Epic poem · 1928
The Epic of Gilgamish
Verse translation from the Assyrian and Babylonian tablets
Translated by R. Campbell Thompson (1928)
Also in this archive
Morris Jastrow Jr. and Albert T. Clay’s translation (1920) →
The Babylonian epic of Gilgamish, king of Erech, and his friend Enkidu, who together slay the Ogre Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven, until Enkidu's death sends the hero in vain search of everlasting life.
Contents · 12 parts
- Tablet I: Of the Tyranny of Gilgamish, and the Creation of Enkiduabout 210 lines
- Tablet II: Of the Meeting of Gilgamish and Enkidu80 lines
- Tablet III: The Expedition to the Forest of Cedars against Humbabaabout 170 lines
- Tablet IV: The Arrival at the Gate of the Forest47 lines
- Tablet V: Of the Fight with Humbaba59 lines
- Tablet VI: Of the Goddess Ishtar, Who Fell In Love With the Hero After His Exploit Against Humbabaabout 120 lines
- Tablet VII: The Death of Enkidu52 lines
- Tablet VIII: Of the Mourning of Gilgamish, and What Came of It36 lines
- Tablet IX: Gilgamish In Terror of Death Seeks Eternal Life39 lines
- Tablet X: How Gilgamish Reached Uta-Napishtimabout 150 lines
- Tablet XI: The Floodabout 240 lines
- Tablet XII: Gilgamish, In Despair, Enquires of the Deadabout 110 lines