The lord turned his mind toward the land of the living.
He set his mind — the lord Gilgamesh set his mind — toward the land of the living.
I. The Lord's Decision
The lord turned his mind toward the land of the living.
The lord Gilgamesh turned his mind toward the land of the living.
He called out to his servant Enkidu:
"Enkidu — the back of a living man
has never come out from the top of the living heads.
I would enter the mountain — I would plant my name.
Where a name is planted, I would plant my name.
Where a name is not yet planted, I would plant the name of the gods."
His servant Enkidu answered him:
"My lord, if today you would enter the mountain,
let Utu know it —
Utu, the youth Utu, let him know it.
The nature of the mountain belongs to Utu.
The Cedar-cutting Mountain — its nature belongs to the youth Utu —
let Utu know it."
Gilgamesh took a white kid in his hands.
A tawny kid he pressed to his chest.
He placed a silver scepter at his nose.
To Utu of heaven he called out:
"Utu, I would enter the mountain — be my ally!
To the Cedar-cutting Mountain I would enter — be my ally!"
Utu of heaven answered him:
"Young man, son of a free man —
who are you to claim the mountain for your own?
Let me speak, Utu — bend your ear to my word.
I will greet you — be attentive."
II. The Grief That Drives Him
"In my city a man has died — my heart is troubled.
A man has perished — my heart aches.
The city wall hangs heavy on my neck.
I have seen a corpse floating face-up in the water —
I have seen my father.
Should I too act as he? Should I be like that?
No tall man can stretch to heaven.
No wide man can cover the mountain.
The back of a living man
has never come out from the top of the living heads.
I would enter the mountain — I would plant my name.
Where a name is planted, I would plant my name.
Where a name is not yet planted, I would plant the name of the gods."
Utu received his tears as an offering.
Like a man of compassion, he showed compassion.
III. The Seven Companions
Heroes — children of one mother — they are seven:
the first, whose elder brother has lion's paws and eagle's talons;
the second, a serpent of the sheepfold, whose mouth [strikes without warning];
the third, a serpent-dragon, a serpent [of the abyss];
the fourth, fire that rains down, entering the mountain;
the fifth, a mighty serpent, coiling back within its own path;
the sixth, like a rushing flood that smashes the mountain's face;
the seventh, like lightning that strikes men so none can turn away.
The storm-winds of the mountain would bring these to him.
All seven — the youthful warrior Utu gave them to Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh rejoiced like the cedar.
Like the cedar, the lord Gilgamesh rejoiced.
He raised the cry through his city like a single man;
like two companions together he sounded the call:
those who have houses — go to your houses!
Those who have mothers — go to your mothers!
The young men of his city who had no house,
the young men of his city who had no mother —
fifty of them, joining as Gilgamesh,
offered their strength to his.
He set his foot in the smithy.
The copper axes and blades were cast
with his heroic arm.
He set his foot in the dark orchard of the steppe.
He struck down ebony, halubu, apple, boxwood.
The children of his city followed after him.
IV. The Journey: Seven Mountains
They departed.
At the first mountain he crossed,
the cedar forest was not to be found within it.
At the seventh mountain, as he was crossing,
the cedar forest was found within it.
He looked — he found what he was looking for.
Gilgamesh was striking the cedar.
Enkidu cut its branches.
[Lines 65–69 are fragmentary.]
The children of his city followed after him.
Like small dogs they cowered at his feet.
Enkidu rose from sleep — a dream! — pale as dawn.
He looked around — silent, full of stillness.
He could touch him but could not rouse him.
He called to him but received no answer.
V. The Night at the Mountain
They lay down. They lay down.
"Gilgamesh — little lord of Kulaba — how long shall we sleep?"
The mountain grew silent. Shadow spread.
Evening fell and its flickering came.
Utu went to the embrace of his mother Ningal,
his head lifted high.
"Gilgamesh — how long shall we sleep?
The children of your city have followed you.
Do not let them stand weeping at the mountain's base.
Do not let their mothers cast lots in the city square."
His word of wisdom, his word of heroism,
wrapped them like cloth.
A thirty-shekel cloth soaked in oil
he wrapped around himself, covered his chest with it.
Like a bull he stood in the great place.
He bowed his neck to the earth. He kissed the ground.
"By the life of my birth-mother Ninsun,
by my pure father Lugalbanda —
may I be fashioned like one who has slept in peace."
He said this a second time:
"By the life of my birth-mother Ninsun,
by my pure father Lugalbanda —
as long as this man — whether he be mortal or divine —
is unknown to me, and I am unknown to him:
I have set my foot upon the mountain's road.
I will not turn it back toward the city.
A good servant speaks what is good — he makes life sweet.
A lord has answered him. A word has been given."
VI. Enkidu's Warning
His servant Enkidu answered him:
"My lord — you have not seen this man; your heart is not seized.
I have seen this man — my heart is seized.
His mouth is the jaws of the dragon.
His face is the face of the lion.
His chest is like a flood-storm pounding the shore.
No man sixty rods tall can approach him.
My lord, you ride to the mountain —
I will ride to the city.
Go and tell your mother while she lives.
Go and tell the one who will weep your tears after you are gone."
Gilgamesh answered Enkidu:
"You add to me, I add to you —
what man can take the two of us?
Was everything bought and traded —
the Magan boats, the barges, the rafts,
the lifeboats with their living cargo?
None of that was.
Let us go and see this thing face to face.
If we encounter it:
if the terror rises, let it rise — let it turn back.
If we go and do not find it —
what exists and what does not exist —
let us go. Let us go."
VII. Huwawa
A man of sixty rods — none could approach him.
Huwawa was seized in his cedar house.
He looked at them — it was the look of death.
His head shook — his head was full of transgression.
"Young man — the city that bore you, who are you to it?
Your mother who bore you knows this place.
Your wet-nurse who suckled you knows this place.
Do not come near me. Put your hands down to the earth."
Gilgamesh trembled.
He was gripped — caught like a dream.
He was laid low like a man entering a pit.
The children of his city came behind him.
Like small dogs they cowered at his feet.
Gilgamesh spoke — the oath came twice:
"By the life of my birth-mother Ninsun,
by my pure father Lugalbanda —
you who sit in the mountain, I did not know your dwelling.
Now I know it.
The great Enmebaragesi, my elder sister —
I would bring her into the mountain as your wife."
And a second time:
"By the life of my birth-mother Ninsun,
by my pure father Lugalbanda —
you who sit in the mountain, I did not know your dwelling —
Ma-tur, my little sister,
I would bring her into the mountain as your lukur-priestess.
Let your terror-aura come to me — enter my body."
The first terror-aura — Huwawa gave it to him.
The children of his city came behind.
They cut the branches, they bound the trees,
they lay at the base of the mountain.
When the seventh terror-aura was exhausted,
he came close — Gilgamesh came close to Huwawa.
Like a surge he struck him on the side.
Huwawa gnashed his teeth.
Gilgamesh trembled.
VIII. The Mercy and the Killing
He spoke a word to Utu:
"Utu — my birth-mother did not know me here.
My foster-father who raised me did not know me here.
It is you who raised me in the mountain.
I swear by heaven, by earth, by the underworld —
take his hand. Do not let him fall to the earth."
Then Gilgamesh had compassion for the young man.
He called to his servant Enkidu:
"Enkidu — a captured bird returns to its nest.
A captured young man — let him return to his mother's embrace."
His servant Enkidu answered the lord Gilgamesh:
"Little lord Gilgamesh of Uruk — praise him.
His birth-mother who bore him is known as great.
His wet-nurse who suckled him is known as great.
This one has no wisdom, no understanding.
He eats fate but does not know fate.
A captured bird returns to its nest.
A captured young man returns to his mother's embrace.
But you — you cannot return to the city of your birth-mother."
Huwawa called out to Enkidu:
"Enkidu, the word has turned against me.
A hired man, fed and fat, has struck me from behind."
Enkidu, his wrath and troubled heart rising,
cut the neck of Huwawa.
They went before Enlil.
At Enlil's feet they bowed to the ground.
The head of Huwawa they set before Enlil.
IX. Enlil's Rebuke and the Distribution
Enlil looked upon the severed head of Huwawa.
The word of Gilgamesh seized his heart.
"Why did you act this way?
[...] is what you have done.
Sit before them — sit.
Eat before them — eat.
Drink before them — drink.
Be honored among them."
And then the seven terror-auras of Huwawa
were given out across the world:
The first terror-aura — given to the fields.
The second terror-aura — given to the rivers.
The third terror-aura — given to the reed-marshes.
The fourth terror-aura — given to the lions.
The fifth terror-aura — given to the palace.
The sixth terror-aura — given to the forests.
The seventh terror-aura — given to Nungal.
[...] his terror-aura taken from him [...]
Praise be to the mighty Gilgamesh!
Praise be to Enkidu!
Praise be to Nisaba!
Colophon
Sumerian composition of the Old Babylonian period (c. 2000–1600 BCE), designated ETCSL c.1.8.1.5, "Gilgamesh and Ḫuwawa (Version A)." Also attested in a Version B (ETCSL c.1.8.1.4) with significant variations. One of five Sumerian poems in the Gilgamesh cycle; the Cedar Forest episode was later incorporated, with major changes, into the Standard Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic. The guardian Huwawa (Akkadian: Humbaba) was appointed by the god Enlil to protect the Cedar Mountain.
This Good Works Translation was made directly from the Sumerian transliteration as preserved in ETCSL c.1.8.1.5, consulted via the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (Oxford). Lines 65–69 and several short passages are fragmentary in the manuscript tradition; these are noted in the text. Variant manuscript readings (indicated by braces in the ETCSL edition) have been resolved in favor of the most coherent reading in each instance. The "terror-auras" (me-lem₄) are a key concept of Sumerian theology — the luminous radiance of divine and heroic power — rendered throughout as "terror-aura" to preserve both the awe and the tangibility the Sumerian implies.
Translated from Sumerian by the liberation-translator tulku, New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text
ĝilgameš u₂ ḫu-wa-wa (Version A) — ETCSL c.1.8.1.5
Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, University of Oxford
- en-e kur lu₂ til₃-la-še₃ ĝeštug₂-ga-ni na-an-gub
- en dgilgameš₂-e kur lu₂ til₃-la-še₃ ĝeštug₂-ga-ni na-an-gub
- arad-da-ni en-ki-du₁₀-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
- en-ki-du₁₀ murgu ĝuruš-e til₃-la saĝ til₃-le-bi-še₃ la-ba-ra-an-e₃-a
- kur-ra ga-an-kur₉ mu-ĝu₁₀ ga-am₃-ĝar
- ki mu gub-bu-ba-am₃ mu-ĝu₁₀ ga-bi₂-ib-gub
- ki mu nu-gub-bu-ba-am₃ mu diĝir-re-e-ne ga-bi₂-ib-gub
- arad-da-ni en-ki-du₁₀-e inim mu-un-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- lugal-ĝu₁₀ tukum-bi ud-da kur-ra i-ni-in-ku₄-ku₄-de₃ dutu ḫe₂-me-da-an-zu
- dutu šul dutu ḫe₂-me-da-an-zu
- kur-ra dim₂-ma-bi dutu-kam
- kur-ĝišerin-kud dim₂-ma-bi šul dutu-kam dutu ḫe₂-me-da-an-zu
- dgilgameš₂-e maš₂ babbar₂-ra šu im-mi-in-tag
- maš₂ su₄ maš₂-da-ri-a gaba-na i-im-tab
- šu-ni ĝidru kug giri₁₇-na ba-da-an-ĝal₂
- dutu an-na-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
- dutu kur-še₃ i-in-ku₄-ku₄-de₃-en a₂-taḫ-ĝu₁₀ ḫe₂-me-en
- kur-ĝišerin-kud-še₃ i-in-ku₄-ku₄-de₃-en a₂-taḫ-ĝu₁₀ ḫe₂-me-en
- dutu an-na-ta inim mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- ĝuruš dumu-gir₁₅ ni₂-zu-a ḫe₂-me-en kur-ra a-na-bi-me-en
- dutu inim ga-ra-ab-dug₄ inim-ĝu₁₀-uš ĝeštug₂-zu
- silim ga-ra-ab-dug₄ ĝizzal ḫe₂-em-ši-ak
- iriki-ĝa₂ lu₂ ba-uš₂ šag₄ ba-sag₃
- lu₂ u₂-gu ba-an-de₂ šag₄-ĝu₁₀ ba-an-gig
- bad₃-da gu₂-ĝa₂ im-ma-an-la₂
- ad₆ a-a ib₂-dirig-ge igi im-ma-an-sig₁₀
- u₃ ĝe₂₆-e ur₅-gin₇ nam-ba-ak-e ur₅-še₃ ḫe₂-me-a
- lu₂ sukux(SUKUD)-ra₂ an-še₃ nu-mu-un-da-la₂
- lu₂ daĝal-la kur-ra la-ba-an-šu₂-šu₂
- murgu ĝuruš-e til₃-la saĝ til₃-le-bi-še₃ la-ba-ra-an-e₃-a
- kur-ra ga-an-kur₉ mu-ĝu₁₀ ga-am₃-ĝar
- ki mu gub-bu-ba-am₃ mu-ĝu₁₀ ga-bi₂-ib-gub
- ki mu nu-gub-bu-ba-am₃ mu diĝir-re-e-ne ga-bi₂-ib-gub
- dutu er₂-na kadra-gin₇ šu ba-an-ši-in-ti
- lu₂ arḫuš-a-gin₇ arḫuš ba-ni-in-ak
- ur-saĝ dumu ama dili-me-eš 7-me-eš
- 1-am₃ šeš-gal-bi šu piriĝ-ĝa₂ umbin ḫu-ri₂-in-na
- 2-kam-ma muš-šag₄-tur₃ ka [X X] KU šu UŠ
- 3-kam-ma muš ušum-gal muš [...] X RU
- 4-kam-ma izi šeĝ₆-šeĝ₆ [X X] kur₉-ra
- 5-kam-ma muš-saĝ-kal šag₄ gi₄-a UB KA X
- 6-kam-ma a-ĝi₆ du₇-du₇-gin₇ kur-ra gaba ra-ra
- 7-kam-[ma ...] nim-gin₇ i₃-ĝir₂-ĝir₂-re lu₂ nu-da-gur-de₃
- ma₂-ur₃-ma₂-ur₃ ḫur-saĝ-ĝa₂-ke₄ ḫu-mu-ni-in-tum₂-tum₂-mu
- 7-bi-e-ne ur-saĝ šul dutu dgilgameš₂-ra mu-un-na-ra-an-šum₂
- ĝišerin sag₃-ge ḫul₂-la-gin₇ im-ma-na-ni-ib₂-ĝar
- en dgilgameš₂-e ḫul₂-la-gin₇ im-ma-na-ni-ib₂-ĝar
- iriki-na lu₂ dili-gin₇ si gu₃ ba-ni-in-ra
- lu₂ 2 tab-ba-gin₇ ka teš₂ ba-ni-in-ra
- e₂ tuku e₂-a-ni-še₃ ama tuku ama-a-ni-še₃
- nitaḫ saĝ-dili ĝe₂₆-e-gin₇ ak {50-am₃} a₂-ĝu₁₀-še₃ ḫu-mu-un-ak
- e₂ tuku e₂-a-ni-še₃ ama tuku ama-a-ni-še₃
- nitaḫ saĝ-dili e-ne-gin₇ ak 50-am₃ a₂-ni-še₃ ba-an-ak-eš
- e₂ simug-še₃ ĝiri₃-ni bi₂-in-gub
- uruda₂-aš-ĝar urudaga-silig a₂ nam-ur-saĝ-ni im-ma-ni-de₂-de₂
- ĝiškiri₆ ĝi₆-edin-na ĝiri₃-ni bi₂-in-gub
- ĝišesi ĝišḫa-lu-ub₂ ĝišḫašḫur ĝištaškarin-na-ka im-ma-ni-sag₃-sag₃
- dumu iri-na mu-un-de₃-re₇-eš-am₃ [...]
- 1-am₃ šeš-gal-bi šu piriĝ-ĝa₂ umbin ḫu-ri₂-inmušen-na
- ma₂-ur₃-ma₂-ur₃ ḫur-saĝ-ĝa₂-ke₄ ḫu-mu-ni-in-tum₂-tum₂-mu
- ḫur-saĝ 1-kam-ma in-di₃-bal-lam ĝišerin šag₄-ga-ni nu-mu-ni-in-pad₃
- ḫur-saĝ 7-kam-ma bal-e-da-bi ĝišerin šag₄-ga-ni mu-ni-in-pad₃
- en₃ nu-un-tar ki nu-un-kiĝ₂
- dgilgameš₂ ĝišerin-na al-sag₃-ge
- en-ki-du₁₀ pa-bi i₃-ku₅-ru NE [...] KI TUM [X] X dgilgameš₂-še₃ [...]
- gu-ru-ma [...] X X-ma im-ma-gub
- ni₂ te-[...] mu-na-ra-an-la₂
- d[gilgameš₂] [...] X u₃-sa₂-gin₇ ba-an-dab₅
- [...] kur-ku-gin₇ ba-an-ĝar
- dumu iriki-na mu-un-de₃-re₇-eš-am₃
- ur-gir₁₅ tur-tur-gin₇ ĝiri₃-ni-še₃ šu ba-an-dub₂-dub₂-me-eš
- en-ki-du₁₀ im-zig₃ ma₂-mu₂-da in-bu-luḫ u₃-sa₂-ga-am₃
- igi-ni šu bi₂-in-gur₁₀ niĝ₂-me-ĝar sug₄-ga-am₃
- šu mu-un-tag-ge nu-mu-un-na-an-zi-zi-i
- gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e inim nu-mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- i₃-nu₂-na i₃-nu₂-na
- dgilgameš₂ en TUR kul-abaki-a en₃-še₃ i₃-nu₂-de₃-en
- kur ba-an-suḫ₃-suḫ₃ ĝissu ba-an-la₂
- an-usan še-er-še-er-bi im-ma-DU
- dutu ur₂ ama-ni dnin-gal-še₃ saĝ il₂-la mu-un-ĝen
- dgilgameš₂ en-še₃ i₃-nu₂-de₃-en
- dumu iriki-za mu-un-de₃-re₇-eš-am₃
- ur₂ ḫur-saĝ-ĝa₂-ka nam-ba-e-de₃-gub-bu-ne
- ama ugu-bi tilla₂ iriki-za-ka eš₂ nam-bi₂-ib-sar-re
- ĝeštug₂ zid-da-na ba-e-sig₁₀
- inim nam-ur-saĝ-ĝa₂-ka-ni tug₂-gin₇ mu-ni-in-dul
- tug₂ 30 giĝ₄ i₃-a šu mu-un-niĝin₂-niĝin₂ gaba-na im-ma-da-dul
- gud-gin₇ ki gal-la ba-e-gub
- gu₂ ki-še₃ bi₂-in-ĝar KA ba-an-da-sig₁₀
- zi ama ugu-ĝu₁₀ dnin-sumun₂-ka a-a-ĝu₁₀ kug dlugal-ban₃-da
- du₁₀-ub ama ugu-ĝu₁₀ dnin-sumun₂-ka u₃-sa₂ dug₄-ga-gin₇ ḫa-ma-dim₂-ma
- 2-kam-ma-še₃ in-ga-nam-mu-na-ab-be₂
- zi ama ugu-ĝu₁₀ dnin-sumun₂-ka a-a-ĝu₁₀ kug dlugal-ban₃-da
- en-na lu₂-bi lu₂-u₁₈-lu ḫe₂-a im-ma-zu-a-a-aš diĝir ḫe₂-a im-ma-zu-a-aš
- ĝiri₃ kur-še₃ gub-ba-ĝu₁₀ iriki-še₃ ba-ra-gub-be₂-en
- arad zi ba-an-dug₃ nam-til₃ ba-an-ku₇-ku₇
- lugal-a-ni-ir inim mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- lugal-ĝu₁₀ za-e lu₂-ba igi nu-mu-ni-in-du₈-a šag₄ nu-mu-ni-dab₅-be₂-en
- ĝe₂₆-e lu₂-ba igi mu-ni-du₈-a šag₄ mu-ni-dab₅-be₂-en
- ur-saĝ ka-ga₁₄-ni ka ušumgal-la-kam
- igi-ni igi piriĝ-ĝa₂-kam
- ĜIŠ.GABA-a-ni a-ĝi₆ du₇-du₇-dam
- saĝ-ki-ni ĝiš-gi bi₂-gu₇-a lu₂ nu-mu-da-teĝ₃-ĝe₂₆-e-dam
- lugal-ĝu₁₀ za-e kur-še₃ u₅-a ĝe₂₆-e iriki-še₃ ga-u₅
- ama-zu-ur₂ i₃-til₃-zu ga-na-ab-dug₄ zu₂-zu₂ ḫe₂-li₉-li₉
- eĝer-ra ba-uš₂-zu ga-na-ab-dug₄ er₂-zu ḫe₂-še₈-še₈
- ĝar-ra en-ki-du₁₀ lu₂ 2-e nu-uš₂-e ĝišma₂-da-la₂ nu-su-su
- tug₂ 3 tab-ba lu₂ nu-kud-de₃
- bad₃-da a lu₂ nu-šu₂-šu₂
- e₂ gi-sig-ga izi nu-te-en-te-en
- za-e ĝe₂₆-e taḫ-ma-ab ĝe₂₆-e za-e ga-ra-ab-taḫ a-na-me lu₂ ba-an-tum₃
- ba-su-a-ba ba-su-a-ba
- ud ĝišma₂ ma₂-ganki ba-su-a-ba
- ĝišma₂-gur₈ ĝišma₂-gi₄-lum ba-su-a-ba
- ĝišma₂-da-la₂ ĝišma₂ zi-šag₄-ĝal₂-la-ka šag₄ ĝal₂-la i₃-in-dab₅
- ĝa₂-nam-ma ga-an-ši-re₇-en-de₃-en igi ḫu-mu-ni-ib-du₈-ru-en-de₃-en
- tukum-bi in-ši-re₇-en-de₃-en
- ni₂ i₃-ĝal₂ ni₂ i₃-ĝal₂ gi₄-a
- umun₂ i₃-ĝal₂ umun₂ i₃-ĝal₂ gi₄-a
- niĝ₂ šag₄-zu ĝa₂-nam-ma ga-an-ši-re₇-en-de₃-en
- nitaḫ 60 nindan la-ba-teĝ₃-ĝe₂₆-e-da-aš
- ḫu-wa-wa e₂ ĝišerin-na-ka-ni in-ga-an-dab₅
- igi mu-ši-in-bar igi uš₂-a-kam
- saĝ mu-un-na-an-bul-bul saĝ nam-tag-[ga] sug₄-ga-am₃
- ĝuruš ba-da-me-en-na iriki ama tud-da-zu nu-ub-ši-in-gur-ru-de₃
- dgilgameš₂ sa-na ĝiri₃-na ni₂ ba-an-ri ni₂ te-a-ni ba-an-ri
- ĝiri₃-ni ki-a li-bi₂-in-[de₃]-gi₄
- ĝiri₃ umbin gal-a-ni [ĝiri₃] ba-an-us₂
- zag-na NU₁₁-na ba-ni-ri
- i₃-a lum-lum u₃-luḫ-ḫa sud-sud
- dumu-gir₁₅ giri₁₇-zal diĝir-re-e-ne
- gud lipiš-tuku me₃-a gub-ba
- ama-zu dumu tud-da maḫ-bi in-ga-an-zu
- emeda(UM.ME)-ga-la₂-zu dumu ur₂-ra ga gu₇ maḫ-bi in-ga-an-zu
- ni₂ na-an-teĝ₃-ĝe₂₆-e-en šu ki-a sig₁₀-bi₂-ib
- šu ki-a bi₂-in-sig₁₀ inim mu-na-ab-be₂
- zi ama ugu-ĝu₁₀ dnin-sumun₂-ka a-a-ĝu₁₀ kug dlugal-ban₃-da
- kur-ra tuš-a-zu ba-ra-zu kur-ra tuš-a-zu ḫe₂-zu-am₃
- en-me-barag₂-ge₄-e-si nin₉ gal-ĝu₁₀ nam-dam-še₃ kur-ra ḫu-mu-ra-ni-kur₉-ra
- 2-kam-ma-še₃ in-ga-na-mu-na-ab-be₂
- zi ama ugu-ĝu₁₀ dnin-sumun₂-ka a-a-ĝu₁₀ kug dlugal-ban₃-da
- kur-ra tuš-a-zu ba-ra-zu kur-ra tuš-a-zu ḫe₂-zu-am₃
- MA-tur nin₉ ban₃-da-ĝu₁₀ nam-lukur-še₃ kur-ra ḫu-mu-ra-ni-kur₉-ra-am₃
- ni₂-zu ba-am₃-ma-ra su-za ga-an-kur₉
- ni₂ te-a-ni 1-am₃ mu-na-ra-an-ba
- dumu iriki mu-un-de₃-re₇-eš-a
- pa-bi i₃-ku₅-ru-ne zu₂ ba-an-keše₂-re-ne
- ur₂ ḫur-saĝ-ĝa₂-ka mu-ni-ib-nu₂-u₃-ne
- ni₂ te-a-ni 7-kam-ma mu-un-na-til-la-ta da-ga-na ba-te
- muš gar₃ ĝeštin-na-gin₇ murgu-na im-ta-du-du
- ne mu-un-su-ub-ba-gin₇ te-na tibir-ra ba-ni-in-ra
- ḫu-wa-wa zu₂ ba-an-da-zalag
- dgilgameš₂ šu ba-am₃-tuku₄
- dutu-ra inim ga-mu-na-ab-dug₄
- dutu ama tud-da-ĝu₁₀ nu-um-zu a-a buluĝ₃-ĝa₂-ĝu₁₀ nu-um-zu
- kur-ra mu-un-tud-de₃-en za-e mu-un-buluĝ₃-e
- dgilgameš₂ zi an-na ma-an-pad₃ zi ki-a ma-an-pad₃ zi kur-ra ma-an-pad₃
- šu-še₃ mu-un-dab₅ ki za nam-ba-an-tum₃
- ud-ba dgilgameš₂ dumu-gir₁₅-ra šag₄-ga-ni arḫuš ba-ni-in-tuku
- arad-da-ni en-ki-du₁₀-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
- en-ki-du₁₀ mušen dab₅-ba ki-bi-še₃ ḫa-ba-du
- ĝuruš dab₅-ba ur₂ ama-na-še₃ ḫe₂-gi₄-gi₄
- arad-da-a-ni en-ki-du₁₀-e dgilgameš₂-ra inim mu-un-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
- i₃-a lum-lum u₃-luḫ-ḫa sud-sud
- dumu-gir₁₅ giri₁₇-zal diĝir-re-e-ne
- gud lipiš-tuku me₃-a gub-be₂
- en TUR dgilgameš₂ unugki mi₂ dug₄-ga
- ama-zu dumu u₃-tud maḫ-bi in-ga-an-zu
- emeda(UM.ME)-ga-la₂-zu dumu ga gu₇ maḫ-bi in-ga-an-zu
- sukux(SUKUD)-ra₂ dim₂-ma nu-tuku
- nam-tar i₃-gu₇-e nam-tar nu-ub-zu-zu
- mušen dab₅-ba ki-bi-še₃ du-a-bi
- ĝuruš dab₅-ba ur₂ ama-na-še₃ gi₄-gi₄-dam
- za-e iri ama tud-da-zu nu-ub-ši-gur-ru-de₃-en
- ḫu-wa-wa en-ki-du₁₀-ra gu₃ mu-un-na-de₂-e
- ĝa₂-ra en-ki-du₁₀ inim mu-na-ab-ḫul-ḫul
- lu₂ ḫuĝ-ĝa₂ šag₄-gal im-ma-ḫuĝ eĝer gaba-ri us₂-sa inim mu-na-ab-ḫul-ḫul
- ur₅-gin₇ ḫu-mu-na-ab-be₂-a-ka
- den-ki-du₁₀ ib₂-ba lipiš bal-a-ni gu₂-ni im-ma-an-kud
- šag₄ kuša-ĝa₂-la₂-še₃ mu-un-da-ĝar
- igi den-lil₂-la₂-še₃ i-ni-in-kur₉-re-eš
- igi den-lil₂-la₂-še₃ giri₁₇ ki su-ub-ba-ni-ta
- tug₂a-ĝa₂-la₂ bi₂-in-šub saĝ-du-ni bi₂-in-ed₂-de₃
- igi den-lil₂-la₂-še₃ im-ma-ni-in-ĝar-re-eš
- den-lil₂-le saĝ-du dḫu-wa-wa igi ba-ni-in-du₈-a
- inim dgilgameš₂ šag₄ bi₂-in-dab₅
- a-na-aš-am₃ ur₅-gin₇ i₃-ak-en-ze₂-en
- [...] X-am₃ i₃-ak-en-ze₂-en [...]
- igi-zu-ne-ne-a ḫe₂-en-tuš
- ninda gu₇-zu-ne-ne-a ḫe₂-gu₇-e
- a naĝ-zu-ne-ne-a ḫe₂-na₈-na₈
- [...]-zu-e-ne-ka me-te-aš ḫe₂-im-mi-ĝal₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 1-am₃ a-šag₄-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 2-kam-ma id₂-da-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 3-kam-ma ĝiš-gi-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 4-kam-ma ur-maḫ-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 5-kam-ma e₂-gal-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 6-kam-ma tir-tir-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- me-lem₄-a-ni 7-kam-ma dnun-gal-še₃ ba-an-šum₂
- [...]-ma ni₂ te-a-ni ba-an-TI
- kalag-ga dgilgameš₂ mi₂ dug₄-ga
- dnisaba za₃-mi₂
Source Colophon: Sumerian text, ETCSL c.1.8.1.5 (ĝilgameš u₂ ḫu-wa-wa, Version A). Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Transcription represents the composite text with subscript numerals normalized; manuscript variants have been omitted from this rendering. Source consulted 2026-03-21.
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