SEAL no. 1534
BM 96974 obv. (British Museum)
BM 96974 rev. (British Museum)
VAT 4105 obv. (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin)
VAT 4105 rev. (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin)
VAT 4105 edge (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin)
col. i
1' [x x x] ri-mi ti-⌈ša-nu⌉ [x x] x x x
2' [il-ta-b]a-aš ma-aš-ki-šu-nu i-ik-ka-al ši-ra-am
3' [ú-har-r]i? bu-ra-tim dGIŠ ša la ib-ši-a ma-ti-i-ma
4' [iš?]-ti-i-ma me-e i-re-ed-de ša-ri
5' dŠamšu(UTU)šu i-ta-šu-uš i-da-aq-qú-ús-su
6' iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na dGIŠ
7' dGIŠ e-eš ta-da-al
8' ba-la-ṭám ša ta-sa-ah-hu-ru la tu-ut-ta
9' dGIŠ a-na ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar a-na qú-ra-di-im dŠamši(UTUši)
10' iš-tu e-li ṣe-ri-im a-ta-al-lu-ki da-li-im
11' i-na li-ib-bu er-ṣe-tim sa-ka-pu-um ma-DU(ṭù?)du-ú
12' at-ti-il-lam-ma ka-lu ša-na-tim
13' ⌈i⌉-na-ia ša-am-ša-am! li-iṭ!(IB)-ṭú-la-a-ma na-wi-ir-tam lu-uš-bi
14' re-⌈qé-e⌉-et ek-le-tum ki ma-ṣi na-wi-ir-tum
15' ma-ti-[ma] mi-⌈tum⌉ li-mu-ra-am ša-ru-ru dŠamši(UTUši)
(There follows a gap of about 30 lines)
col. ii
0' [ib-ri ša a-ra-am-mu-šu da-an-ni-iš]
1' ⌈it-ti-ia it⌉-ta-al-la-ku ka-lu mar-ṣ[a-a-tim]
2' En-ki-du10 ša a-ra-am-mu-šu da-an-ni-iš
3' it-ti-ia it-ta-al-la-ku ka-lu mar-ṣa-a-tim
4' il-li-ik-ma a-na ši-ma-tu a-wi-lu-tim
5' ur-ri ù mu‑ši e-li-šu ab-ki
6' ú-ul ad-di-iš-šu a-na qé-bé-ri-im
7' ib-ri-ma-an i-ta-ab-bi-a-am a-na ri-ig-mi-ia
8' se-bé-et UD-mi-im ù se-bé mu-ši-a-tim
9' a-di tu-ul-tum im-qú-tam i-na ap-pí-šu
10' iš-tu wa-ar-ki-šu ú-ul ú-ta ba-la-ṭám
11' at-ta-na-ag-gi-iš ki-ma ha-bi-lim qá-ba-al-tu ṣe-ri
12' i-na-an-na sa-bi-tum a-ta-mar pa-ni-ki
13' mu-tam ša a-ta-na-ad-da-ru a-ia a-mu-ur
14' sa-bi-tum a-na ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na dGIŠ
col. iii
1 dGIŠ e-eš ta-da-a-al
2 ba-la-ṭám ša ta-sa-ah-hu-ru la tu-ut-ta
3 i-nu-ma ilū(DINGIRmeš) ib-nu-ú a-wi-lu-tam
4 mu-tam iš-ku-nu a-na a-wi-lu-tim
5 ba-la-ṭám i-na qá-ti-šu-nu iṣ-ṣa-ab-tu
6 at-ta dGIŠ lu ma-li ka-ra-aš-ka
7 ur-ri ù mu-ši hi-ta-ad-dú at-ta
8 UD-mi-ša-am šu-ku-un hi-du-tam
9 ur-ri ù mu-ši su-ur ù me-li-il
10 lu ub-bu-bu ṣú-ba!(KU)-tu-ka
11 qá-qá-ad-ka lu me-si me-e lu ra-am-ka-ta
12 ṣú-ub-bi ṣe-eh-ra-am ṣa-bi-tu qá-ti-ka
13 mar-hi-tum li-ih-ta-⌈ad-da-a-am⌉ i-na su-ni-⌈ka⌉
14 an-na-ma ši-i[m-ti a-wi-lu-tim?]
15 ⌈ša⌉ ba-al-ṭú x […]
16 dGIŠ a-na ša-a-š[i-im iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na sa-bi-tim]
17 mi-nam sa-bi-ti ta-ta-⌈wi-i⌉ [x (x) x x]
18 a-na ib-ri-ia li-ib-bi ma-r[u-uṣ x x x]
19 mi-nam sa-bi-ti ta-ta-wi-i x [(x) x x]
20 a-na En-ki-du10 li-ib-bi ma-ru-u[ṣ x x x]
21 wa-aš-ba-ti-i-ma sa-bi-ti i-na sa-pa-[an-nu tiʾāmtim(A.AB.BA)?]
22 am-ra-ti-i-ma li-ib-ba-ki ka-l[a x (x) x x]
23 ki-ib-sa-am ku-ul-li-mi [x (x) x]
24 šum-ma na-ṭú tiʾāmtam(A.AB.BA) [lu-bi-ir]
25 sa-bi-tum a-na ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-a[m a-na dGIŠ]
26 ú-ul ib-ši ⌈dGIŠ ša⌉ ki-ma ka-ta x [x x x]
27 a-li-i[k? x x x] ma-a[n-nu-um x x]
28 ⌈ma⌉-[am-ma? …] x […]
col. iv
1 šu-nu-ti uh-ta-ap-pí-a-am i-na uz-zi-šu
2 i-tu-ra-am-ma iz-za-az e-li-šu
3 Su!-ur-su-na-b[u] i-na-aṭ-ṭá-lam i-ni-šu
4 Su-ur-su-na-bu a-na ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na dGIŠ
5 ma-an-nu-um šu-um-ka qí-bi-a-am ia-ši-im
6 a-na-ku Su!-ur-su-na-bu ša Ú-ta-na-iš-tim ru-ú-qí-im
7 dGIŠ a-na ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na Su-ur-su-na-bu
8 dGIŠ šu-mi a-na-ku
9 ša al-li-kam iš-tu Uruk!ki!(DI) É-an-ni!
10 ša ás-hu-ra-am ša-di-i
11 ur-ha-am re-qé-e-tam wa-ṣa-ú dŠamši(UTUši)
12 i-na-an-na Su-ur-su-na-bu a-ta-mar pa-ni-ka
13 ku-ul-li-ma-an-ni ú-ta-na-iš-tim re-qá-am
14 Su-ur-su-na-bu a-na ⌈ša-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na d⌉GIŠ
15 Missing.
16 [… Ú-ta-na-iš-tim] ⌈re-qá-am⌉
17 [x x (x) x ta-ra-a]k-⌈ka-ba-am⌉ eleppam(MÁ)
18 [x x (x) x-š]a šu(-)iš-hi-ṭá-am lu-ṭe4-eh-hi ka-ta
19 [uš-bu]-⌈ú-ma⌉ uš-ta-ad-da-nu ki-la-al-la-an
20 ⌈ù?⌉ a-wa-tam i-qá-ab-bi šu-a-ši-im
21 [S]u-ur-su-na-bu a-na ⌈ša⌉-a-šum iz/is-za/sà-qar-am a-na dGIŠ
22 šu-ut ab-nim-ma dGIŠ mu-še-bi-ru-ú-ia
23 aš-šum la a-⌈la⌉-ap-pa-tu me-e mu-tim
24 i-na uz-zi-ka tu-úh-te-ep-pí-šu-nu-ti
25 [š]u-ut ab-nim [aš]-šum šu-bu-ri-im šu-nu it-ti-ia
26 [li-q]é-e-ma dG[IŠ] ha-ṣí-na-am i-na qá-ti-ka
27 [pa-r]i-si ša ṣú-up-pa-a 5 šu-ši ik-sa-am
28 [x x x] x-k/qum-ma šu-ku-un ṣe-re-e-ti[m]
29 […] ⌈i-na x (x) x tim?⌉[x (x)]
col. i
1' [...] wild bulls, the aurochs of [...,]
2' [he] clothed himself in their skins, eating their flesh,
3' Gilgameš [dug] wells that never existed before,
4' [he] drank the water as he chased the winds.
5' Šamaš became worried, so he bent down to him,
6' he spoke to Gilgameš:
7' “O Gilgameš, where are you wandering?
8' You cannot find the life that you seek.”
9' Gilgameš spoke to him, to the hero Šamaš:
10' “After roaming, wandering through the wild,
11' within the Netherworld there will be enough rest.
12' I shall lie asleep down all the years,
13' but now let my eyes look on the sun so I am sated with light.
14' Is the darkness far, how much light is there?
15' When may a dead man see the rays of the sun?
Lacuna. When the text resumes Gilgameš is speaking to the ale-wife:
col. ii
0' [My friend, whom I love deeply,]
1' who with me went through every danger,
2' Enkidu, whom I love deeply,
3' who with me went through every danger:
4' he went to the destiny of mankind.
5'' I wept over him day and night.
6' I did not give him up for burial –
7′ Would that my friend rise up at my cry –
8' for seven days and seven nights,
9' until a maggot dropped from his nostril.
10' After he was gone I did not find life.
11′ I wandered about like a bandit through the midst of the wild.
12' Now, ale-wife, I have seen your face,
13' but I would not see death, that I ever fear.”
14' The ale-wife spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
col. iii
1 “O Gilgameš, where are you wandering?
2 You cannot find the life that you seek:
3 when the gods created mankind,
4 for mankind they established death,
5 life they kept for themselves.
6 You, Gilgameš, let your belly be full,
7 keep enjoying yourself, day and night.
8 Every day make merry,
9 dance and play day and night.
10 Let your clothes be clean!
11 Let your hand be washed, may you be bathed in water.
12 Gaze on the little one who holds your hand!
13 Let a wife keep enjoying herself in your lap. Let a wife ever rejoice in your lap?
14 Such is the destiny [of mortal men],
15 that one who lives [...]”
16 Gilgameš [spoke] to her, [to the ale-wife:]
17 “Why, O ale-wife, do you talk [...?]
18 My heart is sick for my friend [...]
19 Why, O ale-wife, do you talk [...?]
20 My heart is sick for my Enkidu [...]
21 You dwell, O ale-wife, on the shore [of the ocean,]
22 you are familiar with all [...]
23 Show me the way [to ...!]
24 If it can be done [I will cross] the ocean!”
25 The ale-wife spoke to him, [to Gilgameš:]
26 “There was not, Gilgameš, one like you [...]
27 One who travels [...] who [...?]
28 Nobody [...]”
Lacuna. When the text resumes Gilgameš has fallen on the Stone Ones:
col. iv
1 He smashed them in his fury.
2 He came back to stand over him,
3 as Sursunabu looked him in the eye.
4 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
5 “What is your name? Tell me!
6 I am Sursunabu, of Ūta-naʾištim, the Distant.”
7 G. spoke to him, to Sursunabu:
8 “Gilgameš is my name,
9 who came from Uruk-Eanna,
10 who came around the mountains,
11 a road so distant where the sun rises.
12 Now, Sursunabu, I have seen your face,
13 show me Ūta-naʾištim, the Far-Away!”
14 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
15 “[...]
16 [to reach Ūta-naʾištim the] Far-Away,
17 [... you] must travel by boat,
18 [...] ..., I will take you near to (him).”
19 [They sat] down, talking it over between the two of them
20 and (Sursunabu) saying a word to him.
21 Sursunabu spoke to him, to Gilgameš:
22 The Stone Ones, Gilgameš, were what enabled me to cross,
23 because I must not touch the Waters of Death.
24 In your fury you have smashed them.
25 The Stone Ones were with me to take me across.
26 [Take] up, Gilgameš, the axe in your hand,
27 cut me three hundred [punting]-poles, each sixty cubits.
28 [...] ..., and equip them with bosses,
29 [...] in ... [...]”
Remainder lost.
| Word | Translation | Semantic | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| abnum (NA4) | stone, rock | Materials | iv 22, 25 |
| appum | nose, tip, crown (of tree) | Body/Body parts | ii 9' |
| būrtum | cistern, well, fish pond, source (of river), hole, pit | Fabricated objects | i 3' |
| Eanna | TN | Locations/Buildings | iv 9? |
| eleppum ((giš)MÁ) | ship, boat | iv 17 | |
| Enkidu | PN | PN | ii 2', iii 20 |
| erṣetum (KI) | earth, land, netherworld | Nature/Cosmological phenomena | i 11' |
| Gilgameš | PN | i 3', i 6', i 7', i 9', ii 14', iii 1, iii 6, iii 16, iii 21, [iii 25], iii 26, iv 4, iv 7, iv 8, iv 14, iv 21, iv 22, iv 26 | |
| ḫābilum II | trapper | ii 11' | |
| ḫaṣṣinnum | axe | iv 26 | |
| īnum (IGI) | eye | Body/Body parts | i 13', iv 3 |
| karšum | stomach, interior, womb; mind, understanding | Body/Body parts | iii 6 |
| kibsum | track, footprint, way | Body/Body parts,Nature/Cosmological phenomena | iii 23 |
| marḫītum | mate, wife, spouse | iii 13 | |
| maškum | skin, hide, leather | Materials | i 2' |
| mû I (A(.MEŠ)) | water | Food/Drink,Nature/Cosmological phenomena | i 4', iii 11, iv 23 |
| mušītum | night(-time) | Abstract concepts,Time concepts | ii 8' |
| mūšum (GI6) | night(-time) | Abstract concepts,Time concepts | ii 5', iii 7', 9' |
| nawirtum | brightness, light | i 13', 14' | |
| pānum I (IGI) | front, face, earlier times | Abstract concepts,Body/Body parts | ii 12', iv 12 |
| parīsum | rudder, boat-pole | iv 27 | |
| qaqqadum (SAG; SAG.KI) | head, capital | Body/Body parts | iii 11 |
| qātum (ŠU) | hand | Body/Body parts | iii 5, 12, iv 26 |
| qurādum | hero, warrior | Human activities/actions,Social status/Groups/Professions | i 9' |
| rīmum (AM) | wild bull | Fauna (wild) | i 1' |
| sābītum | ale-wife, female brewer | Social status/Groups/Professions | ii 12', 14', [iii 16], iii 17, 19, 21, 25 |
| šadûm I (KUR; ḪUR.SAG) | mountain, open country | Nature/Cosmological phenomena | iv 10 |
| Šamaš, šamšum (dUtu) | DN, sun | Deities/Divine sphere | i 5', 9', 13', 15', iv 11 |
| šārum (IM) | wind, breath | Nature/Cosmological phenomena | i 4' |
| šarūrum | brilliance, ray | i 15' | |
| ṣeḫrum I ((LÚ).TUR) | little, young, junior-; small, child, servant, baby | Qualities/Attributes,Social status/Groups/Professions | iii 12 |
| ṣertum | nipple, teat, udder | Body/Body parts | iv 28 |
| ṣērum (EDIN) | back, upperside, steppe, open country, towards | Abstract concepts,Body/Body parts,Locations/Buildings,Nature/Cosmological phenomena | i 10', ii 11' |
| šīrum (UZU) | flesh, body; entrails; kinsman, blood relative, meat; ominous sign | Body/Body parts,Kinship terms | i 2' |
| ṣubātum | textile, garment | Fabricated objects | iii 10 |
| sūnum | loin, lap | Body/Body parts | iii 13 |
| Sursunabu | PN | iv 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 21 | |
| tiāmtum, tâmtum (A.AB.BA) | sea, lake | Nature/Cosmological phenomena | iii 21, 24 |
| tišānum | mountain-dwelling ovid, goat (mountain) | Fauna (wild) | i 1' |
| tûltum | worm, leech | ii 9' | |
| ūmum I (UD) | day, daily | Abstract concepts,Nature/Cosmological phenomena,Time concepts | ii 8' |
| urḫum | way, path | Locations/Buildings | iv 11 |
| urrum | daytime, morning, daybreak | Time concepts | ii 5', iii 7', 9' |
| Uruk | GN | GN | iv 9 |
| Utana’ištum | PN | iv 6, 13, [iv 16] |