Reading translation from the Spanish text reproduced here; brackets and gaps follow that text.
The 12 Sumerian tablets dated between 2750–2600 BC, on which appear the poems recounting the great epics of Gilgamesh, place him as a deified king of the Sumerian city of Uruk. This poem is considered the most important literary-religious work of Akkadian literature and the first of humanity’s great literary epics.
The poem raises the great human questions: the meaning of life, the anguish before death, and the search for immortality.
The Poem of Gilgamesh
I will proclaim to the world the deeds of Gilgamesh… the man to whom all things were known… he was wise… he knew secret things, he brought us a tale from before the Flood. He set out on a long journey, he was weary, worn out with labour; on his return he rested and engraved the whole story on a stone tablet. Prologue of the Epic Poem of Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh was the lord of Uruk, in Mesopotamia. Being part human and part divine, he was so arrogant that the gods decided to create the warrior Enkidu, who was to equal him in strength.
Enkidu and Gilgamesh fought fiercely against each other at their first encounter, but afterwards became close friends and set out together to slay Humbaba, “the great evil”.
On his return, the goddess Ishtar saw the beauty of Gilgamesh and asked him to marry her, but he refused. Furious, she then asked her father Anu to create the Bull of Heaven to destroy the earth. But Enkidu and Gilgamesh slew it. At that moment, the gods decided that one of the heroes must pay, and Enkidu fell ill and died. Weeping, Gilgamesh set out on a journey to find Utnapishtim, the forefather of humanity, and ask him why all must die. He travels to the ends of the earth, and on the return journey finds a plant capable of restoring youth to the aged. One day, stopping to drink from a pool, a serpent eats the plant—which is why serpents shed their skin and become young again, while men grow old and die.
Tablet I
He who saw all [to the confine]s of the earth, [Who all thing]s experienced, [conside]red everything. […] together […], […] of wisdom, who all things.[…]. (He saw [the h]idden, [unveiled] the veiled. He reported before the Flood, He accomplished a long journey, weary and [worn] out. All his toil he engraved on a stele of stone. Of the terraced Uruk he built the wall, Of the revered Eanna, the pure sanctuary.
Behold its outer wall, whose cornice is like copper! Look at the inner wall, which nothing equals! Observe its threshold, which is of ancient times!
Draw near to Eanna, the dwelling of Ishtar, Which no future king, no man, can equal. Rise up and walk along the walls of Uruk, Inspect the base terrace, examine its brickwork:
Is it not burnt brick? Did not the Seven [Sages] lay its foundations?
Tablet II
Two thirds of him are god, [one third of him is human]. The form of his body[…] (lines mutilated or missing) […] like a proud wild ox […]; The thrust of his weapons has no equal. By the drum his companions are assembled. The nobles of Uruk are gloo[my] in [their cham]bers:
"Gilgamesh leaves no son to [his] father; [Day] and [night] his arro[gance] is unbridled. [Is this Gilga]mesh, [the shepherd of walled] Uruk? Is this [our] shepherd, [bold, majestic, wise]?
[Gilgamesh] leaves [no maiden to her mother], [The daughter of the warrior, the wife of the noble]! The [gods heard] their complaints. The gods of heaven [they…] the lord of Uruk:
"Did not [Aruru] give birth to this mighty wild ox? [The thrust of his weapons] truly has no equal. By the drum his [companions] are assembled. Gilgamesh leaves no son to his father; Day and night [his arrogance is unbridled].
Is this the shepherd of [walled] Uruk? Is this his […] shepherd, Bold, majestic (and) wise?..
Gilgamesh leaves no maiden to [her mother], [The daughter of the warrior, the wife of the noble!]"
When [Anu] had heard their complaints, They called upon great Aruru: “You, Aruru, created [man]; Now create his double; With his stormy heart let him compete. Let them strive with each other, so that Uruk may know peace!”
When Aruru heard this, She conceived within her a double of Anu. Aruru washed her hands, Took clay and cast it upon the steppe. [In the step]pe she created valiant Enkidu, Offspring of…, essence of Ninurta. [Shag]gy with hair is his whole body, He has hair on his head like a woman. The locks of his hair spring up like Nisaba.
He knows no people nor land: He goes clothed like Sumuqan. With the gazelles he grazes on the grass, With the wild beasts he jostles at the watering place, With the teeming creatures his heart delights in the water.
(Now) a hunter, a trapper, Confronted him at the watering trough [One] day, a second and a third He confronted him at the watering trough When the hunter saw him, his face froze.
He and his animals entered his house, [Seized with] fear, still, without a sound, (While) his heart [was troubled], his face clouded. For anguish had [entered] his belly; His face was like [that of a traveller] arrived from afar.
Tablet III
The hunter opened [his mouth] to speak, Saying to [his father]:
“My father, there is [a] man who [has come from the hills], He is the most power[ful in the land]; he has strength. [Like the essence] of Anu, so tremendous is his strength! [Always] he roams the hills, [Always] with the beasts [he feeds on grass]. [Always he plants] his feet at the watering place. [So frightened am I that] I dare not approach him! [He has filled in] the pits that I had dug, [He has torn up] my traps that I had [set], The beasts and the creatures of the plain [He has made escape from my hands]. [He does not allow me to] pursue the hunt!”
[His father opened his mouth to speak], Saying to the hunter:
“[My son], in Uruk [lives] Gilgamesh. [There is none stronger] than he. [Like the essence of Anu, so tre]mendous is his strength! [Go, then; direct] your face [toward Uruk], [Tell him] of the power of the man. [Have him give you a harlot]. Take (her) [with you]; (20) [She will prevail over him] by reason of [greater] power. [When the animals drink at] the watering place, [She will remove] her gar[ment, baring naked] her ripeness. [As soon as he sees] her, he will approach her. [The beasts that grew up] in his steppe will reject him!”
[Heeding] his father’s counsel, The hunter set out [toward Gilgamesh]. He took the road, set [foot] in Uruk:
“[… ] Gilga[mesh… ], There is a man [who has come from the hills], (30) The most power[ful in the land; he has strength]. Like the essence of Anu, so tremendous is [his strength]. [Always] he roams the hills, Always with the beasts [he feeds on grass]. Always [he plants] his feet at the watering place. So frightened am I that I dare not approach [him]! He has filled in the pits that [I] had dug, He has torn up my traps [that I had set], The beasts and the creatures [of the plain] He has made escape from my hands. He does not allow me to pursue the hunt!”
Gilgamesh said to [the] hunter:
“Go, my hunter; take with you a harlot. When the animals drink at the watering place, She will remove her garment, baring naked her ripeness. As soon as he sees her, he will approach her. The beasts that grew up in his steppe will reject him!”
The hunter went, taking with him a harlot. They set out on the road, going straight in their direction. On the third day they arrived at the appointed place. The hunter and the harlot sat down in their places.
One day, a second day, they sat beside the watering place. The wild beasts came to the watering place to drink.
Tablet IV
The teeming creatures came, their hearts delighting in the water. As for him, Enkidu, born in the hills — With the gazelles he grazes on the grass, With the wild beasts he drinks at the watering place, With the teeming creatures his heart delights in the water —
The lass beheld him, the savage, The barbarous man from the depths of the plain:
“There he is, O lass! Bare your breasts, Uncover your bosom that he may possess your ripeness! Be not bashful! Welcome his ardour! As soon as he sees you, he will draw near to you. Cast off your garment so that he may lie upon you. Show the savage the work of a woman! The wild beasts that grew up in his steppe will reject him, When his love enters into you.”
The lass freed her breasts, bared her bosom, And he possessed her ripeness. She was not bashful as she welcomed his ardour. She cast off her garment and he rested upon her. She showed the savage the ways of a woman, When his love entered into her. For six days and seven nights Enkidu comes forth, Cohabiting with the lass. After he had had his fill of her charms, He turned his face toward his wild beasts. On seeing him, Enkidu, the gazelles fled, The wild beasts of the plain drew away from his body. Enkidu was amazed, his body was rigid, His knees motionless — for his wild beasts had fled.
Enkidu had to slacken his pace — it was not as before. But then he has [wi]sdom, broader [under]standing. He turned back, sitting at the feet of the harlot. He looks into the face of the harlot, His ears attentive as the harlot speaks; [The harlot] says to him, to Enkidu:
“You are [wise], Enkidu, you are like a god! Why do you roam the plain with the wild creatures? Come!, let me take you [to] walled Uruk, To the holy temple, dwelling of Anu and Ishtar, Where Gilgamesh lives, perfect in strength, And like a wild ox lords it over the people.”
As she speaks to him, her words find favour, His heart is enlightened, he yearns for a friend. Enkidu says to her, to the harlot:
"Arise, lass! Escort me To the pure sacred temple, dwelling of Anu and Ishtar, Where Gilgamesh lives, perfect in strength, And like a wild ox lords it over the people. I will challenge him and [bold]ly address him,
Tablet V
I will shout in Uruk: ‘I am the mighty one! [I am he] who can alter destinies, [(He) who] was born in the plain is mighty; he has strength’".
"[Rise, then, and let us go, that he may see] your face. [I will show you Gilgamesh; where] he is I know well. Come, then, oh Enkidu, to walled [Uruk], Where the people [shine] in festive attire, (Where) every day is a festival, Where […] young men… And young [w]omen […] of figure. Their ripeness […] full of perfume. They drive the great ones from their beds! To you, oh Enkidu, who delight in life, I will show Gilgamesh, the joyful man.
Look at him, behold his face; He is radiant with virility, he has strength. His whole body is magnificent with ripeness, He has strength more powerful than yours, Without ever resting by day or night. Oh Enkidu, renounce your presumption! Gilgamesh — him does Shamash esteem; Anu, Enlil and Ea have broadened his wisdom. Before you come down from the hills, Gilgamesh will see you in (his) dreams in Uruk:…"