The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)
(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal…)
(Ninhursag‘s creature creation = Enkidu, Anu‘s creature creation = Bull of Heaven)
A version of unknown provenance, supplemented from Nippur mss.
Segment A
A1-A4 I will sing the song of the man of battle, the man of battle.
(Gilgamesh, 5th mixed-breed giant king of Uruk)
I will sing the song of lord Gilgamec (King Gilgamesh), the man of battle,
I will sing the song of him with the well-proportioned limbs, the man of battle.
I will sing the song of the mighty …… lord, the man of battle.
A5-A11 I will sing the song of the lord with the very black beard, the man of battle.
I will sing the song of …… athletic strength, the man of battle.
…… the king, the man ……; my king ……, my lord …… garden …….
…… courtyard, …… jipar; (1 ms. has instead: …… his mother who bore him spoke to the lord:
“My king …… in the river, my lord …… your garden.”
2 lines unclear)
unknown number of lines missing
Segment B
2 lines unclear
(ancient fisticuffs for sport, the “sweet science”)
B3-B6 In the great courtyard, without there being any combat, a man …….
She perceived the canopy, the canopy ……,
(Ba’al – Utu & Inanna, Goddess of Love & War)
holy Inanna (Enlil‘s granddaughter) perceived the canopy,
from the palace of the abzu, she perceived the canopy ……:
B7-B12 “My wild bull, my …… man, I shall not let you go!
Lord Gilgamec, my wild bull, my …… man, I shall not let you go!
I shall not let you go to dispense justice
(E-ana, mud brick-built ziggurat mountain residence of giant alien gods in Uruk)
in the E-ana (Anu‘s temple residence in Uruk, later taken by Inanna)!
I shall not let you go to pronounce verdicts in my holy jipar!
(Anu, King of Nibiru & Earth Colony, sent his sons to colonize Earth)
I shall not let you go to dispense justice in the E-ana beloved by An (Anu)!
Gilgamec, may you be ……, may you be ……!”
B13-B18 (Gilgamec speaks:)
“I shall certainly not try to take over the portion of Inanna in your jipar.
Ninegal (Bau) will not …… because of my valorous strength.
But Inanna, lady, don’t you block my way, either!
(Goddess of Love Inanna & Gilgamesh)
My wish is to catch (?) mountain bulls, to fill the cow-pens.
I wish to catch (?) mountain sheep, to fill the sheepfolds.
I wish to …… silver and cornelian.”
B19-B30 The queen spoke with a snort; Inanna spoke with a snort: “…… say to you.
…… say to you.
……, Gilgamec.”
7 lines damaged
B31-B36 (An speaks:) “Its entrails (?)……. Its hide ……. Its blood …….,
1 line damaged
“Inanna, it will muddy the waters; it will …… cowpats.
My one beloved by An, …….”
(King Anu, ruling planet Nibiru & its colonies such as Earth)
B37-B41 He let her hold the leash. An (Anu, king of all alien gods) …….
“My child, who does it belong to?” (1 ms. has instead: “My child, what use would it be?”)
“It will stir up the waters, it will leave …… cowpats ……!
If the great bull is let loose, …… Unug (Uruk / Biblical Erech)!
If the great bull is let loose against Gilgamec, …… Unug!
I will not give her that which bears my own name.”
B42-B45 (Inanna speaks:) “Maybe it will muddy the waters, and will leave gigantic cowpats —
(Inanna Utu Bull of Heaven Gilgamesh)
but let my father give me the Bull of Heaven (alien bio-technologies),
so I can kill the lord, so I can kill the lord, so I can kill the lord, lord Gilgamec!”
(Anu & Inanna atop her zodiac symbol Leo)
B46-B49 Great An replied to holy Inanna:
“My child, the Bull of Heaven would not have any pasture, as its pasture is on the horizon.
Maiden Inanna, the Bull of Heaven can only graze where the sun rises.
So I cannot give the Bull of Heaven to you!”
B50-B51 Holy Inanna replied to him:
“I shall shout, and make my voice reach heaven and earth!”
B52-B54 He was frightened, he was frightened. (1 ms. adds here: …… was frightened of Inanna.)
Great An replied to holy Inanna: “I shall give her the Bull of Heaven.”
(Inanna Utu Bull of Heaven Gilgamesh)
(instead of approx. lines 52-54, 1 ms. has:
She made her voice reach heaven ……, she made her voice reach earth;
she made her voice reach heaven ……, she made her voice reach earth.
It covered them like a woolen garment, it was spread over them like a linen garment.
…… who could speak to her?
…… who could speak to her?
…… gave …….)
B55-B63 In masculine fashion, the maiden Inanna grasped it by the lapis-lazuli (gemstone) tether.
Holy Inanna brought the Bull of Heaven out (1 ms. has instead: down).
(Uruk, ziggurat home of alien giants)
At Unug (Uruk), the Bull devoured the pasture, and drank the water of the river in great slurps.
With each slurp it used up one mile of the river, but its thirst was not satisfied.
It devoured the pasture and stripped the land bare (alien bio-technologies).
It broke up the palm trees of Unug, as it bent them to fit them into its mouth.
When it was standing, the Bull submerged Unug.
The very presence (1 ms. has instead: the name) of the Bull of Heaven submerged Kulaba.
As he looked up ……, leaning (?) ……
1 line unclear
(giant mixed-breed King Gilgamesh statue at University of Sydney, Australia)
(1 ms. has instead: Then lord Gilgamec …… his musician.)
(a second ms. has instead: Gilgamec …… his musician Lugal-gabajal.
(artifact of ancient Sumerian lyre musician)
“My musician, tune your strings, …… give me a drink, ……. …… bronze …… in your hand …….
His musician …….”) (a third ms. has instead: …… replied to Lugal-gabajal,
“Lugal-gabajal, tune your strings; I wish to have a drink!”
(Lugal-gabajal answers:) “…… drink, that is why nothing of yours is important.”
…… replied to Lugal-gabajal.) (instead of approx. lines 64-67, a fourth ms. Has:
3 lines unclear
…… drink, lord ……. …… drink, lord …….
7 lines missing or unclear
…… Unug …….)
B68-B83 Lord Gilgamec ……. Inanna …… the Bull of Heaven.
At Unug, the Bull ……, and drank the water of the river in great slurps.
With each slurp it used up one mile of the river, but its thirst was not satisfied.
It devoured the pasture and stripped the land bare. (1 ms. adds here: His lady ……. Gilgamec …… said,
(alien giant goddess Ninsun, mother to mixed-breed King Gilgamesh)
“My mother ……, my sister ……, will …… the cattle to their tethering stakes,
will …… the sheep to their tethering stakes, will …… to their tethering stakes.”
(Enkidu, Bull of Heaven, & Gilgamesh)
Gilgamec ……, “Bull of Heaven, you, yes you, ……; you, yes you — you do not …….” Gilgamec …….)
5 lines unclear
“They will throw your corpse in the deserted streets, and throw your intestines in the broad square.
They will send your carcass to the knacker’s, and I shall share out your meat
in baskets to the widows’ sons who are citizens of my city …….
I shall make flasks of your two horns for pouring fine oil to Inanna in E-ana.”
(E-anna, Anu‘s, Inanna‘s, Ninsun‘s, etc. temple residence in Uruk)
B84-B90 Inana watched from the top of the ramparts.
The Bull bellowed in the dust, and Gilgamec walked (?)
at its head as Enkidu climbed up the rope of its …….
Their fellow-citizens came along …….
It covered them with dust, like a young calf unused to the yoke.
Enkidu stood behind the Bull and went round …….
(Gilgamesh Enkidu & Bull of Heaven)
(1 ms. has instead: He put …… and seized its tail.)
He spoke to his master Gilgamec:
B91-B103 “Ho! magnificent one, extending your staff of office,
born of noble lineage, splendor of the gods, furious bull standing ready for battle,
who is respected as the great lord Gilgamec of Unug!
Your mother (Ninsun) was truly skilled in bearing (giant semi-divine mixed-breed) children,
and your nurse was truly skilled in suckling her charges!
(1 ms. adds: Lord born of noble (divine) lineage, ……)
Do not fear — the warrior without strength …… himself (?).
There where the road is straight ……. …… ax ……. “
4 lines unclear
unknown number of lines missing
A version from Me-Turan
Segment A
A1-A7 I will sing the song of the man of battle, the man of battle.
(giant mixed-breed Gilgamesh, 5th King of Uruk)
I will sing the song of lord Gilgamec, the man of battle,
I will sing the song of the lord with the very black beard, the man of battle.
I will sing the song of him with the well-proportioned limbs, the man of battle.
I will sing the song of him in his prime (?), the man of battle.
I will sing the song of him who batters the wicked, the man of battle.
The king, the lord, having …… (Ninsun) as his mother who bore him ……, wishing to wash (?) in the river.
A8-A18 My lord, entering the garden planted with junipers, as you set to work;
the lord, coming from the jipar, sheared the wool of the fleecy sheep ……; …… he sat down …….
The king …… bending …… with the oar;
the prince covered …… with the oar, as if it was of flourishing reed.
You covered their wicked ones, as if ……, with water.
He gave …… to his mother who bore him.
(Uruk city located way below alien gods residence)
In the wide courtyard ……, Gilgamec …….
1 line unclear
In the great courtyard …….
A19-A21 Then …… the canopy …….
Holy Inanna perceived the canopy, from the palace of the Abzu, she perceived the canopy:
A22-A27 “My wild bull, my man, I shall not let you ……!
Gilgamec, I shall not let you ……!
I shall not let you dispense justice in my E-ana!
I shall not let you pronounce verdicts in my holy jipar!
I shall not let you dispense justice in the E-ana beloved by An!
Gilgamec, may you ……, may I …….”
A28-A39 The king …… these words, the king …… to his mother who bore him.
(lovely goddess Ninsun, daughter to Ninurta & Bau)
Gilgamec …… to Ninsun (his mother) ……:
(Inanna Gilgamesh Utu Enkidu Ninsun)
“O mother who bore me, how ……!
By the door of the great gate ……
From the crenellations of the wall ……:
“My wild bull, my man, I shall not let you go ……!
Gilgamec, I shall not let you go ……!
You dispensed justice in my E-ana — I shall not let you go!
You pronounced verdicts in my holy jipar — I shall not let you go, in his beloved …… E-ana!”
A40-A41 When he had spoken thus to the mother who bore him,
the (goddess) mother who bore him replied to Gilgamec:
(DNA god Ningishzidda entwined with snakes, & Ninsun with two of her giant mixed-breed son-kings)
approx. 8 lines missing
Segment B
B1-B6 Holy Inanna ……. An ……. …… the bond of heaven.
(earthling, Utu, Adad, Inanna, Bull of Heaven, & Utu in the mountains)
An …… to holy Inanna: “My child, …….”
Inanna replied …….:
19 lines fragmentary
unknown number of lines missing
Segment C
It is uncertain if this segment belongs here
unknown number of lines missing
Segment D
D5-D9 “My musician, Lugal-gabajar, perform your song, tune your strings!
Give me beer to drink! Fill my bronze jug again! ……”
Lugal-gabajar replied to his master, Gilgamec: “My master, you may eat, and you may drink —
but as for me, how does this matter concern me?”
D10-D15 To defeat the Bull, ……, Gilgamec, to defeat the Bull, …….
…… his harness of fifty (text: five-sixths) minas.
…… his sword weighing seven talents and thirty minas.
…… his battle ax.
“My mother who bore me …….”
(Ninsun, mother goddess to many mixed-breed kings)
His mother who bore him ……
Pectur (mixed-breed), his little sister ……. Gilgamec ……
(Ninsun, her giant son-king, & Nannar seated)
“My mother who bore me, in the house (?) of Enki (?) ……. Pectur, the little sister,
……, will bring back the cattle to their tethering stakes ……,
will bring back the sheep to their tethering stakes …….”
D24-D32 “Bull of Heaven, you — you, ……, yes, you!
You crush them ……, and I crush them …….
If you crush them, ……
They shall consign your hide to the streets …….
They shall consign your intestines to the broad square …….
The widows’ sons of my city shall each take their share of your meat in baskets.
They shall consign your carcass to the knacker’s,
and I shall turn your two horns into flasks for pouring fine oil to Inanna in E-ana.”
D33-D38 The Bull …… in the dust.
(Gilgamesh, his alien goddess mother Ninsun, & Enkidu)
Their fellow-citizens ……. …… with dust, like a young calf unused to the yoke.
Enkidu stood by (?) the Bull‘s head and spoke to Gilgamec:
D39-D44 “Ho! magnificent one, extending your staff of office, born of noble lineage,
splendor of the gods, furious-hearted bull, standing ready for battle, warrior, …… your hand …….
The people ……, the people …….”
(Enkidu, creature-companion to Gilgamesh)
D45-D48 When Enkidu had spoken thus to Gilgamec,
(Gilgamesh, too big & powerful for all, less than the gods themselves)
Gilgamec himself smote its skull with his ax weighing seven talents.
The Bull reared up so high, so high that it overbalanced.
It spattered like rain, it spread itself out like the harvested crop.
D49-D52 The king took his knife in his hand, just as if he were a master chef.
He hit Inanna with a haunch, he made her flee away like a pigeon,
and demolished those ramparts.
Standing by (?) the Bull‘s head, the king wept bitter tears:
“Just as I can destroy you, so shall I do the same to her (?).”
D53-D59 As he spoke, he consigned its hide to the streets, he consigned its intestines
to the broad square, and the widows’ sons of his city each took their share of its meat in baskets.
He consigned its carcass to the knacker’s, and turned its two horns into flasks
for pouring fine oil to Inanna in E-ana.
(Gilgamesh kills Bull of Heaven)
For the death of the Bull of Heaven:
holy Inanna, it is sweet to praise you!
Fragment of an earlier version from Nippur (Enlil‘s city), dating to the Third Dynasty of Ur
Segment A
unknown number of lines missing
A1-A8 Seed of the jipar (= Gilgamec?) ……; he sat on the ……;
that which was in the marsh, my king, to bend that which was in the marsh with the oar,
(Enki in the Abzu marshes with 2 unidentified gods)
the lord covered it with water with the oar, as if they were flourishing reeds.
That which exceeded, as if it was a reed (?) ……, he covered with water.
(Uruk residence of giant alien gods)
In the wide courtyard …… of the temple of Inanna Gilgamec …….
A9-A13 My king, entering the garden of junipers, as you set to work, the seed of the jipar ……
the sheep of the queen (?) …… sheared (?) the wool; he sat on the …….
He leant (?) over the marsh; my king leant (?) over the marsh; he bent it with the oar.
A14-A15 The lord covered it with water as if they were flourishing reeds;
that which exceeded, as if it was a reed (?) ……, he covered it with water.
unknown number of lines missing
Segment B
B1-B4 I (?) shall not try to take over the portion of Inanna in the jipar;
…… shall not cover my valiant arm with a garment (?)!