Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet II — The Meeting of Gilgamish and Enkidu · 1 of 2 · tr. R. Campbell Thompson
Tablet II, Section 1a
THE SECOND TABLET OF THE MEETING OF GILGAMISH AND ENKIDU.
2.
While Gilgamish (thus) is the vision revealing Enkidu sitteth before the hetaera, and she [displaying her] bosom, 5.
Shewing [her beauty (?)], the place of his birth he forgetteth.
(So) Enkidu dallied (Thus) for six days, seven nights, with the courtesan-girl in his mating.
10.
Broke into [speech] then, the nymph, and (thus) unto Enkidu spake she: "(Yea, as) I view thee, (e’en) like a god, O Enkidu, shalt be, Why with the beasts (of the field) dost thou (ever) range over the desert?
15.
Up, for I'll lead thee to [Erech] broad-marketed, (aye), to the Temple Sacred, the dwelling of Anu—O Enkidu, come, that I guide thee, Unto E-Anna, the dwelling of Anu, where [Gilgamish] (liveth), 20.
(He), the supreme of creation; and thou, aye, thou wilt [embrace him] Like [to a woman], (and e’en) [as] thyself thou shalt [love him].
O, rouse thee Up from the ground—’tis a shepherd's bed (only)." Her utterance heard he, 25.
Welcomed her rede: the advice of the woman struck home in his bosom.
She one garment took off wherewith she might clothe him: the other 30.
She herself wore, (and so) taking her hand like a brother she led him (Thus) to the booths(?) of the shepherds, the place of the sheepfolds.
The shepherds 35.
Gather]d at sight of him .
He (in the past) of the milk of the wild things to suck was accustom’d!
5.
Bread which she set before him he broke, but he gazed and he stared: Enkidu bread did not know how to eat, nor had he the knowledge Mead how to quaff!
10.
(Then) the woman made answer, to Enkidu speaking, "Enkidu, taste of the bread, (for) of life ’tis; (forsooth), the essential, Drink thou, (too), of the mead, ’tis the wonted use of the country." 15.
Enkidu ate of the bread, (aye, ate) until he was gorged, Drank of the mead seven bumpers; his spirits rose, (and), exultant, 20.
Glad was his heart, and cheerful his face: [himself(?)] was he rubbing, 25.
Oil on the hair of his body anointed: and (thus) became human.
Donn’d he a garment to be like a man , (and) taking his weapon, 30.
Hunted the lions, which harried the shepherds o’ nights: and the jackals Caught he.
(So) he, having mastered the lions, the shepherds slept soundly .
35.
Enkidu—(he) was their warden—(becometh) a man of full vigour.
(Now) is one of the heroes speaking to [Gilgamish(?)] .
.
.
.
.
10.
(Then while) he pleasured, he lifted his eyes, (and), observing the fellow, Spake he unto the woman: "O doxy, bring me (this) fellow, 15.
Why hath he come?
§ Ask Guru about this passage →Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology
Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.
The text describes gods dwelling in temples and Gilgamesh as the 'supreme of creation' using human-like forms and interactions.
All passages →Childlike Innocenceanthropology
The infant or child as symbol of the unfallen, undivided spiritual state; return to primordial simplicity.
Enkidu is depicted as ignorant of bread and mead, requiring instruction like a child to partake in the essentials of civilization.
All passages →Separation From Sourcesoteriology
The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive.
Enkidu explicitly forgets 'the place of his birth' after his encounter with the courtesan, marking a loss of his original wild state.
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