An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic Part 17

[49] See Poebel, _Historical Texts_ No. 2, col. 2, 26.

[50] Hilprecht, _Old Babylonian Inscriptions_ I, 1 No. 26.

[51] Delitzsch, _a.s.syrische Lesestucke_, p. 88, VI, 2-3. Cf. also _CT_ XXV, 28(K 7659) 3, where we must evidently supply [Esigga]-tuk, for which in the following line we have again Gish-bil-ga-mesh as an equivalent. See Meissner, _OLZ_ 1910, 99.

[52] See, e.g., Barton, _Haverford Collection_ II No. 27, Col. I, 14, etc.

[53] Deimel, _Pantheon Babylonic.u.m_, p. 95.

[54] _CT_ XII, 50 (K 4359) obv. 17.

[55] See Barton, _Origin and Development of Babylonian Writing_, II, p. 99 _seq._, for various explanations, though all centering around the same idea of the picture of fire in some form.

[56] See the pa.s.sages quoted by Poebel, _Historical and Grammatical Texts_, p. 126.

[57] E.g., Genesis 4, 20, Jabal, "the father of tent-dwelling and cattle holding;" Jubal (4, 21), "the father of harp and pipe striking."

[58] See particularly the plays (in the J. Doc.u.ment) upon the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, which are brought forward either as tribal characteristics, or as suggested by some incident or utterance by the mother at the birth of each son.

[59] The designation is variously explained by Arabic writers. See Beidhawi's _Commentary_ (ed. Fleischer), to Sura 18, 82.

[60] The writing Gish-gi-mash as an approach to the p.r.o.nunciation Gilgamesh would thus represent the beginning of the artificial process which seeks to interpret the first syllable as "hero."

[61] See above, p. 27.

[62] Poebel, _Historical Texts_, p. 115 _seq_.

[63] Many years ago (_BA_ III, p. 376) I equated Etana with Ethan in the Old Testament--therefore a West Semitic name.

[64] See Clay, _The Empire of the Amorites_, p. 80.

[65] Professor Clay strongly favors an Amoritic origin also for Gilgamesh. His explanation of the name is set forth in his recent work on _The Empire of the Amorites_, page 89, and is also referred to in his work on _Amurru_, page 79, and in his volume of _Miscellaneous Inscriptions in the Yale Babylonian Collection_, page 3, note. According to Professor Clay the original form of the hero's name was West Semitic, and was something like _Bilga-Mash_, the meaning of which was perhaps "the offspring of Mash." For the first element in this division of the name cf. Pilikam, the name of a ruler of an early dynasty, and Balak of the Old Testament. In view of the fact that the axe figures so prominently in the Epic as an instrument wielded by Gilgamesh, Professor Clay furthermore thinks it reasonable to a.s.sume that the name was interpreted by the Babylonian scribe as "the axe of Mash." In this way he would account for the use of the determinative for weapons, which is also the sign Gish, in the name. It is certainly noteworthy that the ideogram Gish-Tun in the later form of _Gish-Tun-mash_ = _pasu_, "axe," _CT_ XVI, 38:14b, etc. _Tun_ also = _pilaku_ "axe," _CT_ xii, 10:34b. Names with similar element (besides Pilikam) are Belaku of the Hammurabi period, Bilakku of the Ca.s.site period, etc.

It is only proper to add that Professor Jastrow a.s.sumes the responsibility for the explanation of the form and etymology of the name Gilgamesh proposed in this volume. The question is one in regard to which legitimate differences of opinion will prevail among scholars until through some chance a definite decision, one way or the other, can be reached.

[66] _me-ih-ru_ (line 191).

[67] Tablet I, 5, 23. Cf. I, 3, 2 and 29.

[68] Tablet IV, 4, 7 and I, 5, 3.

[69] a.s.syrian version, Tablet II, 3b 34, in an address of Shamash to Enkidu.

[70] So a.s.syrian version, Tablet VIII, 3, 11. Also supplied VIII, 5, 20 and 21; and X, 1, 46-47 and 5, 6-7.

[71] Tablet XII, 3, 25.

[72] Ward, _Seal Cylinders of Western Asia_, Chap. X, and the same author's _Cylinders and other Ancient Oriental Seals_--Morgan collection Nos. 19-50.

[73] E.g., Ward No. 192, Enkidu has human legs like Gilgamesh; also No. 189, where it is difficult to say which is Gilgamesh, and which is Enkidu. The clothed one is probably Gilgamesh, though not infrequently Gilgamesh is also represented as nude, or merely with a girdle around his waist.

[74] E.g., Ward, Nos. 173, 174, 190, 191, 195 as well as 189 and 192.

[75] On the other hand, in Ward Nos. 459 and 461, the conflict between the two heroes is depicted with the heroes distinguished in more conventional fashion, Enkidu having the hoofs of an animal, and also with a varying arrangement of beard and hair.

[76] See Jastrow, _Religion of Babylonia and a.s.syria_ (Boston, 1898), p. 468 _seq._

[77] Ungnad-Gressmann, _Das Gilgamesch-Epos_, p. 90 _seq._

[78] Pennsylvania tablet, l. 198 = a.s.syrian version, Tablet IV, 2, 37.

[79] "Enkidu blocked the gate" (Pennsylvania tablet, line 215) = a.s.syrian version Tablet IV, 2, 46: "Enkidu interposed his foot at the gate of the family house."

[80] Pennsylvania tablet, lines 218 and 224.

[81] Yale tablet, line 198; also to be supplied lines 13-14.

[82] Yale tablet, lines 190 and 191.

[83] _PSBA_ 1914, 65 _seq._ = Jensen III, 1a, 4-11, which can now be completed and supplemented by the new fragment.

[84] I.e., Enkidu will save Gilgamesh.

[85] These two lines impress one as popular sayings--here applied to Enkidu.

[86] King's fragment, col. I, 13-27, which now enables us to complete Jensen III, 1a, 12-21.

[87] Yale tablet, lines 252-253.

[88] Yale tablet, lines 143-148 = a.s.syrian version, Tablet IV, 6, 26 _seq._

[89] a.s.syrian version, Tablet III, 2a, 13-14.

[90] Lines 215-222.

[91] a.s.syrian version, Tablet V, Columns 3-4. We have to a.s.sume that in line 13 of column 4 (Jensen, p. 164), Enkidu takes up the thread of conversation, as is shown by line 22: "Enkidu brought his dream to him and spoke to Gilgamesh."

[92] a.s.syrian version, Tablet VI, lines 146-147.

[93] Lines 178-183.

[94] Lines 176-177.

[95] Tablet VII, Column 6.

[96] a.s.syrian version, Tablet VI, 200-203. These words are put into the mouth of Gilgamesh (lines 198-199). It is, therefore, unlikely that he would sing his own praise. Both Jensen and Ungnad admit that Enkidu is to be supplied in at least one of the lines.

[97] Lines 109 and 112.