, the dwelling of Anu,
Where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength
And, like a tour, it shows its power to people!”
She said that these words are pleasant to him,
His wise heart is looking for a friend.
1. Uruk is a city in the south of Mesopotamia, on the banks of the Euphrates (now Varka). Gilgamesh is a historical figure, the king of Uruk who ruled the city around 2600 BC. e.
2. Eana - the temple of the sky god Anu and his daughter Ishtar, the main temple of Uruk. In Sumer, temples were usually surrounded by outbuildings, where the harvest from the temple estates was kept; these buildings were themselves considered sacred.
3. Ishtar is the goddess of love, fertility, as well as hunting, war, and patroness of culture.
4. “All his comrades rise to the occasion!” This is about calling all able-bodied citizens of Uruk to build walls. The young men of the city do not have the energy and time to communicate with relatives and lovers.
5. Aruru - the most ancient, pre-Sumerian mother goddess, creator of people.
6. “Anu created the likeness in her heart...” Likeness is literally “title”, “word”, “name”.
The name was considered part of the material essence of man and deity.
7. Ninurta - warrior god, son of Ellil, god of air and winds, king of the gods.
8. Sumukan is the patron god of animals. His "clothing" appears to be nakedness (maybe skins).
-----------------
TABLE 2
Heard her word, perceived her speech,
The women's advice sank into his heart.
I tore the fabric and dressed him alone,
I dressed myself with the second cloth,
Taking my hand, she led me like a child,
To the shepherd's camp, to the cattle pens.
There the shepherds gathered around them,
They whisper, looking at him:
"That man resembles Gilgamesh in appearance,
Shorter in stature, but stronger in bone.
It is true, Enkidu, creature of the steppe,
Throughout the country his hand is mighty,
His hands are strong like stone from heaven:
He sucked animal milk!"
On the bread that was placed in front of him,
Confused, he looks and looks:
Enkidu did not know how to eat bread,
I was not trained to drink strong drink.
The harlot opened her mouth and spoke to Enkidu.
"Eat bread, Enkidu, that is characteristic of life,
Drink strong drink—that’s what the world is destined for!”
Enkidu ate his fill of bread,
He drank seven jugs of strong drink.
His soul leaped and roamed,
His heart rejoiced, his face shone.
He felt his hairy body,
He anointed himself with oil, became like people,
I put on clothes and looked like my husband.
Took weapons, fought with lions -
The shepherds rested at night.
He conquered lions and tamed wolves -
The great shepherds slept:
Enkidu is their guard, a vigilant husband...
The news was brought to Uruk, fenced off to Gilgamesh:
That night a bed was made for Ishkhara,
But a rival appeared to Gilgamesh, like a god:
Enkidu blocked the door to the marriage chamber with his foot,
Strong, brave, decisive, Gilgamesh was distinguished by his enormous height and loved military fun. The inhabitants of Uruk turned to the gods and asked to pacify the militant Gilgamesh. Then the gods created the wild man Enkidu, thinking that he could quench the giant. Enkidu entered into a duel with Gilgamesh, but the heroes quickly found out they were of equal strength. They became friends and accomplished many glorious deeds together.
One day they went to the land of cedar. In this distant country, on the top of a mountain lived the evil giant Huwawa. He caused a lot of harm to people. The heroes defeated the giant and cut off his head. But the gods were angry with them for such insolence and, on the advice of Inanna, sent an amazing bull to Uruk. Inanna had long been very angry with Gilgamesh for remaining indifferent to her, despite all her signs of respect. But Gilgamesh, together with Enkidu, killed the bull, which angered the gods even more. To take revenge on the hero, the gods killed his friend.
Enkidu - This was the most terrible disaster for Gilgamesh. After the death of his friend, Gilgamesh went to find out the secret of immortality from the immortal man Ut-Napishtim. He told the guest about how he survived the Flood. He told him that it was precisely for his persistence in overcoming difficulties that the gods gave him eternal life. The immortal man knew that the gods would not hold a council for Gilgamesh. But, wanting to help the unfortunate hero, he revealed to him the secret of the flower of eternal youth. Gilgamesh managed to find the mysterious flower. And at that moment, when he tried to pick it, a snake grabbed the flower and immediately became a young snake. Gilgamesh, upset, returned to Uruk. But the sight of a prosperous and well-fortified city pleased him. The people of Uruk were glad to see him return.
The legend of Gilgamesh tells of the futility of man's attempts to achieve immortality. A person can become immortal only in the memory of people if they tell about her good deeds and exploits to their children and grandchildren.
The epic (from the gr. “Word, narrative, story”) about Gilgamesh was written down on clay tablets for 2500 BC. Five epic songs about Gilgamesh have been preserved, telling about his heroic adventures.