The messengers of Akka, son of En-me-barage-si, came from Kish to Gilgamesh in Uruk.
Gilgamesh and Akka (ETCSL c.1.8.1.1) is one of the oldest surviving political poems in human literature. It records, in 115 lines of Sumerian verse, a confrontation between Gilgamesh — the young lord of Uruk and hero of the great Gilgamesh cycle — and Akka, the last king of the First Dynasty of Kish, a city that had long dominated southern Mesopotamia. Akka sends messengers demanding corvée labor from Uruk: the digging and filling of wells. Gilgamesh consults two assemblies — the elders, who vote to submit, and the young warriors, who vote to fight. He follows the warriors. Akka besieges Uruk. What follows is not a battle but a drama of recognition: a failed envoy, a mysterious figure on the wall, and finally the unmistakable radiance of Gilgamesh himself, whose terror-aura (me-lem₄) breaks Akka's siege without a blow. The poem ends not with conquest but with a gracious release — Gilgamesh acknowledging Akka as an old benefactor and setting him free before the face of the sun-god Utu.
The text survives in Old Babylonian copies (c. 1900–1600 BCE) from Nippur and elsewhere, though it preserves traditions likely much older. It is one of twelve or thirteen Sumerian poems centered on Gilgamesh that predate the famous Akkadian Epic. This translation was made from the ETCSL composite transliteration (Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford), consulted 2026-03-21.
I. The Messengers
The messengers of Akka, son of En-me-barage-si,
came from Kish to Gilgamesh in Uruk.
Gilgamesh laid the matter before the elders of his city.
He sought their counsel:
"To fill the wells, to fill the wells of the land —
to fill the small wells of the land —
to sink the shafts and stretch the cord —
let us not bend our necks to the house of Kish!
Let us not be struck by weapons!"
The assembly of elders was convened in the city.
Gilgamesh put it before them.
II. The Elders Counsel Submission
The elders answered him:
"To fill the wells, to fill the wells of the land —
to fill the small wells of the land —
to sink the shafts and stretch the cord —
let us bend our necks to the house of Kish.
Let us not be struck by weapons."
Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba,
who placed his trust in Inana,
did not take the elders' word to heart.
III. The Warriors Vote for War
A second time, Gilgamesh laid the matter
before the young warriors of his city.
He sought their counsel:
"To fill the wells, to fill the wells of the land —
to fill the small wells of the land —
to sink the shafts and stretch the cord —
let us not bend our necks to the house of Kish!
Let us not be struck by weapons!"
The assembly of young warriors answered him:
"To stand in service day after day —
to walk at the king's son's side —
to hold the bridle of his donkey day after day —
who among us would have a life left?
We will not bend our necks to Kish.
Let us strike with weapons!"
Uruk — the handiwork of the gods!
Eanna — the house that descended from heaven!
The great gods laid out its plans.
The great wall touching heaven and earth,
the exalted dwelling set in place by An —
you bore it on your head: you are its heroic king,
beloved prince, loved by An.
Like a flood — how the dread of him comes.
Akka's army is small; it scatters at the rear.
Those men cannot stand to face our gaze.
IV. Gilgamesh Prepares
Then Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba,
heard the young warriors' words —
his heart was gladdened, his liver brightened.
He called to his servant Enkidu:
"Now let the weapon be taken up again —
let the weapon of battle return to your arm.
Let great awe and terror-radiance be forged about me.
In Akka's coming, may my great dread cover him.
May his wisdom be confused, his counsel shattered."
Five days had not passed, ten days had not passed,
when Akka, son of En-me-barage-si,
besieged Uruk on its flank.
The wisdom of Uruk was thrown into confusion.
V. BIR-ḪAR-tura Goes Out
Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba,
called out to his warriors:
"Which of my warriors will brave it?
Let whoever has heart rise up —
I will go before Akka."
BIR-ḪAR-tura, his royal attendant,
praised his lord:
"May Akka's wisdom be confused, his counsel shattered —
I will go to Akka."
BIR-ḪAR-tura went out through the gate.
But in his going out through the gate
they seized him at the passage
and beat him to the ground before Akka.
He called out to Akka.
Before his words were finished,
the bronze-worker of Uruk
climbed to the top of the wall
and leaned his head over.
Akka looked up and saw him.
BIR-ḪAR-tura called out:
"Servant — is the man who knows his lord here?
Is the man who knows my lord not among them?
May that one be the man my lord knows —
the one with the terrifying forehead,
the one with the alim-bull eyes,
the one with the lapis lazuli beard,
the one with the lovely fingers."
But the nations had not yet fallen under him —
the nations had not yet scattered —
the mountains had not yet been covered —
the mouths of all the lands had not been filled with dust —
the prow of the royal barge had not been trimmed.
Akka, king of Kish, did not yet feel his army's heart give way.
They beat them, they struck them —
they beat BIR-ḪAR-tura to the ground once more.
VI. Gilgamesh at the Wall
After the bronze-worker of Uruk had returned to Gilgamesh at the wall,
the old men and the young men of Kulaba
spread his radiance over the city.
The warriors of Uruk took up weapons for battle
and stood in the street at the gate.
Enkidu went out through the gate alone.
Gilgamesh leaned his head over the wall.
When Enkidu looked out from the gate, Akka saw him.
BIR-ḪAR-tura called again:
"Servant — is the man who knows his lord here?
Is the man who knows my lord among them?
Just as I said — just as it was told —
the nations have fallen under him,
the nations have scattered before him,
the mountains have been covered over,
the mouths of all the lands have been filled with dust,
the prow of the royal barge has been trimmed."
The heart of Akka's army, king of Kish, was crushed.
VII. The Release
Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba,
called to Akka across the field:
"Akka — my overseer, Akka —
my officer, Akka —
my general, Akka —
you gave me breath, Akka —
you gave me life, Akka —
you brought the fugitive home by the thigh —
you filled the fleeing bird with grain.
Uruk — the handiwork of the gods.
The great wall touching heaven and earth,
the exalted dwelling set in place by An —
before the face of Utu,
from that ancient day —
I release you."
Akka set out for Kish.
Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba —
your praise is sweet.
Colophon
Gilgamesh and Akka, Sumerian literary composition, Old Babylonian copies c. 1900–1600 BCE; events set in the Early Dynastic period, c. 2600 BCE. One of twelve surviving Sumerian Gilgamesh poems, predating the Akkadian Epic tradition. The poem preserves the only Sumerian account of an assembly functioning as a deliberative body in early Mesopotamian political life, and has been extensively discussed in scholarship on the origins of democratic institutions.
Translated from the Sumerian transliteration by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (NTAC), 2026. Source: ETCSL composite text c.1.8.1.1 (ĝilgameš₂ a-ga, "Gilgamesh and Aga"), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Existing English translations by Andrew George (1999), Thorkild Jacobsen (1987), and others were consulted as reference to verify readings; the English above is independently derived from the Sumerian.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text — 𒀭𒄑𒂆𒈦 𒀭𒉺𒄄𒂷𒁶𒋤 (ĝilgameš₂ a-ga)
Sumerian transliteration from the ETCSL composite text c.1.8.1.1, Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above. Subscript numerals are normalized from the original SGML encoding; manuscript variants noted in the ETCSL apparatus have been omitted from this rendering.
- lu₂-kiĝ₂-gi₄-a ag-ga dumu en-me-barag-ge₄-si-ke₄
- kiš^ki-ta d.gilgameš₂ unug^ki-še₃ mu-un-ši-re₇-eš
- d.gilgameš₂ igi ab-ba iri^ki-na-še₃
- inim ba-an-ĝar inim i₃-kiĝ₂-kiĝ₂-e
- tul₂ til-le-da tul₂ kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ niĝ₂ ban₃-da kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ buru₃-da eš₂ la₂ til-til-le-da
- e₂ kiš^ki-še₃ gu₂ nam-ba-an-ĝa₂-ĝa₂-an-de₃-en ĝiš.tukul nam-ba-an-sag₃-ge-en-de₃-en
- unken ĝar-ra ab-ba iri-na-ka
- d.gilgameš₂ mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- tul₂ til-le-da tul₂ kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ niĝ₂ ban₃-da kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ buru₃-da eš₂ la₂ til-til-le-da
- e₂ kiš^ki-še₃ gu₂ ga-am₃-ĝa₂-ĝa₂-an-de₃-en ĝiš.tukul nam-ba-sag₃-ge-en-de₃-en
- d.gilgameš₂ en kul-aba₄^ki-a-ke₄
- d.inana-ra nir-ĝal₂-la-e
- inim ab-ba iri-na-ke₄ šag₄-še₃ nu-mu-na-gid₂
- 2-kam-ma-še₃ d.gilgameš₂ igi ĝuruš iri^ki-na-še₃
- inim ba-an-ĝar inim i₃-kiĝ₂-kiĝ₂-e
- tul₂ til-le-da tul₂ kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ niĝ₂ ban₃-da kalam til-til-le-da
- tul₂ buru₃-da eš₂ la₂ til-til-le-da
- e₂ kiš^ki-še₃ gu₂ nam-ba-an-ĝar-re-en-ze₂-en ĝiš.tukul nam-ba-an-sag₃-ge-en-ze₂-en
- unken ĝar-ra ĝuruš iri^ki-na-ka d.gilgameš₂ mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- gub-gub-bu-de₃ tuš-tuš-u₃-de₃
- dumu lugal-la da ri-e-de₃
- zib₂ anše dab₅-dab₅-be₂-e-de₃
- a-ba zi-bi mu-un-tuku-e-še
- e₂ kiš^ki-še₃ gu₂ nam-ba-an-ĝar-re-en-ze₂-en ĝiš.tukul nam-ba-an-sag₃-ge-en-de₃-en
- unug^ki ĝiš-kiĝ₂-ti diĝir-re-e-ne-ke₄
- e₂-an-na e₂ an-ta ed₃-de₃
- diĝir gal-gal-e-ne me-dim₂-bi ba-an-ak-eš-am₃
- bad₃ gal bad₃ an-ne₂ ki us₂-sa
- ki-tuš maḫ an-ne₂ ĝar-ra-ni
- saĝ mu-e-sig₁₀ za-e lugal ur-saĝ-bi
- saĝ lum-lum nun an-ne₂ ki aĝ₂
- du-a-ni-ta a-gin₇ ni₂ ba-an-te
- erin₂-bi al-tur a-ga-bi-ta al-bir-re
- lu₂-be₂-ne igi nu-mu-un-da-ru-gu₂-uš
- ud-bi-a d.gilgameš₂ en kul-aba₄^ki-ke₄
- inim ĝuruš iri-na-še₃ šag₄-ga-ni an-ḫul₂ ur₅-ra-ni ba-an-zalag
- šubur-a-ni en-ki-du₁₀-ra gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
- ne-eš₂ ĝiš.šu-kar₂ a₂ me₃ sa ḫe₂-em-mi-gi₄
- ĝiš.tukul me₃ a₂-zu-še₃ ḫe₂-em-mi-gi₄
- ni₂ gal me-lem₄-ma ḫe₂-em-dim₂-dim₂-e
- e-ne du-a-ni-ta ni₂ gal-ĝu₁₀ ḫe₂-eb-šu₂
- dim₂-ma-ni ḫe₂-suḫ₃ ĝalga-a-ni ḫe₂-bir-re
- ud nu-5-am₃ ud nu-10-am₃
- ag-ga dumu en-me-barag-ge₄-si-ke₄ unug^ki zag-ga ba-an-dab₅-be₂-eš
- unug^ki-ga dim₂-ma-bi ba-an-suḫ₃
- d.gilgameš₂ en kul-aba^ki-ke₄
- ur-saĝ-be₂-ne-er gu₃ mu-ne-de₂-e
- ur-saĝ-ĝu₁₀-ne igi mu-un-suḫ-suḫ-u₃-ne
- šag₄ tuku ḫe₂-en-zi-zi-i ag-ga-še₃ ga-an-ši-ĝen
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-ra lu₂-saĝ-lugal-a-ni
- lugal-a-ni-ir za₃-mi₂ mu-un-na-ab-be₂
- ĝe₂₆-e ag-ga-še₃ ga-an-ši-ĝen
- dim₂-ma-ni ḫe₂-suḫ₃ ĝalga-a-ni ḫe₂-bir-re
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-ra abul-la ba-ra-e₃
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-ra abul-la ed₂-da-ni
- kan₄ abul-la-ka mu-ni-in-dab₅-be₂-eš
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-ra suku-ra₂-ni mu-ni-in-gum-gum-ne
- igi ag-ga-še₃ mu-ni-in-te
- ag-ga-še₃ gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
- inim-ma-ni nu-un-til zabar-dab₅ unug^ki-ga-ke₄ bad₃-še₃ im-me-ed₃-de₃
- bad₃-da gu₂-na im-ma-an-la₂
- ag-ga igi im-ma-ni-in-du₈
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-re gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
- arad₂ lu₂ še lugal-zu-u₃
- lu₂ še lugal-ĝu₁₀ in-nu
- lu₂ še lugal-ĝu₁₀ ḫe₂-me-a
- saĝ-ki ḫuš-a-ni ḫe₂-me-a
- igi alim-ma-ka-ni ḫe₂-me-a
- sun₄ na₄.za-gin₃-na-ka-a-ni ḫe₂-me-a
- šu-si sag₉-ga-ni ḫe₂-me-a
- šar₂-ra la-ba-an-šub-bu-uš šar₂-ra la-ba-an-zig₃-ge-eš
- šar₂-ra saḫar-ra la-ba-an-da-šar₂-re-eš
- kur-kur du₃-a-bi la-ba-an-da-šu₂-a
- ka ma-da-ka saḫar-ra la-ba-da-an-si
- si ĝiš.ma₂-gur₈-ra-ka la-ba-ra-an-kud
- ag-ga lugal kiš^ki-a šag₄ erin₂-na-ka-ni šaĝa-a la-ba-ni-in-ak
- mu-ni-ib-ra-ra-ne mu-ni-ib-sag₃-sag₃-ge-ne
- BIR-ḪAR-tur-re suku-ra₂-ni mu-ni-in-gum-gum-ne
- eĝer zabar-dab₅ unug^ki-ga-ke₄ d.gilgameš₂ bad₃-še₃ im-me-ed₃-de₃
- ab-ba di₄-di₄-la₂ kul-aba₄^ki-a-ke₄ me-lem₄ bi₂-ib-šu₂-šu₂
- ĝuruš unug^ki-ga-ke₄ ĝiš.tukul me₃ a₂-ne-ne bi₂-in-si
- ĝiš.ig abul-la-ka sila-ba bi₂-in-gub
- en-ki-du₁₀ abul-la dili ba-ra-e₃
- d.gilgameš₂ bad₃-da gu₂-na im-ma-an-la₂
- igi bar-re-da-ni ag-ga igi ba-ni-in-du₈
- arad₂ lu₂ še lugal-zu-u₃
- lu₂ še lugal-ĝu₁₀ i₃-me-a
- bi₂-in-dug₄-ga-gin₇-nam
- šar₂-ra ba-an-šub-bu-uš šar₂-ra ba-an-zig₃-ge-eš
- šar₂-ra saḫar-ra ba-an-da-šar₂-re-eš
- kur-kur du₃-a-bi ba-an-da-šu₂-am₃
- ka ma-da-ka saḫar-ra ba-da-an-si
- si ĝiš.ma₂-gur₈-ra-ke₄ ba-ra-an-kud
- ag-ga lugal kiš^ki-a šag₄ erin₂-na-ka-ni šaĝa-a ba-ni-in-ak
- d.gilgameš₂ en kul-aba₄^ki-ke₄
- ag-ga-a gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
- ag-ga ugula-ĝu₁₀ ag-ga nu-banda₃-ĝu₁₀
- ag-ga šagina erin₂-na-ĝu₁₀
- ag-ga zi ma-an-šum₂ ag-ga nam-til₃ ma-an-šum₂
- ag-ga lu₂-kar-ra ur₂-ra bi₂-in-tum₂-mu
- ag-ga mušen kar-ra še bi₂-ib-si-si
- unug^ki ĝiš-kiĝ₂-ti diĝir-re-e-ne-ke₄
- bad₃ gal bad₃ an-ne₂ ki us₂-sa
- ki-tuš maḫ an-ne₂ ĝar-ra-a-ba
- saĝ mu-sig₁₀ šu-ĝu₁₀ im-mi-ib-gi₄
- saĝ lum-lum nun an-ne₂ ki aĝ₂
- igi d.utu-še₃ šu ud-bi-ta e-ra-an-gi₄
- ag-ga kiš^ki-še₃ šu ba-ni-in-ba
- d.gilgameš₂ en kul-aba₄^ki-a-ke₄
- za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga-am₃
Source Colophon: Sumerian text, ETCSL c.1.8.1.1 (ĝilgameš₂ a-ga, "Gilgamesh and Aga"). Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Composite text assembled from Old Babylonian tablets primarily from Nippur, c. 1900–1600 BCE. Transliteration consulted 2026-03-21 via etcsl.cgi?text=c.1.8.1.1. The ETCSL text is the standard scholarly edition; all subscript numerals are normalized and manuscript variants are omitted from this rendering.
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