Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet VI — Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven
§ About this work
The work opens by praising Gilgamish, Master of wisdom and builder of Erech's ramparts, who is two-thirds divine; his tyranny prompts the gods to have Aruru create the beast-like Enkidu, whom a courtesan tames and draws to Erech, while Gilgamish dreams of a coming friend (Tablet I). Enkidu becomes human, enters Erech, and grapples with Gilgamish (Tablet II). The two clasp hands as brothers, and Gilgamish resolves to overcome Humbaba despite Enkidu's and the Elders' warnings, praying to Shamash and visiting Nin-sun (Tablet III). They journey to the Forest, Enkidu addressing its Gate and falling briefly sick (Tablet IV). Aided by Shamash's eight winds, they cut off Humbaba's head (Tablet V). Ishtar proposes marriage; Gilgamish refuses and recounts her former lovers, so she demands the Heavenly Bull from Anu, which the brothers kill (Tablet VI). Fever lays Enkidu low; he dreams of the Dwelling of Darkness (Tablet VII) and dies, mourned by Gilgamish before the Elders (Tablet VIII). Fearing death, Gilgamish ranges the desert, reaching the Mountains of Mashu and the Scorpion-men, seeking Uta-Napishtim (Tablet IX). He meets Siduri the wine-maker and Ur-Shanabi the boatman, crossing the Waters of Death (Tablet X). Uta-Napishtim recounts the deluge and his gift of divine life; Gilgamish fails a test of sleeplessness, obtains a life-giving plant, loses it to a serpent, and returns to Erech (Tablet XI). Finally, forbidden acts trap a descender in the Underworld; Ea has Nergal release Enkidu's spirit, who describes to Gilgamish the states of the dead (Tablet XII).
Gilgamish washes and cleanses his garments, braids his hair, dons clean clothes, and girds himself with a baldric and fillet. Lady Ishtar sees his beauty and proposes that he become her bridegroom, offering a chariot, homage from kings, and abundant livestock. Gilgamish answers, asking what he must give her, then lists comparisons calling her a ruin, back door, palace, pitfall, pitch, leaking bottle, limestone, chalcedony, and sandal. He recounts her former lovers: Tammuz, the Roller bird whose wing she broke, a Lion she trapped in pits, a Stallion she drove to exhaustion, a Shepherd she turned into a jackal, and Ishullanu the gardener she turned into a spider, saying she would treat him likewise. Enraged, Ishtar ascends to Anu her father and Antu her mother and complains. Anu answers that she provoked it. Ishtar demands the Heavenly Bull; Anu warns of seven years of husks, and Ishtar says she has hoarded corn. Enkidu seizes the Bull by horns and tail; the two brothers kill it, remove its heart, and offer it to the Sun-god. Ishtar wails from the ramparts; Enkidu tosses the Bull's member before her and threatens her. She assembles devotees to lament. Gilgamish devotes the horns to Lugal-banda. They wash in the Euphrates and return to Erech, where Gilgamish is praised. During revelry, Enkidu sleeps, sees a vision, and tells his comrade.
Tablet VI, Section 1aTablet VI, Section 1bTablet VI, Section 1cTablet VI, Section 1d