Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet II — The Meeting of Gilgamish and Enkidu · 2 of 2 · tr. R. Campbell Thompson
Tablet II, Section 1b
I would know his intention." The woman the fellow Call’d that he come to him, that he might see him: "O, why art thou seeking, Sir?
(Pray), which is the way to thy rest-house?" 20.
The man spake, addressing Enkidu: "You to the House of Community [Gilgamish calleth], (This is) the custom of men, and a homage (too) to the great ones: 25.
Come, then, and heap up the offerings such as are due to the city, Come, on behalf of the common weal bring in the food of the city.
(’Tis) for the king of broad-marketed Erech to look on thy greeting, 30.
Gilgamish, king of broad-marketed Erech to look on thy greeting; First doth he mate with the woman allotted by fate, and then after Speak by the counsel of god, and so from the shape of the omens (Utter the rede of) his destiny." (So) at the words of the fellow Went they before him.
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7.
[Enkidu] going [in front], with the courtesan coming behind him, 10.
Enter’d broad-marketed Erech; the populace gather’d behind him, (Then), as he stopp’d in the street of broad-marketed Erech, the people 15.
Thronging, behind him exclaim’d "Of a truth, like to Gilgamish is he, Shorter in stature a trifle, [his] composition is stronger.
20.
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[(once)] like a [weakling] baby he suck’d the milk of the wild things!
Ever the bread-cakes in Erech give glorious (climax) to manhood!
25.
He a (mere) savage becometh a hero of proper appearance, (Now) unto Gilgamish, god-like, his composition is equal." .
30.
Strewn is the couch for the love-rites, and Gilgamish (now) in the night-time Cometh to sleep, to delight in the woman : (but) [Enkidu], coming 35.
(There) in the highway, doth block up the passage to Gilgamish, [threat’ning] He with his strength .
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6.
Gilgamish .
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behind him .
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10.
Burgeon’d [his rage], (and) he rush’d to [attack] him: they met in the highway.
Enkidu barr’d up the door with his foot, (and) to Gilgamish entry— 15.
Would not concede: they grappled and snorted(?) like bulls, (and) the threshold Shatter’d: the (very) wall quiver’d as Gilgamish , Enkidu grappled, 20.
Snorting(?) like bulls, (and) the threshold they shatter’d, the (very) wall quiver'd.
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25.
Gilgamish bent his leg to the ground: (so) his fury abated, (Aye, and) his ardour was quell’d: so soon as was quelled his ardour, 30.
Enkidu (thus) unto Gilgamish spake: "(Of a truth), did thy mother Bear thee as one, and one only: (that choicest) cow of the steer-folds, 35.
Nin-sun exalted thy head above heroes, and Enlil hath dower'd Thee with the kingship o’er men."
§ Ask Guru about this passage →Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology
Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.
The passage depicts gods (Enlil, Nin-sun) and the hero (Gilgamesh) with distinctly human characteristics, emotions, and actions such as mating, counseling, and fighting.
All passages →Childlike Innocenceanthropology
The infant or child as symbol of the unfallen, undivided spiritual state; return to primordial simplicity.
The text references Enkidu's past state using the imagery of a 'weakling baby' sucking milk from wild things to contrast with his current heroic stature.
All passages →Divine Providencetheology
Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.
The narrative explicitly references divine counsel, fate allotting the woman, and Enlil dowering Gilgamesh with kingship, indicating active divine ordering of events.
All passages →Living Godtheology
The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.
The deities are portrayed as dynamic, personal agents who intervene in human affairs (e.g., Enlil granting kingship) rather than abstract principles.
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