Epic Of Gilgamesh Full Version -

On the twelfth night, Enkidu died. Gilgamesh watched over him like a lion over its cub, tearing his hair, ripping off his fine robes, throwing dust on his head. For seven days, he refused to bury Enkidu, hoping the worms would not find him. But on the seventh day, the body began to move.

Gilgamesh screamed. He ordered a statue of Enkidu made from precious stone—head of lapis lazuli, body of gold. He gave Enkidu's grave-goods beyond measure: a mace, a bow, a cup, a dagger. And then he did something no king had done before. epic of gilgamesh full version

Gilgamesh drove his sword through Humbaba's neck. The mountains wept resin. The cedar trees swayed in grief. They cut down the tallest tree for Uruk's gate, and they sailed home on the Euphrates with Humbaba's head as a trophy. Ishtar, goddess of love and war, saw Gilgamesh gleaming with cedar resin and glory. She climbed the walls of Uruk, adorned in jewels, and called to him: "Come, Gilgamesh, be my lover. Give me your fruit. I will give you a chariot of lapis lazuli and a house of sweet-smelling reeds." On the twelfth night, Enkidu died

Gilgamesh smiled. He was not angry—he was curious. "Go to the temple of Ishtar. Take the temple harlot, Shamhat. When the wild man goes to the waterhole, let her show him what it means to be human." But on the seventh day, the body began to move

Gilgamesh walked in absolute darkness for twelve leagues. In the twelfth league, light burst forth. He stood in the , where trees bore rubies instead of fruit, lapis lazuli leaves, carnelian branches.

"Look," Utnapishtim's wife said. "He is baking bread. Each day's loaf marks his sleep." She placed a loaf each morning. On the seventh day, seven stale loaves lay before him.