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CDLI Literary 000361 (Gilgamesh and Aga) composite (P432478)

Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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Designation	CDLI Literary 000361 (Gilgamesh and Aga) composite
ID	P432478
Language	Sumerian
Period	Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
Genre	Literary

English translation

By etcsl · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)

Line	English
surface a 1	Envoys of Aga, the son of Enmebaragesi,
surface a 2	from Kish to Gilgamesh in Uruk came.
surface a 3	Gilgamesh before the elders of his city,
surface a 4	presented the issue, carefully choosing his words:
surface a 5	There are wells to be finished, wells of the Land yet to be finished;
surface a 6	there are shallow wells of the Land yet to be finished,
surface a 7	there are wells to deepen and hoisting gear to be completed.
surface a 8	To the house of Kish We should not submit! Should we not smite it with weapons?
surface a 9	In the convened assembly, the elders of his city
surface a 10	answer Gilgamesh:
surface a 11	“There are indeed wells to be finished, wells of the Land yet to be finished;
surface a 12	there are shallow wells of the Land yet to be finished,
surface a 13	there are wells to deepen and hoisting gear to be completed.
surface a 14	So we should submit to the house of Kish. We should not smite it with weapons!
surface a 15	Gilgamesh, the lord of Kulaba,
surface a 16	in Inanna placing his trust
surface a 17	the advice of the elders of his city did not take seriously.
surface a 18	a second time Gilgamesh before the able-bodied men of his city
surface a 19	presented the issue, carefully choosing his words:
surface a 20	“There are wells to be finished, wells of the Land yet to be finished;
surface a 21	there are shallow wells of the Land yet to be finished,
surface a 22	there are wells to deepen and hoisting gear to be completed.
surface a 23	Never before have you submitted to the house of Kish. Should you not smite it with weapons?
surface a 24	In the convened assembly, the able-bodied men of his city answer Gilgamesh:
surface a 25	“Standing on duty and sitting in attendance,
surface a 26	the son of the king escorting,
surface a 27	the reins of the donkey always grasping,
surface a 28	who has the breath?,” as the saying goes.
surface a 29	To the house of Kish you all should not submit! With weapons should we not smite it?”
surface a 30	“The structure of Uruk, the handiwork of the gods,
surface a 31	and of Eanna, the house from heaven lowered down,
surface a 32	the great gods created.
surface a 33	The great wall, the wall which An founded,
surface a 34	the majestic residence which An established,
surface a 35	you watch over. You are its king and warrior,
surface a 36	an exuberant person, a prince by An beloved.
surface a 37	When Aga comes, what terror he will experience!
surface a 38	That army is small, at the rear scattered.
surface a 39	Its men will be incapable of confronting us.”
surface a 40	Then Gilgamesh, the lord of Kulaba,
surface a 41	at the advice of the able-bodied men of his city rejoiced and his spirit brightened.
surface a 42	His servant Enkidu he addressed:
surface a 43	“On this account let the weaponry and arms of battle be made ready.
surface a 44	Let the battle mace to your side return.
surface a 45	A great terror and radiance may they create.
surface a 46	When he comes, my great fearsomeness will overwhelm him.
surface a 47	His reasoning will become confused, his judgment disarrayed.”
surface a 48	Not 5 days, not 10 days had passed
surface a 49	when Aga, the son of Enmebaragesi, to Uruk with his men laid siege .
surface a 50	Uruk’s reasoning became confused.
surface a 51	Gilgamesh, the lord of Kulaba,
surface a 52	to its warriors speaks:
surface a 53	“My warriors shall have the choice.
surface a 54	Let someone with courage rise up, “I shall go against Aga”
surface a 55	Birḫurtura, his royal guard,
surface a 56	in admiration to his king says:
surface a 57	I shall go against Aga.
surface a 58	so that his reasoning will become confused, his judgment disarrayed.”
surface a 59	Birḫurtura through the city gate went out.
surface a 60	As soon as Birḫurtura went out through the city gate,
surface a 61	at the gate of the city gate they captured him,
surface a 62	Birḫurtura’s entire length beating.
surface a 63	Into the presence of Aga he came
surface a 64	speaking to Aga.
surface a 65	His words were not done, a “mirror-holder” of Uruk, on the wall climbing up,
surface a 66	out over the wall leaned.
surface a 67	Aga trained his eyes,
surface a 68	to Birḫurtura speaking:
surface a 69	“Slave, is that man your king?”
surface a 70	“That man is not my king!
surface a 71	Were that man my king,
surface a 72	were that his angry brow,
surface a 73	were those his bison eyes,
surface a 74	were that his lapis lazuli beard,
surface a 75	were those his elegant fingers,
surface a 76	would he not cast down multitudes? Would he not raise up multitudes?
surface a 77	Would multitudes not be smeared with dust?
surface a 78	Would not all the nations be overwhelmed?
surface a 79	Would not the (canal-)mouths of the land be filled with silt?
surface a 80	Would not the horns of the barges be broken?
surface a 81	Would he not take captive Aga, the king of Kish, in the midst of his army?”
surface a 82	Hitting him, striking him,
surface a 83	Birḫurtura’s entire length they were beating.
surface a 84	After the “mirror-holder” of Uruk, Gilgamesh climbs up on the wall.
surface a 85	the young and old of Kulaba his radiance overwhelms.
surface a 86	The able-bodied men of Uruk with battle maces he armed,
surface a 87	on the causeway at the door of the city gate stationed.
surface a 88	Enkidu through the city gate alone went out.
surface a 89	Gilgamesh out over the wall leaned.
surface a 90	Looking up, Aga opened his eyes:
surface a 91	“Slave, is that man your king?”
surface a 92	“That man is indeed my king.”
surface a 93	It was just as he had said:
surface a 94	Multitudes fell, multitudes rose up,
surface a 95	multitudes with dust were smeared,
surface a 96	all the nations were overwhelmed,
surface a 97	the (canal-)mouths of the land with silt were filled,
surface a 98	the horns of the barges were broken,
surface a 99	Aga, the king of Kish, in the midst of his army he took captive
surface a 100	Gilgamesh, the lord of Kulaba,
surface a 101	to Aga speaks:
surface a 102	“Aga my foreman, Aga my lieutenant,
surface a 103	Aga my commander of the troops!
surface a 104	Aga gave me breath, Aga gave me life:
surface a 105	Aga a fugitive into his embrace took,
surface a 106	Aga the fleeing bird with grain provided.”
surface a 107	“Uruk, the handiwork of the gods,
surface a 108	the great wall, the wall which An founded,
surface a 109	the majestic residence which An established,
surface a 110	you watch over. You are its king and warrior,
surface a 111	an exuberant person, a prince beloved of An.”
surface a 112	“Before Utu, your former kindness is hereby repaid to you.”
surface a 113	Aga to Kish he set free.
surface a 114	As to Gilgamesh, lord of Kulaba,
surface a 115	your praise is sweet.

Transliteration (ATF)

From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)

Line	ATF	Machine English (draft)
surface a
1	lu2 kin-gi4-a ag-ga dumu en-me-bara2-ge4-si-ke4
2	kisz{ki}-ta {d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) unu{ki}-sze3 mu-un-szi-re7-esz
3	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) igi ab-ba-iri{ki}-na-sze3
4	inim ba-an-gar inim i3-kin-kin-e
5	tul2 til-le-da tul2 kalam til-til-le-da
6	tul2 nig2-tur-da kalam til-til-le-da
7	tul2 bur3-da esz2 la2 til-til-le-da
8	e2 kisz{ki}-sze3 gu2 nam-ba-an-ga2-ga2-an-de3-en {gesz}tukul nam-ba-an-sag3-ge-en-de3-en
9	ukken gar-ra ab-ba-iri-na-ka
10	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
11	tul2 til-le-da tul2 kalam til-til-le-da
12	tul2 nig2-tur-da kalam til-til-le-da
13	tul2 bur3-da esz2-la2 til-til-le-da
14	e2 kisz{ki}-sze3 gu2 ga-am3-ga2-ga2-an-de3-en {gesz}tukul nam-ba-sag3-ge-en-de3-en
15	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) en kul-aba4{ki}-a-ke4
16	{d}inanna-ra nir-gal2-la-e
17	inim ab-ba-iri-na-ke4 sza3-sze3 nu-mu-na-gid2
18	2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 {d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) igi gurusz iri{ki}-na-sze3
19	inim ba-an-gar inim i3-kin-kin-e
20	tul2 til-le-da tul2 kalam til-til-le-da
21	tul2 nig2-tur-da kalam til-til-le-da
22	tul2 bur3-da esz2-la2 til-til-le-da
23	e2 kisz{ki}-sze3 gu2 nam-ba-an-gar-re-en-ze2-en {gesz}tukul nam-ba-an-sag3-ge-en-ze2-en
24	ukken gar-ra gurusz iri{ki}-na-ka {d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
25	gub-gub-bu-de3 tusz-tusz-u3-de3
26	dumu lugal-la da ri-e-de3
27	zib2 ansze dab5-dab5-be2-e-de3
28	a-ba zi-bi mu-un-tuku-e-sze
29	e2 kisz{ki}-sze3 gu2 nam-ba-an-gar-re-en-ze2-en {gesz}tukul nam-ba-an-sag3-ge-en-de3-en
30	unu{ki} gesz-kin-ti dingir-re-e-ne-ke4
31	e2-an-na e2 an-ta e11-de3
32	dingir gal-gal-e-ne me-dim2-bi ba-an-ak-esz-am3
33	bad3 gal bad3 an-ne2 ki us2-sa
34	ki-tusz mah an-ne2 gar-ra-ni
35	sag mu-e-se3 za-e lugal ur-sag-bi
36	sag lum-lum nun an-ne2 ki-ag2
37	du-a-ni-ta a-gin7 ni2 ba-an-te
38	erin2-bi al-tur a-ga-bi-ta al-bir-re
39	lu2-be2-ne igi nu-mu-un-da-ru-gu2-usz
40	u4-bi-a {d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) en kul-aba4{ki}-ke4
41	inim gurusz iri-na-sze3 sza3-ga-ni an-hul2 ur5-ra-ni ba-an-zalag
42	szubur-a-ni en-ki-du10-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e
43	ne-esz2 {gesz}szu-kar2 a2 me3 sa he2-em-mi-gi4
44	{gesz}tukul me3 a2-zu-sze3 he2-em-mi-gi4
45	ni2-gal me-lam2-ma he2-em-dim2-dim2-e
46	e-ne du-a-ni-ta ni2-gal-mu he2-eb-szu2
47	dim2-ma-ni he2-suh3 galga-a-ni he2-bir-re
48	u4 nu 5(disz)-am3 u4 nu 1(u)-am3
49	ag-ga dumu en-me-bara2-ge4-si-ke4 unu{ki} za3-ga ba-an-dab5-be2-esz
50	unu{ki}-ga dim2-ma-bi ba-an-suh3
51	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) en kul-aba4{ki}-ke4
52	ur-sag-be2-ne-er gu3 mu-ne-de2-e
53	ur-sag-mu-ne igi mu-un-suh-suh-u3-ne
54	sza3-tuku he2-en-zi-zi-i ag-ga-sze3 ga-an-szi-gen
55	bir-hur-tur-ra lu2-sag lugal-a-ni
56	lugal-a-ni-ir za3-mu10 mu-un-na-ab-be2
57	ge26-e ag-ga-sze3 ga-an-szi-gen
58	dim2-ma-ni he2-suh3 galga-a-ni he2-bir-re
59	bir-hur-tur-ra abul-la ba-ra-e11
60	bir-hur-tur-ra abul-la e3-da-ni
61	ka2 abul-la-ka mu-ni-in-dab5-be2-esz
62	bir-hur-tur-ra sukud-ra2-ni mu-ni-in-gum-gum-ne
63	igi ag-ga-sze3 mu-ni-in-te?
64	ag-ga-sze3 gu3 mu-na-de2-e
65	inim-ma-ni nu-un-til zabar-dab5 unu{ki}-ga-ke4 bad3-sze3 im-me-e11-de3
66	bad3-da gu2-na im-ma-an-la2
67	ag-ga igi im-ma-ni-in-du8
68	bir-hur-tur-re gu3 mu-na-de2-e
69	ARAD2 lu2 sze lugal-zu-u3
70	lu2 sze lugal-mu in-nu
71	lu2 sze lugal-mu he2-me-a
72	sag-ki husz-a-ni he2-me-a
73	igi alim-ma-ka-ni he2-me-a
74	su6 {na4}za-gin3-na-ka-a-ni he2-me-a
75	szu-si sa6-ga-ni he2-me-a
76	szar2-ra la-ba-an-szub-bu-usz szar2-ra la-ba-an-zi-ge-esz
77	szar2-ra sahar-ra la-ba-an-da-szar2-re-esz
78	kur-kur du3-a-bi la-ba-an-da-szu2-a
79	ka ma-da-ka sahar-ra la-ba-da-an-si
80	si {gesz}ma2-gur8-ra-ka la-ba-ra-an-ku5
81	ag-ga lugal kisz{ki}-a sza3 erin2-na-ka-ni szaga-a la-ba-ni-in-ak
82	mu-ni-ib-ra-ra-ne mu-ni-ib-sag3-sag3-ge-ne
83	bir-hur-tur-re sukud-ra2-ni mu-ni-in-gum-gum-ne
84	egir zabar-dab5 unu{ki}-ga-ke4 {d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) bad3-sze3 im-me-e11-de3
85	ab-ba di4-di4-la2 kul-aba4{ki}-a-ke4 me-lam2 bi2-ib-szu2-szu2
86	gurusz unu{ki}-ga-ke4 {gesz}tukul me3 a2-ne-ne bi2-in-si
87	{gesz}ig abul-la-ka sila-ba bi2-in-gub
88	en-ki-du10 abul-la dili ba-ra-e11
89	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) bad3-da gu2-na im-ma-an-la2
90	igi bar-re-da-ni ag-ga igi ba-ni-in-du8
91	ARAD2 lu2 sze lugal-zu-u3
92	lu2 sze lugal-mu i3-me-a
93	bi2-in-du11-ga-gin7-nam
94	szar2-ra ba-an-szub-bu-usz szar2-ra ba-an-zi-ge-esz
95	szar2-ra sahar-ra ba-an-da-szar2-re-esz
96	kur-kur du3-a-bi ba-an-da-szu2-am3
97	ka ma-da-ka sahar-ra ba-da-an-si
98	si {gesz}ma2-gur8-ra-ke4 ba-ra-an-ku5
99	ag-ga lugal kisz{ki}-a sza3 erin2-na-ka-ni szaga-a ba-ni-in-ak
100	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) en kul-aba4{ki}-ke4
101	ag-ga-a gu3 mu-na-de2-e
102	ag-ga ugula-mu ag-ga nu-banda3-mu
103	ag-ga szagina erin2-na-mu
104	ag-ga zi ma-an-szum2 ag-ga nam-ti ma-an-szum2
105	ag-ga lu2-kar-ra ur2-ra bi2-in-tum2-mu
106	ag-ga muszen kar-ra sze bi2-ib-si-si
107	unu{ki} gesz-kin-ti dingir-re-e-ne-ke4
108	bad3 gal bad3 an-ne2 ki us2-sa
109	ki-tusz mah an-ne2 gar-ra-ni
110	sag mu-se3 za-e lugal ur-sag-bi
111	sag lum-lum nun an-ne2 ki-ag2
112	igi {d}utu-sze3 szu u4-bi-ta e-ra-an-gi4
113	ag-ga kisz{ki}-sze3 szu ba-ni-in-ba
114	{d}gilgamesx(\|BIL3.GA.MES\|) en kul-aba4{ki}-a-ke4
115	za3-mu10-zu du10-ga-am3

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

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.