The Epic of Gilgameš, Standard Version, Tablet XI, lines 1-163, read by Karl Hecker
With the kind permission of Professor A. R. George, the translation below is taken from his work The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic (Oxford, 2003), with minor modifications. The transcription is based on the transliteration in the same work.
| Original Transcript | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 1 gilgameš ana šâšumma izakkara ana ūta-napištim rūqi | 1 Gilgamesh spoke to him, to Ūta-napišti the Far-Away: |
| 2 anaṭṭalakkumma ūta-napišti| 3 minâtūka ul šanâ kī yâtimma atta 4 u atta ul šanâta kī yâtimma atta |
2 "As I look at you, Ūta-napišti, 3 Your form is no different, you are just like me, 4 You are not different at all, you are just like me. |
| 5 gummurka libbī ana epēš tuqunti 6 [x]x ahī nadât elu ṣērīka 7 [att]a kīkī tazziz ina puhur ilāni balāṭa teš'u |
5 I was fully intent on doing battle with you, 6 [but] in your presence my hand is stayed. 7 How was it that you attended the gods' assembly, and found eternal life?" |
| 8 ūta-napišti ana šâšumma izakkara ana gilgameš | 8 Ūta-napišti spoke to him, to Gilgamesh: |
| 9 lupteka gilgameš amāt niṣirti 10 u pirišti ša ilāni kâša luqbika |
9 "I will disclose to you, Gilgamesh, a secret matter, 10 and I will tell you a mystery of the gods. |
| 11 šurippak ālu ša tīdûšu atta 12 ā[lu ša ina kišā]d puratti šaknu 13 [āl]u šū labirma ilāni qerbuššu 14 [an]a šakān abūbi ubla libbašunu ilāni rabûti |
11 "The city of Shuruppak — a city you yourself know, 12 the [city that] is situated on the [banks] of the Euphrates — 13 that city was old and the gods were inside it, 14 (when) the great gods decided to cause the Deluge. |
| 15 [it]māma abūšunu anum 16 mālikšunu qurādu enlil 17 [g]uzallâšunu ninurta 18 gugallâšunu ennugi |
15 "Their father Anu took the oath, 16 (as did) their counsellor, the hero Enlil, 17 their chamberlain, Ninurta, 18 their inspector of waterways, Ennugi |
| 19 ninšiku ea ittišunu tamīma 20 amāssunu ušannâ ana kikkišu |
19 "Prince Ea was likewise under oath with them, 20 (but) repeated their words to a reed fence: |
| 21 kikkiš igār kikkiš igār 22 kikkišu šemēma igāru hissas 23 šuruppakû mār ubara-tutu 24 uqur bīta bini eleppa |
21 "'Reed fence, brick wall! Reed fence, brick wall! 22 Listen, O reed fence! Pay heed, O brick wall! 23 O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubara-tutu, 24 demolish the house, build a boat! |
| 25 muššir mešrâmma še'i napšāti 26 [m]akkūru zērma napišta bulliṭ 27 šūlima zēr napšāti kalāma ana libbi eleppi |
25 "'Abandon riches and seek survival! 26 Spurn property and save life! 27 Put on board the boat the seed of all living creatures! |
| 28 eleppu ša tabannûši atta 29 lū mindudā minâtūša 30 [l]ū mithur rupussa u mūrakša 31 [k]īma apsî šâši ṣullilši |
28 "'The boat that you are going to build, 29 her dimensions should all be matching: 30 her breadth and length should be the same, 31 cover her with a roof, like the Apsû'. |
| 32 [a]nāku īdēma azakkara ana ea bēlīya 33 [amg]ur bēlī ša taqbâ atta kī'am 34 [at]ta'id anāku eppuš 35 [kīm]i lūpul āla ummānu u šībūtu |
32 "I understood and spoke to Ea my master: 33 'I hereby concur, my lord, with what you told me thus. 34 [I] have paid attention; I shall do it. 35 (But) how should I answer the city, the crowd and elders?' |
| 36 ea pâšu īpušamma iqabbi 37 izakkara ana ardīšu yâtu |
36 "Ea opened his mouth to speak, 37 saying to me, his servant: |
| 38 u atta kī'am taqabbâššunūti 39 [mi]ndēma yâši Enlil izērannima 40 [u]l uššab ina ālī[ku]numa 41 [ina] qaqqar enlil ul ašakkan[a šēp]īyāma 42 [urr]adma ana apsî itti ea [b]ēliya ašbāku |
38 'Then also you will say to them as follows: 39 'For sure the god Enlil has conceived a hatred of me! 40 I cannot dwell in your city! 41 I cannot tread on Enlil's ground! 42 [I shall] go down to the Apsû, to live with Ea, my master; |
| 43 [ana k]âšunu ušazna[n]akkunūši nuhšamma 44 [hiṣib] iṣṣūrāti puzur nūnimma 45 […] xxx mešrâ ebūramma 46 ina šēri kukkī 47 ina lilâti ušaznanakkunūši šamût kibāti |
43 'On you he will rain down plenty! 44 [An abundance] of birds, a riddle of fishes! 45 ... riches at harvest time 46 In the morning he will rain down on you bread cakes, 47 in the evening, a torrent of wheat'.' |
| 48 mimmû šēri ina namāri 49 ana bāb atar-hasīs ipahhur mā[tum] 50 naggāru naši pās[su] 51 atkuppu naši ab[anšu] |
48 At the first glimmer of dawn, 49 the population began assembling at Atar-hasis's gate. 50 The carpenter was carrying [his] axe, 51 the reed-worker was carrying [his] stone. |
| (52-56 are fragmentary) | (52-56 are fragmentary) |
| 57 ina hanši ūmi attadi būnāša 58 iki kippassa ešer nindanā šaqqâ igārātūša 59 ešer nindanā imtahir kibir muhhīša |
57 "On the fifth day I set in place her (outer) surface: 58 one "acre" was her area, ten rods each her sides stood high, 59 at ten rods each, the edges of her top were equal. |
| 60 addi lān[ša] šâši ēṣirši 61 urtaggib ana šeššīšu 62 [a]ptara[ss]u ana sebîšu 63 qerbīssu aptaras ana tišîšu |
60 "I set in place her body, I drew up her design: 61 I gave her six decks, 62 I divided her into seven parts, 63 I divided her interior into nine. |
| 64 sikkāt mê ina qablīša lū amhaṣ 65 āmur pārisu u hišihtum addi |
64 "I struck the water pegs into her belly, 65 I found a punting pole and put the tackle in place. |
| 66 šalaš šar kupri attabak ana kīri 67 (fragmentary) 68 šalaš šar ṣābū nāš sussul ša izabbilū šamnu 69 ezub šar šamni ša īkulū niqqū 70 šina šar šamni [ša] upazziru malāhu |
66 "Three times a myriad of bitumen I poured into the furnace, 67 (fragmentary) 68 three times a myriad was the oil that the workforce of porters was fetching, 69 apart from the myriad of oil [that] libation consumed 70 there were two myriads of oil [that] the shipwright stowed away. |
| 71 ana ummānāti uṭṭabbih alpī 72 ašgiš immērī ūmišamma 73 sīrīš [kuru]nnu šamna u karāna 74 ummān[ī ašqi] kīma mê nārimma 75 isinna ippušū kī ūmi akītimma |
71 "For the workmen I butchered oxen, 72 every day I slaughtered sheep. 73 Beer, ale, oil and wine 74 [I gave my] workforce [to drink], like the waters of a very river! 75 They were celebrating as on the feast-days of the New Year itself! |
| 76 šam[aš ina aṣê ana] piššati qātī addi 77 [lā]m šamaš rabê eleppu gamrat |
76 "At sun-[rise] I set my hand [to] oiling; 77 [before] sundown the boat was finished. |
| (78-80 are fragmentary) | (78-80 are fragmentary) |
| .. mimmû šēri ina namāri 82 mimma īšû eṣēnši kaspa 83 mimma īš[û] eṣēnši hurāṣa 84 mimma īš[û eṣē]nši zēr napšāti kalāma |
.. At the first glimmer of dawn, 82 I loaded aboard it whatever silver I had, 83 I loaded aboard it whatever gold I had, 84 I loaded aboard it whatever seed I had of living things, each and every one. |
| 85 uštēli a[na] libbi eleppi kala kimtīya u sallatīya 86 būl ṣēri umām ṣēri mārī ummānī kalīšunu ušēli |
85 "All my kith and kin I sent aboard the boat, 86 I sent aboard animals of the wild, creatures of the wild, persons of every skill and craft. |
| 87 adanna šamaš iškunamma 88 ina šēr ku[kk]ī ina lilâti ušaznanannu šamût kibāti 89 erubma ana [li]bbi eleppimma pihe bābka |
87 "Šamaš had set me a deadline - 88 'In the morning he will rain down bread-cakes on us, in the evening a torrent of wheat. 89 Go into the boat and seal your hatch!'. |
| 90 adannu šū iktalda 91 ina šēr ku[kk]ī ina lilâti ušaznana(na) šamût kibāti 92 ša ūmi attaṭal būnāšu |
90 "That time had arrived: 91 'In the morning he will rain down bread cakes, in the evening, a torrent of wheat'. 92 I watched the look of the weather: |
| 94 ērubma ana libbi eleppimma aptehe bābī 95 ana pēhî ša eleppi puzur-ellil malāhi 96 ēkalla attadin adi būšêšu |
94 "I went into the boat and sealed my hatch. 95 To the man who sealed the boat, the ship-wright Puzur-Enlil, 96 I gave the palace with all its goods. |
| 97 mimmû šēri ina namāri 98 īlâmma ištu išid šamê urpatum ṣalimtum 99 adad ina libbīša irtammamma |
97 "At the very first light of dawn 98 there came up from the horizon a black cloud, 99 within it did Adad bellow continually. |
| 100 šullat u haniš illakū ina mahri 101 illakū guzalû šadû u mātu 102 tarkullī errakal inassah 103 illak ninurta mehrī ušardi 104 anunnakī iššû dipārāti 105 ina namrirrīšunu uhammaṭū mātum |
100 "Šullat and Haniš were going at the fore, 101 "throne-bearers" travelling over mountain and land. 102 Errakal was ripping out the mooring poles; 103 Ninurta, as he went, made the weirs overflow. 104 The Anunnaki bore torches aloft, 105 setting the land aglow with their brilliance. |
| 106 ša adad šuharrassu (iba’’u šamê) 107 ([mi]mma namru) ana da[’u]m[mat] utterru |
106 The still clam of the storm god (passed across the sky), 107 (all that was bright) was turned into gloom. |
| (108-111 fragmentary) | (108-111 fragmentary) |
| .. 112 ul immar ahu ahāšu 113 ul ūtaddâ nišū ina kar[āši] |
111 "Like a battle [the cataclysm] passed over(!) the people. 112 One person could not see another, 113 Nor people recognise each other in the destruction. |
| 114 ilū iptalhū abūbamma 115 ittehsû ītelû ana šamê ša anim 116 ša kīma kalbī kunnunū ina kamâti rabṣū |
114 "Even the gods took fright at the Deluge! 115 They withdrew, they went up to the heaven of Anu. 116 The ones who were curled up like dogs, lying out in the open. |
| 117 išassi ištar kīma ālitti 118 unambi bēlet-ilī ṭābat rigma |
117 "The goddess, screaming like a woman in childbirth, 118 Bēlet-ilī, the sweet-voiced, wailed aloud: |
| 119 ūmu ullû ana ṭiṭṭi lū itūrma 120 aššu anāku ina puhur i[lāni] aqbû lemutta 121 kī aqbi ina puhur i[lāni] lemutta 122 ana hulluq nišīya qabla aqbīma 123 anākumma ulladā nišū’ama 124 kī mārī nūnī umallâ tâmtamma |
119 "'Indeed the past has truly turned to clay, 120 because I spoke evil in the assembly of the gods. 121 How was it I spoke evil in the assembly of the gods, 122 (and) declared a war to destroy my people? 123 It is I that gave birth (to them)! They are my people! 124 (Now) like so many fish they fill the sea.' |
| 125 ilū šūt anunnakī bakû ittīša 126 ilū ašrū ašbi ina bikīti 127 šabbā šaptāšunu leqâ buhrēti |
125 "The gods, the Anunnaki, were weeping with her, 126 the gods were humble, sitting in tears, 127 their lips were parched, being stricken with fever. |
| 128 šešše urrī u sebe mušâti 129 illak šāru abūbu mehû [isappan māta] 130 sebû ūmu ina kašādi 131 ittaraq mehû [abūbu qabla] 132 ša imtahṣu kīma hayyālti inūh tâmtu 133 ušharrir imhullu abūba ikla |
128 "For six days and seven nights, 129 there blew the wind and the Deluge, the gale [and flattened the land]. 130 When the seventh day arrived, 131 the gale relented, [the Deluge and the battle]. 132 The sea grew calm that had fought like a woman in labour, 133 the tempest grew still, the Deluge ended. |
| 134 appalsamma ūma šakin qūlu 135 kullat tenēšēti itūrā ana ṭiṭṭi 136 kīma ūri mithurat ušallu |
134 "I looked at the weather, and there was quiet, 135 but all the people had turned to clay. 136 The roof plain was level like a roof. |
| 137 apte nappāšamma ṣētu imtaqut eli dūr appīya 138 uktammisma attašab abakki 139 eli dūr appīya illakā dimāya |
137 "I opened a vent, and sunlight fell on the side of my face. 138 I fell to my knees and sat there weeping, 139 tears streaming down the side of my face. |
| 140 appalis kibrāti pāta tâmti 141 ana 14-ā ītelâ nagû |
140 "I scanned the shores, the edge of the sea: 141 In fourteen places there emerged a landmass. |
| 142 ana šadî nimuš ītemid eleppu 143 šadû nimuš eleppa iṣbatma ana nâši ul iddin 144 ištēn ūma šanâ ūma šadû nimuš eleppa iṣbatma ana nâši ul iddin 145 šalša ūma erbâ ūma šadû nimuš eleppa iṣbatma ana nâši ul iddin 146 hamša šešša ūma šadû nimuš eleppa iṣbatma ana nâši ul iddin |
142 "On Mount Nimuš the boat ran aground, 143 Mount Nimuš held the boat fast and did not let it move. 144 One day, a second day, Mount Nimuš held the boat fast and did not let it move. 145 a third day, a fourth day, Mount Nimuš held the boat fast and did not let it move. 146 a fifth, a sixth, day, Mount Nimuš held the boat fast and did not let it move. |
| 147 sebû ūmu ina kašādi 148 ušēṣīma summata umaššar 149 illik summatu īpiramm[a] 150 manzāzu ul īpâššimma issahr[a] |
147 "When the seventh day arrived 148 I brought out a dove, setting it free. 149 Off went the dove, ... 150 No perch was available for it, so it came back to [me]. |
| 151 ušēṣīma sinūnta umaš[š]ar 152 illik sinūntu īpira[mma] 153 manzāzu ul īpâš[ši]mma issahra |
151 "I brought out a swallow, setting it free. 152 Off went the swallow, ... 153 No perch was available for [it], so it came back to me. |
| 154 ušēṣīma ariba umaššar 155 illik aribumma qarūra ša mê īmurma 156 ikkal išahhi itarri ul issahra |
154 "I brought out a raven, setting it free. 155 Off went the raven and it saw the waters receding. 156 It was eating, bobbing up and down, it did not come back to me. |
| 157 ušēṣīma ana erbe šārī attaqi niqâ 158 aškun šurqinnu ina muhhi ziqqurrat šadî 159 sebe u sebe adagurra uktīn 160 ina šaplīšunu attabak qanâ erēna u as[a] |
157 "I brought out an offering and sacrificed to the four corners of the earth, 158 I strewed incense on the peak of the mountain. 159 Seven flasks and seven I set in position, 160 below them I heaped up (sweet) reed, cedar and myrtle. |
| 161 ilū īṣīnū irīša 162 ilū īṣīnū irīša ṭāb[a] 163 ilū kīma zumbē eli bēl niqî iptahrū |
161 "The gods smelled the savour, 162 the gods smelled the sweet savour, 163 the gods gathered like flies round the sacrificer". |