The history of the Tummal

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En-me-barage-si, the king, built the Iri-nanam in Enlil's temple. Aga, son of En-me-barage-si, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for the first time.

Mes-ane-pada built the Burcucua in Enlil's temple. Mes-ki-aj-nuna, son of Mes-ane-pada, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a second time.

Gilgamec built the Numunbura in Enlil's temple. Ur-lugal, son of Gilgamec, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a third time.

Nanni built the Lofty Garden in Enlil's temple. Mes-ki-aj- Nanna, son of Nanni, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a fourth time.

Ur- Namma, built the E-kur. Culgi, son of Ur- Namma, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a fifth time.

From the years of Amar- Suen (1 ms. has instead: Cu- Suen) until king Ibbi- Suen chose En-am-gal-ana (1. ms. has instead: En-me-gal-ana) by extispicy as the high priest of Inana of Unug, Ninlil came regularly to the Tummal.

Written according to the words of Lu-Inana the chief leatherworker of Enlil.

Icbi- Erra, who looks after the E-kur, built the E-cutum of Enlil.

The heron and the turtle

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SEGMENT A

What do they say in the reed-beds whose growth is good? In the wide reed-beds of Tutub, whose growth is good? In the marshes of Kiritaba, whose growth is good? In the adara thickets of Akcak, whose growth is good? In Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons, whose growth is good? In the smaller lagoon, Enki's lagoon, whose growth is good? In Enki's barbar reeds, whose growth is good? In the little zi reeds of Urim, whose growth is good? In Urim, where cows and calves abound, whose growth is good?

At that time, the water was drained away from the reeds ......, and they were visible at the sheepfold. The actaltal plant, spreading its seeds from the reed-beds, and the little kumul plants came out of the earth: they are good as little ones. The small enbar reed grooms her hair: it is good as a young maiden. The ubzal reed goes about the city: it is good as a young man. The pela reed is covered from bottom to top: it is a good daughter-in-law. The pela reed turns from bottom to top: it is a good young son. The gacam reed digs in the ground: it is good as an old man. The zi reed ...... on its own: it is good as an old woman. The reed-bed lifts its head beautifully: it is a good Gudea. The ildag tree lifts its head in the irrigation ditch: it is good as a king. ...... with bright branches: it is a good prince.

On that day, beside the reed-beds, someone sitting on the bank prays: "Let me snatch away the heron's eggs, let me take them away ......, so that the gift-bringing bird will not be able to make a gift, so that the gift-bringing heron will not be able make a gift!

It catches fish; it collects eggs and crushes them. It crushes the suhur carp in the honey plants. It crushes the ectub carp in the little zi reeds. It crushes toads in the ligiligi grass. It crushes fish spawn, its offspring, its family. It strikes heron's eggs and smashes them in the sea.

The gift-giving bird made a plea; the heron entered the house of king Enki and spoke to him: "Give me ...... a wide-open place to lay my eggs in." He gave her ......, and did ...... for her. ...... is indeed ......

1 line fragmentary

She laid eggs in the ....... She laid eggs in the wide reed-beds of Tutub. She laid eggs in the marshes of Kiritaba. She laid eggs in the adara thickets of Akcak. She laid eggs in Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. She laid eggs in the smaller lagoon, the lagoon of Eridug. She laid eggs in Enki's barbar reeds. She laid eggs in the little zi reeds of Urim. She laid eggs in Urim, where cows and calves abound.

Then the quarrelsome turtle, he of the troublesome way, said: "I am going to pick a quarrel with the heron, the heron! I, the turtle, am going to pick a quarrel with the heron! I, whose eyes are snake's eyes, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose mouth is a snake's mouth, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose tongue is a snake's tongue, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose bite is a puppy's bite, am going to pick a quarrel! With my slender hands and slender feet, I am going to pick a quarrel! I, the turtle -- an oven brick -- am going to pick a quarrel! I, who live in the vegetable gardens, am going to pick a quarrel! I, who like a digging tool spend my time in the mud, am going to pick a quarrel! I, an unwashed refuse-basket, am going to pick a quarrel!"

The turtle, the trapper of birds, the setter of nets, overthrew the heron's construction of reeds for her, turned her nest upside down, and tipped her children into the water. The turtle scratched the dark-eyed bird's forehead with its claws, so that her breast was covered in blood from it. (1 ms. adds the line: ...... in the dust.)

The heron cried out and grew pale: "If I, a bird, ...... my empty nest and ...... 1 ms. adds: I, a heron, ......; I shall take my case up to my king, ......). Let my king judge my case, and give me a verdict! Let Enki judge my case, and give me a verdict! May the lord of Eridug ...... my claim."

A second time, may the gift-bringing bird not be able to make a gift, may the gift-bringing heron not be able to make a gift! It (the turtle) catches fish; it collects eggs and crushes them. It crushes the suhur carp in the honey plants (1 ms. has instead: reed-beds). It crushes the ectub carp in the little zi reeds. It crushes toads in the ligiligi grass. It crushes fish spawn, its offspring, its family.

It dug in the ground, ...... its head upwards....... (1 ms. has instead: The heron ......, .......) She (the heron) 1 ms. adds: entered the house and) cried out to king Enki: "My king, you gave me the wide reed-beds, and I laid eggs there. I laid eggs in the wide reed-beds of Tutub. I laid eggs in the the marshes of Kiritaba. I laid eggs in the adara thickets of Akcak. I laid eggs in Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. I laid eggs in the smaller lagoon, the lagoon of Eridug. I laid eggs in Enki's barbar reeds. I laid eggs in the little zi reeds of Urim. I laid eggs in Urim, where cows and calves abound.

"Then the quarrelsome turtle, he of the troublesome way, he whose eyes are snake's eyes, he of the troublesome way, he whose mouth is a snake's mouth, he of the troublesome way, he whose tongue is a snake's tongue, he of the troublesome way, he whose bite is a puppy's bite, he of the troublesome way, he with the slender hands and slender feet, the turtle -- an oven brick -- he of the troublesome way, he who lives in the vegetable gardens, he of the troublesome way, he who like a digging tool spends his time in the mud, he of the troublesome way, an unwashed refuse-basket, he of the troublesome way, the turtle, the trapper of birds, the setter of nets, overthrew my heron's construction of reeds.

"He turned my nest upside down, and tipped my children into the water. The turtle scratched my forehead -- me, the dark-eyed bird -- with its claws, so that my breast was covered with my blood 1 ms. adds: ...... in the water)."

The prince called to his minister, Isimud: "My minister, Isimud, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "I stand at Enki's service! What is your wish?" "First ...... is filtered on the left (?) side, then a copper box is made, so that ...... is covered. Then you tie ......, and you tie the top with string ......; then you ...... with a piece of dough, and you irrigate the outer enclosure (?); and you put ...... (?) Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. Then let him sit ......

1 line missing

1 line fragmentary

Isimud ...... paid attention. First he filtered ...... holy water, then he made a copper box and covered ....... Then he tied the top with string ......; then he ...... with a piece of dough, and he irrigated the outer enclosure (?); and he ...... (?) Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. ( Enki speaks:) "Then I, the prince, will make ...... stand ......."

The turtle called to the prince: "You are a prince! She ....... ...... from fire. I am not a god; ......

1 line fragmentary

King Enki ....... You are a prince! She ....... My heart ....... You are a prince! She ...... your word. My little one destroyed a wall ......; she ....... You are a prince! You are ....... ...... brickwork.

16 lines missing

Your flax (?) is single

1 line unclear

Your ...... is single; ....... ...... the hero ....... Your seed is single ....... ...... a tall tree. My strong copper ....... ...... good semen ......

Then, on the ziggurat ....... King Enki was ...... on the ziggurat. The great brickwork of the ziggurat ...... the abzu; the brickwork of the abzu ....... He took dirt from his fingernail and created the dimgi vegetable. He made the dimgi ...... in the ground. Your flax came out of the earth ....... He watered the little ones with his hand; he watered the big ones with his foot. The flax grew large. After the flax had grown tall, after he had bound (?) it ......

1 line fragmentary

6 lines missing

The king .......

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1 line missing

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They seized ...... for him. They ...... for him. They confronted (?) ...... in the desert.

1 line unclear

......, they laid out the hunting net. ...... did not catch; he caught in (?) the hunting net, ...... did not catch; he spread out the hunting net.

5 lines fragmentary

...... of Enki

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May you be ......; may you be ......; may you be ......; may you be ......

unknown no. of lines missing

SEGMENT B

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...... of Enki. ...... did not catch; ...... the hunting net. The turtle ....... Enki ...... something from his fingernail. Its inside is five ......; its exterior is ten ....... A crevice ......

unknown no. of lines missing

Gilgamesh and Huwawa,

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version A

Now the lord once decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives; lord Gilgamec decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives. He spoke to his slave Enkidu:

" Enkidu, since a man cannot pass beyond the final end of life, I want to set off into the mountains, to establish my renown there. Where renown can be established there, I will establish my renown; and where no renown can be established there, I shall establish the renown of the gods."

His slave Enkidu answered him: "My lord, if today you want to set off into the mountains, Utu should know about it from us. (1 ms. adds: If you want to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling, Utu should know about it from us.) Utu, youthful Utu, should know about it from us. A decision that concerns the mountains is Utu's business. A decision that concerns the Mountains of Cedar-felling is the business of youthful Utu. Utu should know about it from us."

Gilgamec prepared (2 mss. have instead: took hold of) a white kid. He clasped a brown kid, a sacrificial animal, close to his breast. (1 ms. has instead: He ...... a brown kid.) In his hand he held a holy staff before his nose, as he addressed Utu of heaven:

" Utu, I want to set off into the mountains! May you be my helper! I want to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling! May you be my helper!"

From heaven Utu replied to him: "Young man, you are noble already in your own right -- but what would you want with the mountains?"

" Utu, I have something to say to you -- a word in your ear! I greet you -- please pay attention! In my city people are dying, and hearts are full of distress. People are lost -- that fills me with (1 ms. adds wretched) dismay. I craned my neck over the city wall: corpses in the water make the river almost overflow. That is what I see. That will happen to me too -- that is the way things go. No one is tall enough to reach heaven; no one can reach wide enough to stretch over the mountains. Since a man cannot pass beyond the final end of life, I want to set off into the mountains, to establish my renown there. Where renown can be established there, I will establish my renown; and where no renown can be established there, I shall establish the renown of the gods."

Utu accepted his tears as a fitting gift. As befits a compassionate person, he turned to him full of compassion: "Now there are seven warriors, sons of a single mother. The first, their eldest brother, has lion's paws and eagle's talons. The second is a ...... snake, ....... The third is a dragon snake, ....... The fourth blazes with fire ....... The fifth is a ...... snake, ....... The sixth (1 ms. adds: , a shackle that ...... the rebel lands in the hills,) beats at the flanks of the mountains like a battering flood (1 ms. has instead: , floodwater that destroys all). The seventh ...... flashes like lightning, and no one can deflect it (1 ms. has instead: its power).

(1 ms. adds 4 lines: 4 lines fragmentary)
(another ms. adds instead 6 lines:

2 lines fragmentary

...... kingship ....... Nisaba has bestowed ...... on you in addition. They ......, and know the routes on earth. They will help you find the ...... of the way.) They should guide you through the mountain valleys! The warrior, youthful Utu, gave these seven to Gilgamec. (3 mss. have instead the line, placed after line 43: These seven the warrior, youthful Utu, gave to lord Gilgamec.) The feller of cedars was filled with joy; lord Gilgamec was filled with joy.

In his city he had the horn sounded for single men; similarly for two together he made them call out. "Let him who has a household go to his household! Let him who has a mother go to his mother! Let bachelor males, types like me, (4 mss. add: -- fifty of them --) join me at my side!"

Whoever had a household went to his household. Whoever had a mother went to his mother. Bachelor males, types like him -- there were fifty -- joined him at his side. He made his way to the blacksmith's, and had them cast ...... weapons and axes, the strength of warriors. Then he made his way to the deeply shaded plantations, where he had ebony trees felled, and halub trees, apricot trees, and box trees. He ...... to his fellow-citizens who were going with him. (1 ms. adds: Warriors, sons of a single mother .......) The first, their eldest brother, has lion's paws and eagle's claws. They will guide him through the mountain valleys.

He crossed the first mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there (1 ms. has instead: the cedars did not catch his attention). (The same ms. adds: He crossed the second mountain range, but the cedars did not catch his attention. He crossed the third mountain range, but the cedars did not catch his attention. He crossed the fourth mountain range, but the cedars did not catch his attention. He crossed the fifth mountain range, but the cedars did not catch his attention. He crossed the sixth mountain range, but the cedars did not catch his attention.)

(Another ms. adds instead: unknown no. of lines missing.

He crossed the third mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the fourth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the fifth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the sixth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there.)

When he had crossed the seventh mountain range, there his intuition led him to find the cedars. He did not need to ask, nor did he have to search any further. Lord Gilgamec began to chop at the cedars, while Enkidu lopped off their branches, ...... to Gilgamec. (1 ms. has instead: while Enkidu ...... their branches, and his fellow-citizens .......) (1 ms. adds: to ......, Enkidu .......) ...... stacked them in piles. (1 ms. adds: Huwawa .......) He loosed his terrors against ....... (instead of lines 65-67, 1 ms. has instead: while Enkidu cut up the timbers, and the widows' sons who had come with him heaped them up in piles. Since, because of the ......, Huwawa had been scared in his lair by Gilgamec, he began to radiate his terrors .......)

Gilgamec ...... was overcome by sleep, and it affected Enkidu ...... as a powerful longing. His fellow-citizens who had come with him flailed around at his feet like puppies. Enkidu awoke from his dream, shuddering from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes; there was eery silence everywhere. He touched Gilgamec, but could not rouse him. He spoke to him, but he did not reply.

"You who have gone to sleep, you who have gone to sleep! Gilgamec, young lord of Kulaba, how long will you sleep for? The mountains are becoming indistinct as the shadows fall across them; the evening twilight lies over them. Proud Utu is already on his way to the bosom of his mother Ningal. Gilgamec, how long will you sleep for? The sons of your city who came with you should not have to wait at the foot of the hills. Their own mothers should not have to twine string in the square of your city."

He thrust that into his right ear; he covered him with his aggressive words as if with a cloth (1 ms. adds: , laid them out like linen). He gathered (3 mss. have instead: picked up) in his hand a cloth with thirty shekels of oil on it and smothered (1 ms. has instead: rubbed) it over Gilgamec's chest. Then Gilgamec stood up like a bull on the great earth. Bending his neck downwards, he yelled at him:

"By the life of my own mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! Am I to become again as if I were slumbering still on the lap of my own mother Ninsun?"

A second time he spoke to him: "By the life of my own mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! Until I discover whether that person was a human or a god, I shall not direct back to the city my steps which I have directed to the mountains."

The slave, trying to ameliorate the situation, trying to make life appear more attractive, answered his master:

"My master, you have not yet really seen that person, he should not vex you. -- But he vexes me -- me, who have seen him before. His pugnacious mouth is a dragon's maw; his face is a lion's grimace. His chest is like a raging flood; no one dare approach (1 ms. has instead: can escape from) his brow, which devours the reed-beds. (2 mss. adds 1 line: A man-eating lion, he never wipes away the blood from his slaver.)

(1 ms. adds instead 5 lines: 1 line fragmentary

...... a lion eating a corpse, he never wipes away the blood

3 lines fragmentary)

Travel on, my master, up into the mountains! -- but I shall travel back to the city. If I say to your mother about you "He is alive!", she will laugh. But afterwards I shall say to her about you "He is dead!", and she will certainly weep over you (1 ms. has instead: bitterly)." (1 ms. adds: ...... replied to ......:)

"Look, Enkidu, two people together will not perish! A grappling-pole does not sink! No one can cut through a three-ply cloth! Water cannot wash someone away from a wall! Fire in a reed house cannot be extinguished! You help me, and I will help you -- what can anyone do against us then? When it sank, when it sank, when the Magan boat sank, when the magilum barge sank, then at least the life-saving grappling-pole of the boat was rescued (1 ms. has instead: was not allowed to sink)! Come on, let's get after him and get a sight of him!

"If we go after him, there will be terror! There will be terror. Turn back! Is it advisable? Is it advisable? Turn back!"

"Whatever you may think -- come on, let's get after him!

Before a man can approach within even sixty times six yards, Huwawa has already reached his house among the cedars. When he looks at someone, it is the look of death. When he shakes his head at someone, it is a gesture full of reproach. (1 ms. adds: When he speaks to someone, he certainly does not prolong his words:) "You may still be a young man, but you will never again return to the city of your mother who bore you!"

Fear and terror spread through his (1 ms. has instead: Gilgamec's) sinews and his feet. He could not move (?) his feet on the ground; the big toenails of his feet stuck ...... to the path (?). At his side .......

( Huwawa addressed Gilgamec:) "So come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Your mother knew well how to bear sons, and your nurse knew well how to nourish children on the breast! Don't be afraid, rest your hand on the ground!

Gilgamec rested his hand on the ground, and addressed Huwawa: "By the life of my own mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought you En-me-barage-si, my big sister, to be your wife in the mountains."

And again he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought you Ma-tur, my little sister, to be your concubine in the mountains. Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman!"

Then Huwawa handed over to him his first terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.

(Several mss. preserve a more elaborate, but repetitive, narrative built on the pattern of lines 145-148. Some preserve the repetitions in an extremely abbreviated form. No ms. known to be from Nippur preserves the additional lines. One ms. of unknown origin adds at least 53 lines (and another fragmentary ms. of unknown origin gives an abbreviated version of these, always replacing 'terror' by 'aura'):

And again he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought to the mountains for you ....... Couldn't I get close to you and your family? Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman! "Then Huwawa handed over to him his second terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.

And a third time he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought to the mountains for you some eca flour -- the food of the gods! -- and a water skin of cool water. Couldn't I get close to you and your family? Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman! " Then Huwawa handed over to him his third terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.

And a fourth time he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought to the mountains for you some big shoes for big feet. Couldn't I get close to you and your family? Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman! " Then Huwawa handed over to him his fourth terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.

And a fifth time he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought to the mountains for you some tiny shoes for your tiny feet. Couldn't I get close to you and your family? Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman! " Then Huwawa handed over to him his fifth terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.

And a sixth time he addressed him: "By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! No one really knows where in the mountains you live; they would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, I have brought you rock-crystal, nir stone and lapis lazuli -- from the mountains. Couldn't I get close to you and your family? Just hand over your terrors to me! I want to become your kinsman! " Then Huwawa handed over to him his sixth terror. Gilgamec's fellow-citizens who had come with him began to lop off the branches and bundle them together, so as to lay them down at the foot of the hills.)

When Huwawa had finally handed over to him his seventh terror, Gilgamec found himself beside Huwawa. He went up to him gradually (1 ms. has instead: ......) from behind, as one does with a ...... snake. He made as if to kiss him, but then punched him on the cheek with his fist.

Huwawa bared his teeth at him (1 ms. adds: , furrowing his brows at him). (2 mss. from Ur add 8 lines: Huwawa addressed Gilgamec: "Hero, ...... to act falsely!" The two of them ...... on him ....... ...... the warrior from his dwelling. ...... said to him, "Sit down!" ...... Huwawa from his dwelling. ...... said to him, "Sit down!" The warrior sat down and began to weep, shedding tears. Huwawa sat down and began to weep, shedding tears. Huwawa ...... plea ...... to Gilgamec.) (instead of ll. 152A-152H, 2 other mss. add 2 lines:) He threw a halter over him as over a captured wild bull. He tied up his arms like a captured man.) (one of the mss. adds 1 further line: Huwawa wept, .......)

He tugged at Gilgamec's hand. (4 mss. have instead: " Gilgamec, let me go!") "I want to talk to Utu! "" Utu, I never knew a mother who bore me, nor a father who brought me up! I was born in the mountains -- you brought me up! Yet Gilgamec swore to me by heaven, by earth, and by the mountains."

Huwawa clutched at Gilgamec's hand, and prostrated himself before him. Then Gilgamec's noble heart took pity on him. Gilgamec addressed Enkidu (3 mss. have instead: He addressed his slave Enkidu):

" Enkidu, let the captured bird run away home! Let the captured man return to his mother's embrace!

Enkidu replied to Gilgamec (2 mss. have instead: His slave Enkidu replied): "Come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Young lord Gilgamec, cherished in Unug, your mother knew well how to bear sons, and your nurse knew well how to nourish children! -- One so exalted and yet so lacking in understanding (1 ms. has instead: judgment) will be devoured by fate without him ever understanding that fate. The very idea that a captured bird should run away home, or a captured man should return to his mother's embrace! -- Then you yourself would never get back to the mother-city that bore you! (1 ms. adds: A captured warrior set free! A captured high priestess ...... to the jipar! A captured gudu priest restored to his wig of hair! ...... ever, ever ......?

2 lines fragmentary

...... his attention to his words .......)

Huwawa addressed Enkidu: " Enkidu, you speak such hateful you speak such hateful words to him. (2 mss. have instead: why do you speak such hateful words to him?)"

(1 ms. adds: 2 lines fragmentary)

As Huwawa spoke thus to him, Enkidu, full of rage and anger, cut his throat (2 mss. from Nippur have instead: they cut his throat). He put (1 ms. has instead:) He chucked (the same 2 mss. from Nippur have instead: They put) his head in a leather bag.

They entered before Enlil. After they had kissed the ground before Enlil, they threw the leather bag down, tipped out his head, and placed it before Enlil. When Enlil saw the head of Huwawa, he spoke angrily to Gilgamec: (instead of lines 181-186, 1 ms. has: They brought it before Enlil and Ninlil. When Enlil approached (?), ...... went out the window (?), and Ninlil went out ....... When Enlil with Ninlil had returned (?),)

"Why did you act in this way? ...... did you act ......? (1 ms. has instead: Was it commanded that his name should be wiped from the earth?) He should have sat before you! (1 ms. has instead: He should have sat ......, .......) He should have eaten the bread that you eat, and should have drunk the water that you drink! He should have been honoured ...... you! (1 ms. has instead: Huwawa -- he ...... honoured!)" (1 other ms. has instead: From his seat, Enlil assigned Huwawa's heavenly auras to .......)

(the ms. tradition for lines 193-199 is extremely confused about the order in which the various auras are assigned; the following sequence is a compromise:) He gave Huwawa's first aura to the fields. He gave his second aura to the rivers. He gave his third aura to the reed-beds. He gave his fourth aura to the lions. He gave his fifth aura to the palace (1 ms. has instead: debt slaves) . He gave his sixth aura to the forests (1 ms. has instead: the hills). He gave his seventh aura to Nungal (the goddess of prisoners) .

...... his terror ...... (1 ms. or possibly 2 mss. have instead: ...... the rest of the auras ...... Gilgamec .......)

Mighty one, Gilgamec, who is cherished! (1 ms. has instead: be praised! Enkidu, be praised!) Nisaba, be praised! (instead of lines 201-202, 1 ms. has: Huwawa, ......! ...... cherished, ......! Enkidu, be praised ......!)

Version B

"So come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Young lord Gilgamec, cherished in Unug!"

"In Unug people are dying, and souls are full of distress. People are lost -- that fills me with dismay. I lean out over the city wall: bodies in the water make the river almost overflow. That is what I see: that people die thus, which fills me with despair; that the end of life is unavoidable; that the grave, the all-powerful underworld, will spare no one; that no one is tall enough to block off the underworld; that no one is broad enough to cover over the underworld -- the boundary that a man cannot cross at the final end of life. By the life of my own mother Ninsun, and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud,

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I will complete ...... there. I will bring ...... there."

His slave Enkidu answered him: "...... if you want to set off into the mountains, Utu should know about it from you. If you want to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling, Utu should know about it from you. A decision that concerns the mountains is Utu's business. A decision that concerns the Mountains of Cedar-felling is the business of youthful Utu."

Utu of heaven put on his lapis-lazuli diadem and came forward with head high. In his hand Gilgamec, the lord of Kulaba, held a holy staff before his nose: " Utu, I want to set off into the mountains! May you be my helper! I want to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling! May you be my helper!"

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"The first ....... The second ....... The third ....... The fourth ....... The fifth ....... The sixth beats at the flanks of the mountains like a battering flood. The seventh flashes like lightning, and no one can deflect its power. These shine in the heavens, but they know the routes on earth. In heaven they shine ......, raising ......; on earth they know the way even to Aratta. They know the passes as the merchants do. They know the mountains crannies like the pigeons. They will guide you through the mountain valleys."

Gilgamec organised a levy in his city. In ...... Kulaba he had the horn sounded. "Citizens! You who have a wife, go to your wife! You who have children, go to your children! Warriors, whether experienced or inexperienced, who have no wife, who have no children -- let such people join me at my side as the companions of Gilgamec."

The king left the city. Gilgamec left Kulaba, to follow the route to the Mountains of Cedar-felling. He crossed the first mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the second mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the third mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the fourth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the fifth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. He crossed the sixth mountain range, but his intuition did not lead him to find the cedars there. When he had crossed the seventh mountain range, there his intuition led him to find the cedars.

Gilgamec began to chop at the cedars. His slave Enkidu worked on the branches for him. His fellow-citizens who had come with him stacked them in piles.

Then, as one warrior got closer to the other, the aura of Huwawa ...... sped towards them like a spear (?). ...... he rested there peacefully. He was asleep (?) .......

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...... addressed (?) ......: "You who have gone to sleep, you who have gone to sleep ......! Young lord Gilgamec, how long will you sleep for? The mountains are becoming indistinct as the shadows fall across them; the evening ......."

Gilgamec awoke from his dream, shuddering from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes; there was eery silence everywhere. "By the life of my own mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud ......!

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"I ......, he vexes (?) me -- the warrior whose face is a lion's grimace, and whose breast is like a raging flood. No one dare approach his brow, which devours the reed-beds. On his tongue, like that of a man-eating lion, the blood never dries. You do not have enough strength for the warrior, such is his might.

His slave Enkidu addressed him:

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"By the life of my own mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud ......! Warrior, one would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here! they have made some tiny shoes for your tiny feet. Here! they have made some big shoes for your big feet.

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If you bring .......

"By the life of my mother Ninsun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud ......! Warrior, one would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here! they have made some tiny shoes for your tiny feet. Here! they have made some big shoes for your big feet.

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They ...... many piles on the hillside.

When Huwawa had finally handed over to him his seventh aura, Gilgamec found himself beside Huwawa. He punched him on the ear with his fist. Huwawa furrowed his brows at him, baring his teeth at him. Gilgamec threw a halter over him, as over a captured wild bull. He tied him up by the elbows like a captured warrior.

The warrior began to weep, shedding tears. Huwawa began to weep, shedding tears.

"Warrior, you lied! You have manhandled me; yet you had sworn an oath, by the life of your own mother Ninsun and of your father, holy Lugalbanda. Your personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud ......! And now you have thrown a halter over me as if over a captured wild bull, and have tied me up by the elbows like a captured warrior!"

...... Gilgamec's noble heart took pity on him. He addressed his slave Enkidu: "Come on, let us set the warrior free! He could be our guide! He could be our guide who would spy out the pitfalls of the route for us! He could be my ......! He could carry all my things!

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His slave Enkidu replied to him (1 ms. has instead: ...... replied to Gilgamec): "...... so lacking in understanding! ...... with no ......! ...... with not ......! A captured warrior set free! A captured high priestess returned to the jipar! A captured gudu priest restored to his wig of hair! Who has ever, ever seen such a thing? He would be able to ...... the mountain routes. He would be able to mix up the mountain paths. Then we would never get back to the mother-city that bore us!

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Huwawa replied to him: "The mother who bore me was a cave in the mountains. The father who engendered me was a cave in the hills. Utu left me to live all alone in the mountains!"

Gilgamec addressed Huwawa: "Come on, ......."

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Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSL Home Page

Version A, from Nibru, Urim, and elsewhere

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 Erec-kigala 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.

At that time, there was a single tree, a single halub 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.

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, ten 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!

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 Erec-kigala 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.

"At that time, there was a single tree, a single halub 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.

"I, the woman, planted the tree with my feet, but not with my hands. I, Inana (1 ms. has instead: 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, ten 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.

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 Gilgamec: "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 Erec-kigala 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.

"At that time, there was a single tree, a single halub 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.

"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, ten 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 (1 ms. has instead: I, holy Inana,) cried!" In the matter which his sister had told him about, her brother, the warrior Gilgamec, stood by her.

He strapped (1 ms. has instead: ......) 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 (1 ms. has instead: 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 ellag and, from its branches, he manufactured his ekidma (the correct pronunciation of this word is unknown).

He played ellag in the broad square, never wanting to stop playing it, and he praised himself in the broad square, never wanting to stop praising himself. (mss. from Urim add: The young men of his city were playing ellag.) 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 ellag had been placed, and he picked up his ellag 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 ellag and his ekidma to fall down to the bottom of the nether world. (1 ms. adds: He could not reach them by .......) He tried with his hand but could not reach (1 ms. has instead: touch) them, tried with his foot but could not reach (1 ms. has instead: touch) them.

At the gate of Ganzer, in front of the nether world, he sat down. Gilgamec wept, crying bitterly: "O my ellag! O my ekidma! O my ellag, I am still not satiated with its charms, the game with it has not yet palled for me! If only my ellag 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 ellag has fallen down to the nether world -- who will retrieve it for me? (1 ms. has instead: Who will retrieve my ellag from the nether world?) My ekidma has fallen down to Ganzer -- who will retrieve it for me? (1 ms. has instead: Who will retrieve my ekidma from Ganzer?)"

His servant Enkidu answered (1 ms. has instead: said to) him (1 ms. has instead: Gilgamec): "My king, you weep; why does your heart worry? Today I shall retrieve your ellag from the nether world, I shall retrieve your ekidma from Ganzer." Gilgamec answered Enkidu: " If today (1 ms. has instead: 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 (1 ms. has instead: My words should be followed)!

"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 (1 ms. has instead: 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 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."

"She who lies there, she who lies there, Ninazu's mother who lies there -- her pure shoulders are not covered with a garment, and no linen is spread over her pure breast. She has fingers like a pickaxe, she plucks her hair out like leeks."

Enkidu, however, did not heed not his master's words. He put on his clean garments and they recognised that he was alien. He anointed himself with fine oil from a bowl and they surrounded him at its scent. He hurled throw-sticks in the nether world and those struck down by the throw-sticks surrounded him. He held a cornel-wood stick in his hand and the spirits felt insulted by him. He put sandals on his feet. He caused irritation in the nether world. He kissed his beloved wife and hit his wife when he was annoyed with her. He kissed his beloved child and hit his son when he was annoyed with him. He aroused an outcry and was detained in the nether world.

Warrior Gilgamec, son of Ninsumun, directed his steps on his own to E-kur, the temple of Enlil. He cried before Enlil: "Father Enlil, my ellag fell down into the nether world, my ekidma fell down into Ganzer. Enkidu went down to retrieve them but the nether world has seized him. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but the nether world has seized him. The udug demon of Nergal, who spares nobody, did not seize him, but the nether world has seized him. He did not fall in battle on the field of manhood, but the nether world has seized him." Father Enlil did not stand by him in the matter, so he went to Eridug.

In Eridug he directed his steps on his own to the temple of Enki. He cried before Enki: "Father Enki, my ellag fell down into the nether world, my ekidma fell down into Ganzer. Enkidu went down to retrieve them but the nether world has seized him. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but the nether world has seized him. The udug demon of Nergal, who spares nobody, did not seize him, but the nether world has seized him. He did not fall in battle on the field of manhood, but the nether world has seized him." Father Enki stood by him in this matter.

He said to the young warrior Utu, the son born by Ningal: "Open a hole in the nether world immediately, and then bring up his servant from the nether world!" He opened a hole in the nether world and brought up his servant with his breeze (?) from the nether world.

They hugged and kissed. They wearied each other with questions: "Did you see the order of the nether world? -- If only you would tell me, my friend, if only you would tell me!" "If I tell you the order of the nether world, sit down and weep! I shall sit down and weep! ......, which your heart rejoiced to touch, is ......, worms infest it like an old garment (?); like ...... of (?) a crevice, it is full of dust." "Alas!" he said and sat down in the dust.

"Did you see him who had one son?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He weeps bitterly at the wooden peg which was driven into his wall." "Did you see him who had two sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He sits on a couple of bricks, eating bread." "Did you see him who had three sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He drinks water from a saddle water skin." "Did you see him who had four sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "His heart rejoices like a man who has four asses to yoke." "Did you see him who had five sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "Like a good scribe he is indefatigable, he enters the palace easily." "Did you see him who had six sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He is a cheerful as a ploughman." "Did you see him who had seven sons?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "As a companion of the gods, he sits on a throne and listens to judgments."

"Did you see the palace eunuch?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "Like a useless alala stick he is propped in a corner." "Did you see the woman who never gave birth?" "I saw her." "How does she fare?" "Like a ...... pot, she is thrown away violently, she gives no man joy." "Did you see the young man who never undressed his wife?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "You finish a rope, and he weeps over the rope." "Did you see the young woman who never undressed her husband?" "I saw her." "How does she fare?" "You finish a reed mat, and she weeps over the reed mat." "Did you see him who had no heir?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "Like him who ...... bricks (?), he eats bread." "......?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?"

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"Did you see ......?" "His food is set apart, his water is set apart, he eats the food offered (?) to him, he drinks the water offered (?) to him." (1 ms. adds: "Did you see him who was eaten by a lion?" "He cries bitterly "O my hands! O my legs!" ""Did you see him who fell down from the roof?" "They cannot ...... his bones.") "Did you see the leprous man?" "He twitches like an ox as the worms eat at him." "Did you see him who fell in battle?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "His father and mother are not there to hold his head, and his wife weeps." "Did you see the spirit of him who has no funerary offerings?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He eats the scraps and the crumbs ...... tossed out in the street." "Did you see him hit by a ship's board (1 ms. adds: when diving (?))? How does he fare?" ""Alas, my mother!" the man cries to her, as he pulls out the ship's board ......, he ...... cross beam ...... crumbs." "Did you see my little stillborn children who never knew existence?" "I saw them." "How do they fare?" "They play at a table of gold and silver, laden with honey and ghee." "Did you see him who died ......?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He lies on a bed of the gods." "Did you see him who was set on fire?" "I did not see him. His spirit is not about. His smoke went up to the sky."

A version from Urim (UET 6 58)

"Did you see him who fell down from the roof?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "They cannot ...... his bones." "Did you see him who was struck in (?) a flood-storm of (?) Ickur?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He twitches like an ox as the worms eat at him." "Did you see the leprous man?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "His food is set apart, his water is set apart, he eats the food offered (?) to him, he drinks the water offered (?) to him. He lives outside the city."

"Did you see him who had no respect for the word of his mother and father?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" ""O my body! O my limbs!" he never ceases to cry." "Did you see him who was reached by the curse of his mother and father?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He is deprived of an heir. His spirit roams about." "Did you see him who ...... the name of his god?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "His spirit ......." "Did you see the spirit of him who has no funerary offerings?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He eats the scraps and the crumbs ...... tossed out in the street." "Did you see my little stillborn children who never knew existence?" "I saw them." "How do they fare?" "They play at a table of gold and silver, laden with honey and ghee." "Did you see him who was set on fire?" "I did not see him. His smoke went up to the sky. His spirit does not live in the underworld."

"Did you see him who lied to the gods while swearing an oath?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "He drinks ...... which has been drunk ...... the libation place at the entrance (?) to the nether world." "Did you see the citizen of Jirsu who refused (?) water to his father and his mother?" "I saw him." "How does he fare?" "In front of each of them are a thousand Amorites, and his spirit can neither ...... nor ....... The Amorites at the libation place at the entrance (?) to the nether world ......." "Did you see the citizens of Sumer and Akkad?" "I saw them." "How do they fare?" "They drink the water of the ...... place, muddy water." "Did you see where my father and my mother live?" "I saw them." "How do they fare?" "Both of them drink the water of the ...... place, muddy water."

Another version from Urim (UET 6 59)

SEGMENT A

"Did you see him hit by a ship's board? How does he fare?" ""Alas, my mother!" the man cries to her, as he pulls out ......, he ...... crossbeam ...... crumbs." "Did you see him who fell down from the roof? How does he fare?" "He twitches like an ox as the worms eat at him." "Did you see him who was reached by the curse of his mother? How does he fare?" "He is deprived of an heir. His spirit roams (?) about." "Did you see him who had no respect for the word of his father and his mother? How does he fare?"

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SEGMENT B

"His food is set apart, his water is set apart, he eats the food offered (?) to him, he drinks the water offered (?) to him." "Did you see him who fell in battle? How does he fare?" "His father and mother are not there to hold his head, and his wife weeps." "Did you see him who ......? How does he fare?" "...... from his (?) hand ......." "Did you see the spirit of him who has no funerary offerings? How does he fare?" "He eats the scraps and the crumbs tossed out in the street." "Did you see my little stillborn children who never knew existence? How do they fare?" "They play with a bucket of gold and silver, full of honey and ghee." "Did you see him who was set on fire?" "I did not see him. His spirit is not there. His smoke went up to the sky."

A third version from Urim (UET 6 60)

They returned to Unug, they returned to their city. He entered outfitted with tools and armaments, with an axe and a spear, and deposited them in his palace happily. Looking at the statue, the young men and women of Unug and the old men (?) and women of Kulaba rejoiced. As Utu came forth from his bedchamber, Gilgamec (?) raised his head and told them (?): "My father and my mother, drink clean water!" Midday had hardly passed when they touched the statue's (?) crown.

Gilgamec threw himself down at the place of mourning, he threw himself down for nine days at the place of mourning. The young men and women of Unug and the old men (?) and women of Kulaba wept. As soon as he had said that, he repulsed the citizen of &G;irsu. "My father and my mother, drink clean water!"

Warrior Gilgamec, son of Ninsumun, sweet is your praise!

A version from Me-Turan

SEGMENT A

...... surrounded him. He carried ...... and the spirits felt insulted (?) by him. He caused (?) .......

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He kissed his beloved wife, and hit his wife when he was angry with her. He kissed his beloved child, and hit his son when he was angry with him. He aroused an outcry and was detained in the nether world.

From that fateful day and for seven days his servant, Enkidu, did not come out from the nether world. The king was lamenting, crying bitterly: "My beloved servant, my faithful companion, my counsellor, has been seized in the nether world! Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but he was seized in the nether world. The udug of Nergal who ...... did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world. He did not fall in battle on the field of ......, but he was seized in the nether world."

He directed his steps on his own to E-kur, the temple of Enlil. Before Enlil, he ......: "My ellag fell down into the nether world, my ekidma fell down into Ganzer. But Enkidu, going down to retrieve them, my beloved servant, my faithful companion, my counsellor, was seized in the nether world. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world. ...... did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world."

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SEGMENT B

"Did you see him who had one son? How does he fare?" "He weeps bitterly ......." "Did you see him who had two sons? How does he fare?" "He sits on ......." "Did you see him who had three sons? How does he fare?" "He drinks water ......." "Did you see him who had four sons? How does he fare?" "His heart is happy (1 ms. adds: like a man who has four asses to yoke)." "Did you see him who had five sons? How does he fare?" "Like a good scribe he is indefatigable, he enters the palace easily." "Did you see him who had six sons? How does he fare?" "He is cheerful as a ploughman." "Did you see him who had seven sons? How does he fare?" "As a companion of the gods he sits on a throne and listens to judgments." "Did you see him who had no heir? How does he fare?" "Like (?) ...... he eats bread."

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"Did you see him ......? How does he fare?" "He drinks water ......." "Did you see him ......? How does he fare?" "He ...... as the worms eat at him." "Did you see him who was eaten by a dog? How does he fare?" "He ...... "O my hands! O my legs! O ......!" " "Did you see him hit (?) by the mast of a boat? How does he fare?" ""Alas, my mother" the man cries to her, ...... wooden peg ......, he ...... food, cross beam (?), crumbs ......." "Did you see the woman who never gave birth? How does she fare?" "Like a ...... pot, she is thrown away violently, she ...... nobody." "Did you see the young man who never undressed his wife? How does he fare?" "You finish a reed mat and he weeps over the reed mat." "Did you see the young woman who never undressed her husband? How does she fare?" "You finish a ...... garment and she weeps over the ...... garment."

"Did you see him who ...... extolled himself? How does he fare?" "He bows down (?) like an ox as the worms eat at him." "Did you see him who fell down from the roof? How does he fare?" "His bones ...... and his spirit ......." "Did you see ......? How does he fare?" "He ......." "Did you see the leprous man? How does he fare?" "His water is set apart, his food is set apart. He ...... the spirits. He lives outside the city." "Did you see my stillborn children who never received a name? How do they fare?" "They play at a table of gold and silver ......." "Didn't you see him who was set on fire?" "Why, my friend, did not you spare this question?" "I asked it, my friend!" "His spirit is ...... from the nether world, it went up to the sky with the smoke (?)."

His heart was smitten, his insides were ravaged. The king began to search for life. Now the lord once decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives.