The Epic of Gilgamesh
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Selection or partial work
- Authorship:
- Anonymous or composite
- Condition of the text:
- Some scanning errors (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand) · 1 illegible passage, excluded from answers
- Extent:
- ~6,950 words · 33 passages
Cite this work
- APAGilgamesh. (n.d.). The Epic of Gilgamesh. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/gilgamesh/the-epic-of-gilgamesh
- MLAGilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/gilgamesh/the-epic-of-gilgamesh.
- ChicagoGilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/gilgamesh/the-epic-of-gilgamesh.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
The Epic of Gilgamesh: the oldest poem that survives.
Context and history
Cuneiform tablets four thousand years old, found in 1853 in Ashurbanipal's library and deciphered by the engraver George Smith, who ran round the room on reading the flood story. Gilgamesh seeks immortality, does not find it, and goes home. **Warning: the text reaches us incomplete**, with gaps where tablets are lost.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
COL. II that he may join with thee in endeavor." (Thus) Gilgamish solves (his) dream. Enkidu sitting before the hierodule [ ] forgot where he was born. Six days and seven nights came forth Enkidu and cohabited with the courtesan. The hierodule opened her mouth speaking unto Enkidu. "I behold thee Enkidu; like a god thou art. Why with the animals wanderest thou on the plain? Come! I will lead thee into the midst of Erech of the wide places, even unto the holy house, dwelling place of Anu. Oh Enkidu, arise, I will conduct thee unto Eanna dwelling place of Anu, where Gilgamish [_oppresses_] the souls of men(?) And as I ............ thou shalt ........ thyself. Come thou, arise from the ground unto the place yonder (?) of the shepherd." He heard her speak and accepted her words with favor. The advice of the woman fell upon his heart. She tore off one garment and clothed him with it. With a second garment she clothed herself. She clasped his hand, guiding him like .............. unto the mighty presence of the shepherd, unto the place of the ... of the sheepfolds. In ......... to shepherd ............................. (About two lines broken away.) COL. III (About two lines broken away.) COL. III Milk of the cattle he drank. Food they placed before him. He broke bread [58] gazing and looking. But Enkidu understood not. Bread to eat, beer to drink, he had not been taught. The hierodule opened her mouth and said unto Enkidu:-- "Eat bread, oh Enkidu! It is the conformity of life, of the conditions and the fate of the land." Enkidu ate bread, until he was satiated. Beer he drank seven _times_(?). His thoughts became unbounded and he shouted loudly. His heart became joyful, and his face glowed. He stroked.................…
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