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

PENNSYLVANIA TABLET.
| Transliteration. | Translation. |
Col. I.
| 1it-bi-e-ma $^d$Giš 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 |
| 5i-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. |
| 10Uruk$^{ki}$ 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. |
| ú-um-mi-id-ma pu-ti | It was raised up before me. |
| i-mi-du ia-ti | They stood me up. |
| áš-ši-a-šú-ma ab-ba-la-áš-šú a-na ṣi-ri-ki | I bore it and carried it to thee.” |
| 15um-mi $^d$Giš mu-di-a-at ka-la-ma | The mother of Gish, who knows all things, |
| iz-za-kàr-am a-na $^d$Giš | Spoke to Gish: |
| mi-in-di $^d$Giš 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, |
| 20ta-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 |
| 30e-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. |
| 35el-ki-šú-ma áš-ta-ka-an-šú | I took him and regarded him |
| a-na a-ḫi-ia | As my brother.” |
| um-mi $^d$Giš mu-da-at [ka]-la-ma | The mother of Gish, who knows all things, |
| [iz-za-kàr-am a-na $^d$Giš] | [Spoke to Gish]: |
| [$^d$Giš 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.” |
| $^d$Giš šú-na-tam i-pa-šar | Gish understood the dream. |
| $^d$En-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[$^d$En-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 |
| $^d$En-[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 |
| 50iz-za-[kàr-am] a-na $^d$En-ki-dũ | Spoke to Enkidu: |
| a-na-tal-ka $^d$En-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 |
| 55a-na libbi [Uruk$^{ki}$] 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, |
| $^d$En-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 [$^d$Giš gi]-it-ma-[lu] ne-pi-ši-tim | The place [where Gish is, perfect] in vitality. |
| 60ù 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. |
| 65mi-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 |
| 70ši-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. |
| 75i-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 |
| 85ù ip-pa-al-la-as | And gazed. |
| ú-ul i-di $^d$En-ki-dũ | Enkidu had not known |
| aklam a-na a-ka-lim | To eat food. |
| šikaram a-na šá-te-e-im | To drink wine |
| la-a lum-mu-ud | He had not been taught. |
| 90ḫa-ri-im-tum pi-šá i-pu-šá-am-ma | The woman opened her mouth and |
| iz-za-kàr-am a-na $^d$En-ki-dũ | Spoke to Enkidu: |
| a-ku-ul ak-lam $^d$En-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!” |
| 95i-ku-ul a-ak-lam $^d$En-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. |
| 100i-li-iṣ libba-šú-ma | His heart became glad and |
| pa-nu-šú [it]-tam-ru | His face shone. |
| ul-tap-pi-it [$^{lù}$ŠÚ]-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. |
| 105a-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, |
| 110uš-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; |
| $^d$En-ki-dũ ma-aṣ-ṣa-ar-šú-nu | Enkidu was their protector. |
| 115a-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: |
| 135šá-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 and he beholds him. |
| 140e-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.” |
| e-pi-šú i-pu-šá-am-ma | Then he opened his mouth and |
| iz-za-kàr-am a-na $^d$En-[ki-dũ] | Spoke to Enkidu: |
| bi-ti-iš e-mu-tim ik …… | ”[To have (?)] a family home |
| 145ši-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, |
| 150pi-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. |
| 155šú-ú pa-na-nu-um-ma | So before, |
| mu-uk wa-ar-ka-nu | As well as in the future. |
| 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.” |
| 160a-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.)
(About six lines missing)
| i-il-la-ak [$^d$En-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 Uruk$^{ki}$ 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. |
| 175iz-zi-za-am-ma i-na su-ḳi-im | As he stood in the streets |
| šá Uruk$^{ki}$ 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 $^d$Giš ma-ši-il pi-it-tam | “Like the form of Gish he has suddenly become; |
| 180la-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 |
| 185i-te-en-ni-ik | He was accustomed to suck.” |
| ka-a-a-na i-na [libbi] Uruk$^{ki}$ 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, |
| 190a-na $^d$Giš ki-ma i-li-im | To Gish, like a god, |
| šá-ki-iš-šum me-iḫ-rù | He became a rival to him. |
| a-na $^d$Iš-ḫa-ra ma-a-a-lum | For Ishḫara a couch |
| na-di-i-ma | Was stretched, and |
| $^d$Giš it-[ti-il-ma wa-ar-ka-tim] | Gish [lay down, and afterwards(?)] |
| 195i-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 $^d$En-ki-dũ] i-na sûḳim | [Enkidu stood] in the streets. |
| ip-ta-ra-[aṣ a-la]-ak-tam | He blocked the path |
| šá $^d$Giš | of Gish. |
| 200[a-na e-pi-iš] da-na-ni-iš-šú | At the exhibit of his power, |
(About three lines missing).
(About four lines missing.)
| šar(?)-ḫa | Strong(?) ... |
| $^d$Giš ... | Gish |
| 210i-na ṣi-ri-[šú il-li-ka-am $^d$En-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$^d$En-ki-dũ ba-ba-am ip-ta-ri-ik | Enkidu blocked the gate |
| i-na ši-pi-šú | With his foot, |
| $^d$Giš 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. |
| 220zi-ip-pa-am ’i-bu-tu | The threshold they demolished; |
| i-ga-rum ir-tu-tu | The wall they impaired. |
| $^d$Giš ù $^d$En-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. |
| 225zi-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, |
| ip-ši-iḫ uz-za-šú-ma | His wrath was appeased, |
| 230i-ni-iḫ i-ra-as-su | His breast was quieted. |
| iš-tu i-ra-su i-ni-ḫu | When his breast was quieted, |
| $^d$En-ki-dũ a-na šá-ši-im | Enkidu to him |
| iz-za-kàr-am a-na $^d$Giš | Spoke, to Gish: |
| ki-ma iš-te-en-ma um-ma-ka | “As a unique one, thy mother |
| 235ú-li-id-ka | bore thee. |
| ri-im-tum šá su-pu-ri | The wild cow of the stall, |
| $^d$Nin-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 |
| 240i-ši-im-kum $^d$En-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. |
* ↑ I.e., paid homage to the meteor.
* ↑ I.e., the heores of Erech raised me to my feet, or perhaps in the sense of “supported me.”
* ↑ I.e., Enkidu.
* ↑ I.e., "thy way of life."
* ↑ I.e., the man.
* ↑ I.e., an idiomatic phrase meaning "for all times."
* ↑ I.e., Enkidu became like Gish, godlike. Cf. col. 2, 11
* ↑ He was thrown and therefore vanquished.
* ↑ Epithet given to Ninsun. See the commentary to the line.