GILGAMESH TEXT AND TRANSMISSION
MESOPOTAMIA ANATOLIA LEVANT 3000-2000 Sumer (3000-2000) Akkad (2300-2100) 2000-1000 Old Babylonian (2000-1600) Old Assyrian (1900-1800) Middle Babylonian (1600-1100) Middle Assyrian (1300-1000) Hurrian (1700-1200) Hittite (1700-1200) Canaanite (2000-1200) Israelite (1200-721) 1000-500 Neo-Assyrian (800-600) Neo-Babylonian (600-500)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” Libraries at Nineveh of Asshurbanipal (668-627)
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh
Cylinder Seal
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” Libraries at Nineveh of Asshurbanipal (668-627)
Sumerian King List
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Early Gilgamesh Narratives (ca 2500-2200 BCE) “Gilgamesh and Agga” Gilgamesh of Uruk is besieged by Agga of Kish. He sends an attendant to distract Agga while Gilgamesh collects his army and routs the enemy. “Gilgamesh and the Land of the Living” (OR “Gilgamesh and Huwawa” OR “Gilgamesh and the Cedar Forest”) Gilgamesh and Enkidu are guided by Utu to the Cedar Forest sacred to Enlil. There they defeat the monster Huwawa, guardian of the forest. They cut down trees from the forest. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu are cursed by Enlil. “Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven” Gilgamesh rejects the erotic advances of Inanna. She sends the Bull of Heaven to avenge this insult. Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the bull.
“Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld (OR Gilgamesh and the Huluppu Tree)” Inanna plants a huluppu tree, intending to make furniture from it when it is fully grown. The inhabitants of the tree — an anzu bird, the demon Lilit, and a snake — refuse to be dislodged. Gilgamesh kills the serpent, scares the other demons away, and cuts the tree down. Inanna uses some of the wood to make the pukku and the mukku, which later fall into Ereshkigal. Enkidu descends to retrieve them, and becomes trapped. The god Enki tells the sun god Utu to burn a hole In Ereshkigal, through which Enkidu's ghost emerges and tells Gilgamesh about existence after death. “The Death of Gilgamesh” Gilgamesh expresses resentment about his own (or Enkidu's?) death.
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” 650 Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” 650 Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” 650 Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Hammurapi (1792-1750)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” 650 Libraries at Nineveh of Ashurbanipal (668-627)
Chronology 2700-2500 Historical King Gilgamesh (Bilgames) of Uruk, 2nd Early Dynastic Period 2500-2400 Oral tradition: "Gilgamesh & the Land of the Living"; "Gilgamesh, Enkidu & the Netherworld"; "The Death of Gilgamesh"; "Gilgamesh & the Bull of Heaven"; "The Deluge" 2300 Akkadian Empire of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279) 2000 Sumerian text commissioned by Shulgi of Ur (2094-2047) 2000-1600 Akkadian Gilgamesh epic based on Sumerian and Akkadian (Atrahasis) sources: “Surpassing All Other Kings” 1800 Babylonian Empire of Hammurapi (1792-1750) 1600-1000 Internationalization of epic. Prologue, Flood Tale, Tablet XII added. 1100 Standard Version (Sin-leqi-unnini): “He Who Saw the Deep” 650 Libraries at Nineveh of Asshurbanipal (668-627)
Ashurbanipal (668-627)
TABLET SUMMARY I Gilgamesh of Uruk rules his subjects abusively. The gods in response create a match for him in the figure of the wildman Enkidu, who wreaks havoc on the countryside. Lured into intercourse with a temple prostitute sent to tame him, Enkidu loses his natural powers and becomes "civilized." II He and Gilgamesh fight to a stalemate, after which they adopt each other as brothers. III Together they plan an expedition to the Cedar Forest, in search of glory. IV Journey to the Cedar Forest. Admonitory dreams. V They defeat the monster Huwawa, guardian of the forest, then cut down the cedars and use them to build the great temple door in Nippur. VI Gilgamesh rejects the erotic advances of Inanna, goddess of sexuality. Enraged, she sends the Bull of Heaven against them, but they destroy it too. Enkidu insults Inanna. VII As punishment, the gods make Enkidu die. On his deathbed, Enkidu curses the temple prostitute who seduced him and conveys to Gilgamesh a vision of the miserable existence awaiting all mortals in the Land of Ereshkigal, Queen of the Dead.
Gilgamesh & Enkidu
Enkidu
Huwawa
Huwawa
Gilgamesh, Huwawa, Enkidu
Inanna
Bull of Heaven
TABLET SUMMARY VIII Lamentation over Enkidu. IX Distraught, Gilgamesh wanders the earth in search of Dilmun, a paradise in which Uta-napishtim and his wife, once mortal, now live eternally. He wrestles lions, encounters the Scorpion-Beings, travels through the darkness of Mount Mashu, and finally reaches the tavern of Siduri, on the shore of the Persian Gulf (?). X She directs him to the ferryman Urshanabi, who conveys him across the Waters of Death. XI Uta-napishtim tells him the story of the Flood, and how he received eternal life. Gilgamesh fails a test to determine whether he himself is eligible for immortality, and is banished from Dilmun. As a consolation, he is given a plant that insures rejuvenation. He decides to take it back to Uruk and feed it to the old men of the city, but on his way home it is stolen by a snake. Gilgamesh returns empty-handed, and rules Uruk wisely and justly until his inevitable death. The epic closes with a funeral dirge.
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh