An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic/The Pennsylvania Tablet

PENNSYLVANIA TABLET.

Transliteration.

Translation.

Col. I.

1 it-bi-e-ma dGiš šú-na-tam i-pa-áš-šar	Gish sought to interpret the dream;
iz-za-kàr-am a-na um-mi-šú	Spoke to his mother:
um-mi i-na šá-at mu-ši-ti-ia	"My mother, during my night
šá-am-ḫa-ku-ma at-ta-na-al-la-ak	I became strong and moved about
5 i-na bi-ri-it it-lu-tim	among the heroes;
ib-ba-šú-nim-ma ka-ka-bu šá-ma-i	And from the starry heaven
[ki]-iṣ-rù šá A-nim im-ḳu-ut a-na ṣi-ri-ia	A meteor(?) of Anu fell upon me:
áš-ši-šú-ma ik-ta-bi-it e-li-ia	I bore it and it grew heavy upon me,
ú-ni-iš-šú-ma nu-uš-šá-šú ú-ul il-ti-’i	I became weak and its weight I could not endure.
10 Urukki ma-tum pa-ḫi-ir e-li-šú	The land of Erech gathered about it.
it-lu-tum ú-na-šá-ku ši-pi-šú	The heroes kissed its feet.[1]
ú-um-mi-id-ma pu-ti	It was raised up before me.
i-mi-du ia-ti	They stood me up.[2]
áš-ši-a-šú-ma ab-ba-la-áš-šú a-na ṣi-ri-ki	I bore it and carried it to thee.”
15 um-mi dGiš mu-di-a-at ka-la-ma	The mother of Gish, who knows all things,
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dGiš	Spoke to Gish:
mi-in-di dGiš šá ki-ma ka-ti	“Some one, O Gish, who like thee
i-na ṣi-ri i-wa-li-id-ma	In the field was born and
ú-ra-ab-bi-šú šá-du-ú	Whom the mountain has reared,
20 ta-mar-šú-ma [kima Sal(?)] ta-ḫa-du at-ta	Thou wilt see (him) and [like a woman(?)] thou wilt rejoice.
it-lu-tum ú-na-šá-ku ši-pi-šú	Heroes will kiss his feet.
tí-iṭ-ṭi-ra-áš-[šú tu-ut]-tu-ú-ma	Thou wilt spare [him and wilt endeavor]
ta-tar-ra-[as-su] a-na ṣi-[ri]-ia	To lead him to me.”
[uš]-ti-nim-ma i-ta-mar šá-ni-tam	He slept and saw another

25 [šú-na]-ta i-ta-wa-a-am a-na um-mi-šú	Dream, which he reported to his mother:
[um-mi] a-ta-mar šá-ni-tam	[“My mother,] I have seen another
[šú-na-tu a-ta]-mar e-mi-a i-na su-ḳi-im	[Dream.] My likeness I have seen in the streets
[šá Uruk]ki ri-bi-tim	[Of Erech] of the plazas.
ḫa-aṣ-ṣi-nu na-di-i-ma	An axe was brandished, and
30 e-li-šú pa-aḫ-ru	They gathered about him;
ḫa-aṣ-ṣi-nu-um-ma šá-ni bu-nu-šú	And the axe made him angry.
a-mur-šú-ma aḫ-ta-du a-na-ku	I saw him and I rejoiced,
a-ra-am-šú-ma ki-ma áš-šá-tim	I loved him as a woman,
a-ḫa-ab-bu-ub el-šú	I embraced him.
35 el-ki-šú-ma áš-ta-ka-an-šú	I took him and regarded him
a-na a-ḫi-ia	As my brother.”
um-mi dGiš mu-da-at [ka]-la-ma	The mother of Gish, who knows all things,
[iz-za-kàr-am a-na dGiš]	[Spoke to Gish]:
[dGiš šá ta-mu-ru amêlu]	[“O Gish, the man whom thou sawest,]
40 [ta-ḫa-ab-bu-ub ki-ma áš-šá-tim el-šú]	[Whom thou didst embrace like a woman].

Col. II.

áš-šum uš-[ta]-ma-ḫa-ru it-ti-ka	(means) that he is to be associated with thee.”
dGiš šú-na-tam i-pa-šar	Gish understood the dream.
dEn-ki-[dũ wa]-ši-ib ma-ḫar ḫa-ri-im-tim	[As] Enki[du] was sitting before the woman,
ur-[šá ir]-ḫa-mu di-da-šá(?) ip-tí-[e]	[Her] loins(?) he embraced, her vagina(?) he opened.
45 [dEn-ki]-dũ im-ta-ši a-šar i-wa-al-du	[Enkidu] forgot the place where he was born.
ûm, 6 ù 7 mu-ši-a-tim	Six days and seven nights
dEn-[ki-dũ] ti-bi-i-ma	Enkidu continued
šá-[am-ka-ta] ir-ḫi	To cohabit with [the courtesan].
ḫa-[ri-im-tum pa-a]-šá i-pu-šá-am-ma	[The woman] opened her [mouth] and
50 iz-za-[kàr-am] a-na dEn-ki-dũ	Spoke to Enkidu:
a-na-tal-ka dEn-ki-dũ ki-ma ili ta-ba-áš-ši	“I gaze upon thee, O Enkidu, like a god art thou!
am-mi-nim it-ti na-ma-áš-te-e	Why with the cattle
ta-at-ta-[na-al]-ak ṣi-ra-am	Dost thou [roam] across the field?

al-kam lu-úr-di-ka	Come, let me lead thee
55 a-na libbi [Urukki] ri-bi-tim	into [Erech] of the plazas,
a-na bît [el]-lim mu-šá-bi šá A-nim	to the holy house, the dwelling of Anu,
dEn-ki-dũ ti-bi lu-ru-ka	O, Enkidu arise, let me conduct thee
a-na Ê-[an]-na mu-šá-bi šá A-nim	To Eanna, the dwelling of Anu,
a-šar [dGiš gi]-it-ma-[lu] ne-pi-ši-tim	The place [where Gish is, perfect] in vitality.
60 ù at-[ta] ki-[ma Sal ta-ḫa]-bu-[ub]-šú	And thou [like a wife wilt embrace] him.
ta-[ra-am-šú ki-ma] ra-ma-an-ka	Thou [wilt love him like] thyself.
al-ka ti-ba i-[na] ga-ag-ga-ri	Come, arise from the ground
ma-a-ag-ri-i-im	(that is) cursed.”
iš-me a-wa-as-sa im-ta-ḫar ga-ba-šá	He heard her word and accepted her speech.
65 mi-il-[kum] šá aššatim	The counsel of the woman
im-ta-ḳu-ut a-na libbi-šú	Entered his heart.
iš-ḫu-ut li-ib-šá-am	She stripped off a garment,
iš-ti-nam ú-la-ab-bi-iš-sú	Clothed him with one.
li-ib-[šá-am] šá-ni-a-am	Another garment
70 ši-i it-ta-al-ba-áš	She kept on herself.
ṣa-ab-tat ga-as-su	She took hold of his hand.
ki-ma [ili] i-ri-id-di-šú	Like [a god(?)] she brought him
a-na gu-up-ri šá-ri-i-im	To the fertile meadow,
a-šar tar-ba-ṣi-im	The place of the sheepfolds.
75 i-na [áš]-ri-šú [im]-ḫu-ruri-ia-ú	In that place they received food;
[ù šú-u dEn-ki-dũ i-lit-ta-šú šá-du-um-ma]	[For he, Enkidu, whose birthplace was the mountain,]
[it-ti ṣabâti-ma ik-ka-la šam-ma]	[With the gazelles he was accustomed to eat herbs,]
[it-ti bu-lim maš-ḳa-a i-šat-ti]	[With the cattle to drink water,]
[it-ti na-ma-áš-te-e mê i-ṭab lib-ba-šú]	[With the water beings he was happy.]

(Perhaps one additional line missing.)

Col. III

ši-iz-ba šá na-ma-áš-te-e	Milk of the cattle
i-te-en-ni-ik	He was accustomed to suck.
a-ka-lam iš-ku-nu ma-ḫar-šú	Food they placed before him,
ib-tí-ik-ma i-na-at-tal	He broke (it) off and looked
85 ù ip-pa-al-la-as	And gazed.

šikaram a-na šá-te-e-im	To drink wine
la-a lum-mu-ud	He had not been taught.
90 ḫa-ri-im-tum pi-šá i-pu-šá-am-ma	The woman opened her mouth and
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dEn-ki-dũ	Spoke to Enkidu:
a-ku-ul ak-lam dEn-ki-dũ	“Eat food, O Enkidu,
zi-ma-at ba-la-ṭi-im	The provender of life!
šikaram ši-ti ši-im-ti ma-ti	Drink wine, the custom of the land!”
95 i-ku-ul a-ak-lam dEn-ki-dũ	Enkidu ate food
a-di ši-bi-e-šú	Till he was satiated.
šikaram iš-ti-a-am	Wine he drank,
7 aṣ-ṣa-am-mi-im	Seven goblets.
it-tap-šar kab-ta-tum i-na-an-gu	His spirit was loosened, he became hilarious.
100 i-li-iṣ libba-šú-ma	His heart became glad and
pa-nu-šú [it]-tam-ru	His face shone.
ul-tap-pi-it [lùŠÚ]-I	[The barber(?)] removed
šú-ḫu-ra-am pa-ga-ar-šú	The hair on his body.
šá-am-nam ip-ta-šá-áš-ma	He was anointed with oil.
105 a-we-li-iš i-we	He became manlike.
il-ba-áš li-ib-šá-am	He put on a garment,
ki-ma mu-ti i-ba-áš-ši	He was like a man.
il-ki ka-ak-ka-šú	He took his weapon;
la-bi ú-gi-ir-ri	Lions he attacked,
110 uš-sa-ak-pu re’ûti mu-ši-a-tim	(so that) the night shepherds could rest.
ut-tap-pi-iš šib-ba-ri	He plunged the dagger;
la-bi uk-ta-ši-id	Lions he overcame.
it-ti-[lu] na-ki-[di-e] ra-bu-tum	The great [shepherds] lay down;
dEn-ki-dũ ma-aṣ-ṣa-ar-šú-nu	Enkidu was their protector.
115 a-we-lum giš-ru-um	The strong man,
iš-te-en it-lum	The unique hero,
a-na [na-ki-di-e(?) i]-za-ak-ki-ir	To [the shepherds(?)] he speaks:

(About five lines missing.)

Col. IV

(About eight lines missing.)

i-ip-pu-uš ul-ṣa-am	Making merry.
iš-ši-ma i-ni-i-šú	He lifted up his eyes,
i-ta-mar a-we-lam	He sees the man.

iz-za-kàr-am a-na ḫarimtim	He spoke to the woman:
135 šá-am-ka-at uk-ki-ši a-we-lam	“O, courtesan, lure on the man.
a-na mi-nim il-li-kam	Why has he come to me?
zi-ki-ir-šú lu-uš-šú	His name I will destroy.”
ḫa-ri-im-tum iš-ta-si a-we-lam	The woman called to the man
i-ba-uš-su-um-ma i-ta-mar-šú	Who approaches to him[3] and he beholds him.
140 e-di-il e-eš ta-ḫi-[il-la]-am	“Away! why dost thou [quake(?)]
lim-nu a-la-ku ma-na-aḫ-[ti]-ka	Evil is the course of thy activity.”[4]
e-pi-šú i-pu-šá-am-ma	Then he[5] opened his mouth and
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dEn-[ki-dũ]	Spoke to Enkidu:
bi-ti-iš e-mu-tim ik ……	”[To have (?)] a family home
145 ši-ma-a-at ni-ši-i-ma	Is the destiny of men, and
tu-a-(?)-ar e-lu-tim	The prerogative(?) of the nobles.
a-na âli(?) dup-šak-ki-i e-ṣi-en	For the city(?) load the workbaskets!
uk-la-at âli(?) e-mi-sa a-a-ḫa-tim	Food supply for the city lay to one side!
a-na šarri šá Urukki ri-bi-tim	For the King of Erech of the plazas,
150 pi-ti pu-uk epiši(-ši) a-na ḫa-a-a-ri	Open the hymen(?), perform the marriage act!
a-na dGiš šarri šá Urukki ri-bi-tim	For Gish, the King of Erech of the plazas,
pi-ti pu-uk epiši(-ši)	Open the hymen(?),
a-na ḫa-a-a-ri	Perform the marriage act!
áš-ša-at ši-ma-tim i-ra-aḫ-ḫi	With the legitimate wife one should cohabit.
155 šú-ú pa-na-nu-um-ma	So before,
mu-uk wa-ar-ka-nu	As well as in the future.[6]
i-na mi-il-ki šá ili ga-bi-ma	By the decree pronounced by a god,
i-na bi-ti-iḳ a-bu-un-na-ti-šú	From the cutting of his umbilical cord
ši-ma-as-su	(Such) is his fate.”
160 a-na zi-ik-ri it-li-im	At the speech of the hero
i-ri-ku pa-nu-šú	His face grew pale.

(About three lines missing.)

Col. V.

(About six lines missing)

i-il-la-ak [dEn-ki-dũ i-na pa-ni]	[Enkidu] went [in front],
u-šá-am-ka-at [wa]-ar-ki-šú	And the courtesan behind him.
i-ru-ub-ma a-na libbi Urukki ri-bi-tim	He entered into Erech of the plazas.
ip-ḫur um-ma-nu-um i-na ṣi-ri-šú	The people gathered about him.
175 iz-zi-za-am-ma i-na su-ḳi-im	As he stood in the streets
šá Urukki ri-bi-tim	Of Erech of the plazas,
pa-aḫ-ra-a-ma ni-šú	The men gathered,
i-ta-wa-a i-na ṣi-ri-šú	Saying in regard to him:
a-na ṣalam dGiš ma-ši-il pi-it-tam	“Like the form of Gish he has suddenly become;
180 la-nam šá-pi-il	shorter in stature.
si-ma ..... [šá-ki-i pu]-uk-ku-ul	[In his structure high(?)], powerful,
............. i-pa-ka-du	.......... overseeing(?)
i-[na mâti da-an e-mu]-ki i-wa	In the land strong of power has he become.
ši-iz-ba šá na-ma-aš-te-e	Milk of cattle
185 i-te-en-ni-ik	He was accustomed to suck.”
ka-a-a-na i-na [libbi] Urukki kak-ki-a-tum	Steadily(?) in Erech .....
it-lu-tum ú-te-el-li-lu	The heroes rejoiced.
šá-ki-in ur-šá-nu	He became a leader.
a-na itli šá i-šá-ru zi-mu-šú	To the hero of fine appearance,
190 a-na dGiš ki-ma i-li-im	To Gish, like a god,
šá-ki-iš-šum me-iḫ-rù	He became a rival to him.[7]
a-na dIš-ḫa-ra ma-a-a-lum	For Ishḫara a couch
na-di-i-ma	Was stretched, and
dGiš it-[ti-il-ma wa-ar-ka-tim]	Gish [lay down, and afterwards(?)]
195 i-na mu-ši in-ni-[ib-bi]-it	In the night he fled.
i-na-ag-šá-am-ma	He approaches and
it-ta-[zi-iz dEn-ki-dũ] i-na sûḳim	[Enkidu stood] in the streets.
ip-ta-ra-[aṣ a-la]-ak-tam	He blocked the path
šá dGiš	of Gish.
200 [a-na e-pi-iš] da-na-ni-iš-šú	At the exhibit of his power,

(About three lines missing).

Col. V.

(About four lines missing.)

šar(?)-ḫa	Strong(?) ...
dGiš ...	Gish
210 i-na ṣi-ri-[šú il-li-ka-am dEn-ki-dũ]	Against him [Enkidu proceeded],
i-ḫa-an-ni-ib [pi-ir-ta-šú]	[His hair] luxuriant.
it-bi-ma [il-li-ik]	He started [to go]
a-na pa-ni-šú	Towards him.
it-tam-ḫa-ru i-na ri-bi-tum ma-ti	They met in the plaza of the district.
215 dEn-ki-dũ ba-ba-am ip-ta-ri-ik	Enkidu blocked the gate
i-na ši-pi-šú	With his foot,
dGiš e-ri-ba-am ú-ul id-di-in	Not permitting Gish to enter.
iṣ-ṣa-ab-tu-ma ki-ma li-i-im	They seized (each other), like oxen,
i-lu-du	They fought.
220 zi-ip-pa-am ’i-bu-tu	The threshold they demolished;
i-ga-rum ir-tu-tu	The wall they impaired.
dGiš ù dEn-ki-dũ	Gish and Enkidu
iṣ-ṣa-ab-tu-ú-ma	Seized (each other).
ki-ma li-i-im i-lu-du	Like oxen they fought.
225 zi-ip-pa-am ’i-bu-tu	The threshold they demolished;
i-ga-rum ir-tu-tú	The wall they impaired.
ik-mi-is-ma dGiš	Gish bent
i-na ga-ag-ga-ri ši-ip-šú	His foot to the ground,[8]
ip-ši-iḫ uz-za-šú-ma	His wrath was appeased,
230 i-ni-iḫ i-ra-as-su	His breast was quieted.
iš-tu i-ra-su i-ni-ḫu	When his breast was quieted,
dEn-ki-dũ a-na šá-ši-im	Enkidu to him
iz-za-kàr-am a-na dGiš	Spoke, to Gish:
ki-ma iš-te-en-ma um-ma-ka	“As a unique one, thy mother
235 ú-li-id-ka	bore thee.
ri-im-tum šá su-pu-ri	The wild cow of the stall,[9]
dNin-sun-na	Ninsun,
ul-lu e-li mu-ti ri-eš-ka	Has exalted thy head above men.
šar-ru-tú šá ni-ši	Kingship over men
240 i-ši-im-kum dEn-lil	Enlil has decreed for thee.
duppu 2 kam-ma	Second tablet,
šú-tu-ur e-li ....................	enlarged beyond [the original(?)].
4 šú-ši	240 lines.

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1. I.e., paid homage to the meteor.
2. I.e., the heores of Erech raised me to my feet, or perhaps in the sense of “supported me.”
3. I.e., Enkidu.
4. I.e., "thy way of life."
5. I.e., the man.
6. I.e., an idiomatic phrase meaning "for all times."
7. I.e., Enkidu became like Gish, godlike. Cf. col. 2, 11
8. He was thrown and therefore vanquished.
9. Epithet given to Ninsun. See the commentary to the line.