SpTU 3, 059 (P348662)
Literary, Hellenistic, Uruk · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE
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| Designation | SpTU 3, 059 |
|---|---|
| ID | P348662 |
| Museum no. | IM — |
| Collection | National Museum of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Hellenistic · c. 330 BCE–141 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Uruk (mod. Warka) |
| Coordinates | 31.3234, 45.6395 |
English translation
By ORACC project cams/gkab · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse Column i [0:1] o i 1o i 1–o i 1o i 1 | Humbaba opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš: |
| Obverse Column i [1:2] o i 22–o i 22 | 'Let idiots, Gilgameš, consult a very stupid man. Why did you come into my presence? |
| Obverse Column i [2:3] o i 33–o i 33 | 'Come, Enkidu, spawn of a fish, who did not know his father, |
| Obverse Column i [3:4] o i 44–o i 44 | 'hatchling of a raqqu-turtle and a šeleppû-turtle, who did not suck his mother's milk! |
| Obverse Column i [4:5] o i 55–o i 55 | 'In your youth I would look at you but I would not approach you, |
| Obverse Column i [5:6] o i 66–o i 66 | '[...] ... in my belly.2 |
| Obverse Column i [6:7] o i 77–o i 77 | '[...] did you bring Gilgameš into my presence with evil intent, |
| Obverse Column i [7:8] o i 88–o i 88 | 'and (why) did you yourself stand like a foreign enemy? |
| Obverse Column i [8:9] o i 99–o i 99 | 'Let me cut the throat and neck [...] Gilgameš, |
| Obverse Column i [9:10] o i 1010–o i 1010 | 'let me feed his flesh to cricket birds, screecher eagles, and vultures.' |
| Obverse Column i [10:11] o i 1111–o i 1111 | Gilgameš opened his mouth to speak, saying to Enkidu: |
| Obverse Column i [11:12] o i 1212–o i 1212 | 'My friend, Humbaba's face has changed. |
| Obverse Column i [12:13] o i 1313–o i 1313 | 'Mightily we have come up to his place to defeat him himself, |
| Obverse Column i [13:14] o i 1414–o i 1414 | 'but the heart that feared does not quickly calm down.' |
| Obverse Column i [14:15] o i 1515–o i 1515 | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [...] Gilgameš: |
| Obverse Column i [15:16] o i 1616–o i 1616 | 'Why, my friend, do you speak like a weakling? |
| Obverse Column i [16:17] o i 1717–o i 1717 | 'And your mouth slackened, troubling my heart. |
| Obverse Column i [17:18] o i 1818–o i 1818 | 'Now, my friend, one [...] ... [...]. |
| Obverse Column i [18:19] o i 1919–o i 1919 | 'Gathering up the copper from the channel-mould of the copper-founder? |
| Obverse Column i [19:20] o i 2020–o i 2020 | 'Blowing on the coals for 1 double-hour, ... what is kindled for 1 double-hour? |
| Obverse Column i [20:21] o i 2121–o i 2121 | 'To send a flood is to lash with the whip. |
| Obverse Column i [21:22] o i 2222–o i 2222 | 'You should [...] lift your feet, you should not turn back. |
| Obverse Column i [22:23] o i 2323–o i 2323 | '[...] ... make your blow strong!' |
| Obverse Column ii [0:1] o ii 1o ii 1–o ii 1o ii 1 | (Humbaba saying:) '[...] ... may they (Gilgameš and Enkidu) be driven off.' |
| Obverse Column ii [1:2] o ii 22–o ii 22 | He heard them [...] a distance, |
| Obverse Column ii [2:3] o ii 33–o ii 33 | he smote the very ground, ... he confronted him (Gilgameš). |
| Obverse Column ii [3:4] o ii 44–o ii 44 | At the heels of their feet the ground was splitting, |
| Obverse Column ii [4:5] o ii 55–o ii 55 | as they circled, Sirara and Lebanon were sundered.3 |
| Obverse Column ii [5:6] o ii 66–o ii 66 | White cloud was turned black, |
| Obverse Column ii [6:7] o ii 77–o ii 77 | death raining down on them like fog. |
| Obverse Column ii [7:8] o ii 88–o ii 88 | Šamaš raised against Humbaba the great storm-winds: |
| Obverse Column ii [8:9] o ii 99–o ii 99 | south wind, north wind, east wind, west wind, blast, |
| Obverse Column ii [9:10] o ii 1010–o ii 1010 | counterblast, gale, destructive wind, typhoon, |
| Obverse Column ii [10:11] o ii 1111–o ii 1111 | demon wind, icy blast, storm wind, dust storm. |
| Obverse Column ii [11:12] o ii 1212–o ii 1212 | The 13 winds arose and Humbaba's face darkened - |
| Obverse Column ii [12:13] o ii 1313–o ii 1313 | he cannot push forwards, he cannot kick backwards - |
| Obverse Column ii [13:14] o ii 1414–o ii 1414 | and the weapons of Gilgameš conquered Humbaba. |
| Obverse Column ii [14:15] o ii 1515–o ii 1515 | Humbaba sought his life, saying to Gilgameš: |
| Obverse Column ii [15:16] o ii 1616–o ii 1616 | 'You are young, Gilgameš, (as when) your mother gave birth to you, |
| Obverse Column ii [16:17] o ii 1717–o ii 1717 | 'but you are the offspring of Rimat-Ninsun. |
| Obverse Column ii [17:18] o ii 1818–o ii 1818 | 'By the command of Šamaš also the mountains ..., |
| Obverse Column ii [18:19] o ii 1919–o ii 1919 | 'a very shoot from Uruk's midst is the king Gilgameš. |
| Obverse Column ii [19:20] o ii 2020–o ii 2020 | '[...] ..., O Gilgameš, a dead man ... not ... [...] ..., |
| Obverse Column ii [20:21] o ii 2121–o ii 2121 | '[...] a survivor for his lord [...]. |
| Obverse Column ii [21:22] o ii 2222–o ii 2222 | 'O Gilgameš, spare my life [...], |
| Obverse Column ii [22:23] o ii 2323–o ii 2323 | 'may I dwell for you in [...]. |
| Obverse Column ii [23:24] o ii 2424–o ii 2424 | 'Trees, as many as you command me, [...], |
| Obverse Column ii [24:25] o ii 2525–o ii 2525 | 'let me guard for you the myrtle, the [...], |
| Obverse Column ii [25:26] o ii 2626–o ii 2626 | 'trees, the pride of a palace [...].' |
| Obverse Column ii [26:27] o ii 2727–o ii 2727 | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [...]: |
| Obverse Column ii [27:28] o ii 2828–o ii 2828 | 'My friend (Gilgameš), do not listen to what Humbaba says, |
| Obverse Column ii [28:29] o ii 2929–o ii 2929 | [...] his supplications ... [...] ... [...]' |
| Obverse Column iii [0:1] o iii 1o iii 1–o iii 1o iii 1 | (Humbaba saying:) 'You (Enkidu) are experienced in the nature of my forest, the nature ... [(...)], |
| Obverse Column iii [1:2] o iii 22–o iii 22 | 'and you know all the (right) things to say. |
| Obverse Column iii [2:3] o iii 33–o iii 33 | 'If only I had picked you up (and) hanged you from a sapling at the entrance to my forest,4 |
| Obverse Column iii [3:4] o iii 44–o iii 44 | 'if only I had fed your flesh to cricket birds, screecher eagles, and vultures! |
| Obverse Column iii [4:5] o iii 55–o iii 55 | 'Now, Enkidu, my release lies with you: |
| Obverse Column iii [5:6] o iii 66–o iii 66 | 'speak to Gilgameš, so that he may spare my life!' |
| Obverse Column iii [6:7] o iii 77–o iii 77 | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš: |
| Obverse Column iii [7:8] o iii 88–o iii 88 | 'My friend, Humbaba, guardian of the forest of cedar, |
| Obverse Column iii [8:9] o iii 99–o iii 99 | 'finish him off, kill him, destroy his nature! |
| Obverse Column iii [9:10] o iii 1010–o iii 1010 | 'Humbaba, guardian of the forest, finish him off, kill him, destroy his nature, |
| Obverse Column iii [10:11] o iii 1111–o iii 1111 | 'before the pre-eminent one, Ellil, hears! |
| Obverse Column iii [11:12] o iii 1212–o iii 1212 | 'The [...] gods could become full with rage against us, |
| Obverse Column iii [12:13] o iii 1313–o iii 1313 | 'Ellil in Nippur, Šamaš in [...]. |
| Obverse Column iii [13:14] o iii 1414–o iii 1414 | 'Set up an eternal [...], |
| Obverse Column iii [14:15] o iii 1515–o iii 1515 | 'how Gilgameš [...] Humbaba [...].' |
| Obverse Column iii [15:16] o iii 1616–o iii 1616 | Humbaba heard [...], |
| Obverse Column iii [16:17] o iii 1717–o iii 1717 | Humbaba raised his head and [...] |
| Reverse Column i [1:2] r i 2'2'–r i 2'2' | (Enkidu saying:) 'Where [...]?' |
| Reverse Column i [2:3] r i 3'3'–r i 3'3' | [...] he (Humbaba) heard [...], |
| Reverse Column i [3:4] r i 4'4'–r i 4'4' | [...] he raised [...] and [...] (saying to Enkidu:) |
| Reverse Column i [6:7] r i 7'7'–r i 7'7' | '... [...] ... adviser [...], |
| Reverse Column i [7:8] r i 8'8'–r i 8'8' | 'and the resident in his house [...] hostilities. |
| Reverse Column i [8:9] r i 9'9'–r i 9'9' | 'You are sitting like a shepherd before him, |
| Reverse Column i [9:10] r i 10'10'–r i 10'10' | 'and like a hireling under his command you [...]. |
| Reverse Column i [10:11] r i 11'11'–r i 11'11' | 'Now, Enkidu, [...] lies with you, and [...]: |
| Reverse Column i [11:12] r i 12'12'–r i 12'12' | 'speak to Gilgameš, so that he may spare my life!' |
| Reverse Column i [12:13] r i 13'13'–r i 13'13' | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying [...]: |
| Reverse Column i [13:14] r i 14'14'–r i 14'14' | 'My friend, Humbaba, guardian of the forest, [...], kill him, and [...] his nature, |
| Reverse Column i [14:15] r i 15'15'–r i 15'15' | 'before the pre-eminent one, [...], hears! |
| Reverse Column i [15:16] r i 16'16'–r i 16'16' | 'The great gods could become full with rage against us, |
| Reverse Column i [16:17] r i 17'17'–r i 17'17' | 'Ellil in Nippur, Šamaš in Larsa [...]. Set up an eternal ... [...], |
| Reverse Column i [17:18] r i 18'18'–r i 18'18' | 'how Gilgameš kills Humbaba [...].' |
| Reverse Column i [18:19] r i 19'19'–r i 19'19' | Humbaba heard ... [...] and ... [...] ... [...] |
| Reverse Column ii [0:1] r ii 1'r 1'–r ii 1'r 1' | (Humbaba saying:) 'May they not [...]. |
| Reverse Column ii [1:2] r ii 2'2'–r ii 2'2' | 'May they both not grow old, |
| Reverse Column ii [2:3] r ii 3'3'–r ii 3'3' | 'in addition to his friend Gilgameš, may Enkidu have nobody to bury him.' |
| Reverse Column ii [3:4] r ii 4'4'–r ii 4'4' | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš: |
| Reverse Column ii [4:5] r ii 5'5'–r ii 5'5' | 'My friend, I speak to you but you do not listen to me. |
| Reverse Column ii [5:6] r ii 6'6'–r ii 6'6' | 'Until the curses ... [...] ... [(...)] ... [...], |
| Reverse Column ii [6:7] r ii 7'7'–r ii 7'7' | '... [...] to his mouth.' |
| Reverse Column ii [7:8] r ii 8'8'–r ii 8'8' | [...] the utterance of his friend, |
| Reverse Column ii [8:9] r ii 9'9'–r ii 9'9' | he drew the sword [...] his side. |
| Reverse Column ii [9:10] r ii 10'10'–r ii 10'10' | Gilgameš [...] in the neck, |
| Reverse Column ii [10:11] r ii 11'11'–r ii 11'11' | Enkidu [...] ... until he pulled out the lungs. |
| Reverse Column ii [11:12] r ii 12'12'–r ii 12'12' | [...] ... he jumps up, |
| Reverse Column ii [12:13] r ii 13'13'–r ii 13'13' | from the head he carries off the ivory as booty. |
| Reverse Column ii [13:14] r ii 14'14'–r ii 14'14' | [...] plenty fell on the mountain, |
| Reverse Column ii [14:15] r ii 15'15'–r ii 15'15' | [...] ... plenty fell on the mountain. |
| Reverse Column iii [0:1] r iii 1'r 1'–r iii 1'r 1' | [...] ... they have cut off, |
| Reverse Column iii [1:2] r iii 2'2'–r iii 2'2' | [...] ... 6 fingers was the blow of their wood shavings. |
| Reverse Column iii [2:3] r iii 3'3'–r iii 3'3' | Gilgameš was cutting down trees, Enkidu was constantly looking for the best timber. |
| Reverse Column iii [3:4] r iii 4'4'–r iii 4'4' | Enkidu opened his mouth to speak, saying to Gilgameš: |
| Reverse Column iii [4:5] r iii 5'5'–r iii 5'5' | 'My friend, we have cut down a tall cedar, |
| Reverse Column iii [5:6] r iii 6'6'–r iii 6'6' | 'whose top abutted the heavens. |
| Reverse Column iii [6:7] r iii 7'7'–r iii 7'7' | 'I made a door, whose height is 6 rods, whose width is 2 rods, |
| Reverse Column iii [7:8] r iii 8'8'–r iii 8'8' | 'whose thickness is 1 cubit, whose doorpost, bottom pivot, and top pivot are from a single (piece). |
| Reverse Column iii [8:9] r iii 9'9'–r iii 9'9' | 'Let the Euphrates carry (it) to Nippur, 'let the [...] of Nippur rejoice.' |
| Reverse Column iii [9:10] r iii 10'10'–r iii 10'10' | ... branches [...], |
| Reverse Column iii [10:11] r iii 11'11'–r iii 11'11' | they lashed together a raft, [...]. |
| Reverse Column iii [11:12] r iii 12'12'–r iii 12'12' | Enkidu was aboard [...], |
| Reverse Column iii [12:13] r iii 13'13'–r iii 13'13' | and Gilgameš [...] the head of Humbaba. |
| Reverse Column iii [13:14] r iii 14'14'–r iii 14'14' | He washed his dirty hair, [...]. |
| Reverse Column iii [14:15] r iii 15'15'–r iii 15'15' | Tablet 5, 'He who [...', ...]. |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| r iii | ||
| 15' | IM 5-KAM.MA ša₂ [...] | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.