{"collection":"Ancient Near East","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/ane/eog/eog14.htm","path":"ane/eog/eog14.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/ane/eog/eog14.htm","text":"The Epic of Gilgamish, tr. by R. Campbell Thompson [1928]\nColumn I.\n(How the dead haunt the living).\n\u00a01(Then), what time that the seine had pass\u2019d through the Architect 's dwelling,\n (Aye, and) the net [had taken its toll] . . . . [said he]:\n \"Lord, what [is\u2019t I may do] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n (Now, what time that) the seine hath [pass\u2019d through the Architect's\u00a02 dwelling],\n 5.(Aye and) the net [hath taken its toll] . . . . . . . . . . . .\"\n Gilgamish [unto him spake] . . . . . . . . . . . .\n \"If unto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(About two lines wanting, in which Gilgamish presumably asks how the dead may be made to haunt the mourner).\n\"Gilgamish, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\"\n(The Mourner's Duty).\n\"If to the . . . [thou drawest], unto the temple\u00a03 . . . . . . . . . .\n 15.Raiment clean [shalt not don], (but) like to a townsman shalt . . . .\n Nor with sweet oil from the cruse be anointed, (lest) at its fragrance\n Round thee they gather: nor mayst thou set bow to the earth, (lest) around thee\n 20.Circle those shot by the bow; nor a stick in thy hand mayst thou carry,\n (Lest) (stricken) ghosts should gibber against thee: nor shoe to thy footsole\n Put on, nor make on the ground a (loud) echo: thy wife, whom thou lovest,\n 25.Kiss (her) thou mayst not, thy wife whom thou hatest\u2014thou mayst not chastise (her),\n (Aye, and) thy child whom thou lovest not kiss, nor thy child whom thou hatest\n Mayst not chastise, (for) the mourning of earth doth hold thee enthrall\u00e9d.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"She who dead lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She who dead lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mother of Ninazu,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She who dead lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a030.No more with mantle are\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Veil\u2019d her fair shoulders,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No more her bosom\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drawn\u00a01, like the lard cruse!\"\n(Gilgamish by contravening these customs attempts to raise Enkidu).\n(So) did he draw [the . . . to . . ., and came to the temples,\n [Put on clean raiment] . . . (and) like to a townsman . . .\n 35.(Aye), with [sweet] oil from the cruse [was] anointed: (then) at [its] fragrance\n Round him they gather 'd:\u00a02 the bow did he set (?) [to the earth], and around him\n Circled the spirits, (yea,) those who were [shot] by the bow at him gibber\u2019d,\n [Carried] a stick in his hand [and the (stricken) ghosts at him gibber\u2019d(?)].\n 40.[Put on] a shoe to [his foot-sole, and made on the ground a (loud)] echo.\n [Kiss\u2019d he] his wife [whom he lov\u00e9d, chastis\u00e9d his] wife whom he hated,\n 45.[Kiss\u2019d he his child] whom he lov\u00e9d, chastis\u00e9d [his] child whom he hated.\n (Aye, in good sooth, \u2019twas) the mourning of earth which did hold him enthrall\u00e9d:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"She who (dead) lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0[She who] (dead) lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mother of Ninazu,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She who (dead) lieth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No (more) with mantle are\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Veil\u2019d [her] fair shoulders,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No (more) her bosom\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drawn, like the lard cruse.\"\n 50.Cried(?) [he] (for) Enkidu out of the earth to ascend: \"[Not] (the Plague-god),\n Namtar, hath [seized] him, nor fever, (but only) the earth:\u00a03 nor the Croucher,\n [Nergal], the ruthless, hath seized him, (but only) the earth: neither fell he\n There where was [battle] of mortals; \u2019twas only the earth [which hath seized him.] \"3\n (So)\u00a04 . . . for his servitor Enkidu sorrow\u2019d the offspring of Nin-sun,\n55.(Aye), as he went all alone unto [Ekur], the temple of Enlil:\n \"[Enlil], (my) Father, (\u2019tis now) that the seine hath stricken me also,\n Down to the earth\u2014the net to the earth hath stricken me also.\n Enkidu \u2019tis\u2014whom [I pray thee] to raise [from the earth]\u2014not (the Plague-god),\n 60.Namtar, hath seized him, nor fever, [but only the earth]: nor the Croucher,\n Nergal, the ruthless, hath seized shim, but only the earth]: [neither fell he]\n There where was battle of mortals: [\u2019twas only the earth which hath seized him].\"\n (But) no answer did Enlil, the father vouchsafe.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0[To the Moon-god he hied him (?)]:\n \"Moon-god, (my) Father, (\u2019tis now) that the seine [hath stricken me also,\n Down to the earth]\u2014the net [to the earth hath stricken me also].\n 65.Enkidu \u2019tis\u2014whom [I pray thee] to raise [from the earths\u2014not (the Plague-god),\n Namtar, hath seized him, [nor] fever, [but only the earth: nor] the Croucher,\n Nergal, [the ruthless, hath seized him, but only the earth]: [neither fell he]\n There where [was battle of mortals: \u2019twas only the earth which hath seized him.\"\n 70.[(But) no answer the Moon-god vouchsafed:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(Then) to Ea he hied him:]\n [\"Ea, (my) Father, \u2019tis now that the seine hath stricken me also,]\n [Down to the earth\u2014the net to the earth hath stricken me also.]\n [Enkidu \u2019tis,\u2014whom I pray thee to raise from the earth\u2014not (the Plague-god),]\n 75.Nam[tar, hath seized him, nor fever, but only the earth: nor] the Croucher,\n Nergal, the ruthless, [hath seized him, but only the earth: neither fell he]\n There where was battle of mortals: [\u2019twas only the earth which hath seized him].\"\n Ea, the father, [gave ear (and) to Nergal], the warrior-hero,\n [Spake he]: \"O Nergal, O warrior-hero, [give ear to my speaking(?)]!\n 80.[Ope now,] a hole [in the earth], that the spirit of [Enkidu, (rising)],\n [May from the earth issue forth, and so have speech] with [his] brother.\"\n Nergal, the warrior-hero, [gave ear to the speaking of Ea],\n 85.Oped, then, a hole in the earth, and the spirit of Enkidu issued\n Forth from the earth like a wind. They embraced and . . . . .\n Communed together, mourning.\n \"Tell, O my friend, O tell, O my friend, (O) tell (me, I pr\u2019y thee),\n What thou hast seen of the laws of the Underworld?\" \"(Nay, then,) O comrade;\n90.I will not tell thee, (yea,) I will not tell thee\u2014(for), were I to tell thee,\n What I have seen of the laws of the Underworld,\u2014sit thee down weeping!\"\n \"(Then) let me sit me down weeping.\"\n(The wretched lot of all who must die).\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"(So be it): [the friend(?)] thou didst fondle\n (Thereby) rejoicing thee\u2014[into his body(?), as though \u2019twere a] mantle\n 95.Old, hath the worm made its entry: (in sooth, then) [the bride(?)] thou didst fondle,\n (Thereby) rejoicing thee\u2014fill\u2019d with the dust [is her body] . . . .\n . . . . he hath spoken and [into the\"' ground (?) is he sunken,\n . . . he hath spoken and [into the ground (?) is he sunken.\"\n \"[He who fell in . . . .]\n 100.[Didst thou see him?].\" \"(Aye), I saw . . . .\"\n(About seventeen lines missing).\n118.\"As a pillar beautiful\n [Props?] an inner por[tico (?)] . . .\n(About twenty-five lines missing).\n145.\"He who falleth from a pole\n Didst thou see him? \"(Aye), I saw]:\n Straightway for . . . .\n By removal of a plug . . . . . .\"\n \"He whom death . . . . . . . . .\n \"Didst thou see him?\" \"[(Aye) I saw]:\n He's at rest upon a couch,\n Limpid water doth he drink.\"\n \"(Then, the hero) slain in fight,\n Didst thou see him?\" \"(Aye) I saw:\n 150.Father, mother\u00a01 raise his head,\n O\u2019er him wife\u00a02 [in bitter woe].\"\n \"He whose corpse in desert lieth,\n Hast thou seen him?\" \"(Aye), I saw;\n Not in earth doth rest his spirit.\"\n \"He whose ghost hath none to tend,\n Didst thou see him?\" \"(Aye), I saw,\n Lees of cup, and broken bread\n Thrown into the street he eateth.\"\nTHE END OF THE EPIC OF GILGAMISH.\nSHARP AND SONS, BATH\n57:1 Assyrian Version. Apparently the previous tablet has ended with the short description of Erech and its architecture by Gilgamish, as a cue for the opening lines of the Twelfth Tablet. The \"Architect\" must be Gilgamish: and the description of seine and net passing through his house, parallel to the phrase in the First Tablet, Column II, must a be a euphemism for the death of Enkidu. Gilgamish, having failed to learn the secret of eternal life is now reduced to calling up his dead friend to know the worst which he may expect. He asks what must the mourner do to avoid being haunted by the ghost: and then proceeds to do exactly the contrary in order that. Enkidu may return to haunt him.\n57:2 Or, if it is the Architect speaking, \"my dwelling.\"\n57:3 These lines are capable of two restorations: either \"If thou [drawest] . . . unto . . ., then the ghosts will accompany thee to thy Temple,\" or \"If thou [drawest] . . . unto . ., or go to the Temple.\" Some slight restoration can be made from I. 31.\n58:1 Shaddata, shadadu being used in medicine for sucking or drawing vapour through a tube. This short poem may be the regular lament of the professional mourner.\n58:2 There is a little confusion in the next three or four lines, in comparison with the previous parallel text, and it may be that we should boldly emend or correct them accordingly.\n58:3 Lit. \"\u2019twas the earth [seized h]im,\" or \"\u2019twas the earth [ditto].\"\n58:4 It is uncertain what is to be restored for the two mutilated words at the beginning.\n60:1 Lit. \"his father and his mother.\"\n60:2 Lit. \"and o\u2019er him his wife ....\"","title":"The Epic of Gilgamish: The Twelfth Tablet: Gilgamish, In ...","type":"page"}