But the man whose corpse remains [unburied] upon the field
Thou and I have often seen such an one
His spirit does not find rest in the earth [i. e., Hades].
The man whose spirit has no one who cares for it
Thou and I have often seen such an one—
consumes the dregs of the bowl, the broken remnants of food,
that are cast into the street.
Thus has come to an end.
"* * * has brought me back
* * * like as the bird of darkness.
I have descended to the house of darkness, the dwelling of the goddess Irkalla;
to the house, whence he that enters goes out no more;
to the road, whose way turns not back;
to the house, whose inhabitants are deprived of light;
to the place where dust is their sustenance, their food clay.
They are clothed, like a bird, with feathered raiment.
Light they see not, they sit in darkness.
In the house, my friend, which I have entered,
in that house crowns are cast down on the ground,
and there live those who had worn crowns, who in days of old had ruled countries;
to whom Anu and Belit had given roasted meat to eat.
Now, cold meals are prepared, and water from leather bottles is poured out for them.
In the house, my friend, which I have entered,
there dwell also priests and ministers;
There dwell soothsayers and enchanters;
there dwell the temple-anointers of the great gods.
There dwells Etana, and there dwells Ner;
There dwells also the queen of the earth [i. e., of Hades], the goddess Ereshkigal.
[There dwells] the scribe of the earth, bowed down before her.
* * * and reads before her,
and Ereshkigal lifted up] her head and saw me."
Illustration Gallery: Maps
Uruk
Illustration Gallery: Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh
Humbaba
Recommended Reading
Seedbox Classics
Epictetus: The Essential Writings by Epictetus
Letters from a Stoic by Lucius Annaeus Seneca
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
The Egyptian Book of the Dead by Epiphanius Wilson
About the Editor
Seedbox Classics brings readers important works in literature, history, philosophy, and art. Classics looks to provide readers with enhanced versions of each volume at affordable prices. Enhancements range from additional content and illustrations to detailed biographies and study guides.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Tablet I
Tablet II
Tablet III
Tablet IV
Tablet V
Tablet VI
Tablet VII and Tablet VIII
Tablet IX
Tablet X
Tablet XI
Tablet XII
Illustration Gallery: Maps
Illustration Gallery: Gilgamesh
Recommended Reading
About the Editor