Gilgamesh: The New Translation by Gerald J. Davis

Author:Gerald J. Davis [Davis, Gerald J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The New Translation
Publisher: Insignia Publishing
Published: 2014-07-16T07:00:00+00:00

APPENDIX 1

Tablet XII

In those days, in those long ago days. In those nights, in those ancient nights. In those years, in those years of yesterday. In the old times, when what was needful had become known. In the old times, when what was needful had been fulfilled. When bread had been consumed in the sanctuaries of the realm. When the ovens of the realm had been fired up with bellows. When the Firmament had been split apart from the Earth. When the Earth had been split apart from the Firmament. When the name of Mankind had been settled. Then did Anu, Lord of the Gods, claim the Heavens for himself. And then did the Great God Enlil claim the Earth for himself. Whereupon did Anu bestow upon the Goddess Ereshkigal dominion over the Netherworld. And then did Ea, God of Wisdom, embark in his boat. Ea embarked in his boat on a journey unto the Netherworld. But then did a multitude of stones rain down upon Ea. Small stones rained down upon Ea. Large stones rained down upon Ea. The small stones were like unto hailstones. The large stones were like unto millstones. The stones rained down onto the deck of Ea’s boat like a storm of pounding turtles. Against the God Ea, the waters before the boat howled as a wolf. Against the God Ea, the waters behind the boar roared as a lion.

And it came to pass, at that time, that there was a solitary tree, a lone poplar, which grew on the banks of the Holy Euphrates. From the river Euphrates did this tree draw water. But, during a tempest, the South Wind ripped out the roots of the tree and sundered its branches. And the waters of the Euphrates washed over this tree as it lay upon the ground. And it befell, one afternoon, as the Goddess Ishtar walked along the banks of the Euphrates, she did come to perceive this tree. The Goddess Ishtar venerated the word of Anu, Lord of the Gods. She venerated the word of the Great God Enlil. Whereupon did the Goddess Ishtar take the tree and carry it unto Uruk. She carried the tree unto the sacred garden of Ishtar. Therein did she plant the tree, not with her hand, but with her foot. Therein did she water the tree, not with her hand, but with her foot.

And then did the Goddess Ishtar exclaim, “How long ere there will be a splendid throne fashioned from the wood of this tree for me to sit upon?”

And then did the Goddess Ishtar exclaim, “How long ere there will be a splendid bed fashioned from the wood of this tree for me to lie upon?”

And then did five years come to pass. And then did ten years come to pass. And the poplar tree had grown immense, but the bark thereof had not split. But, in its base, a serpent that fears no curse had built its nest. In its branches, a giant Roc bird had hatched its young.

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