Tablet XII
(Contents and circumstantial evidence mark this tablet as an inorganic appendage to the epic proper. … The first part—regarded by the Akkadian translator—is fortunately extant and has been published by Kramer in his monograph 'Gilgamesh and the yuluppu-Tree' (I938). Since the beginning is essential as an introduction to Tablet XII, it may be summarized briefly, as follows:
Shortly after the creation of the universe, a tree growing on the bank of the Euphrates was uprooted by the south wind. Inanna (Ishtar) took the floating trunk and planted it in her garden in Uruk. She intended to use it, in due time, as timber for her bed and chair. When several hostile beings interfered with Inanna's plan, Gilgainesh came to her rescue. In gratitude, Inanna made from the base of the tree a pukku, probably a magic Drum, and from the crown a mikka, apparently a Drumstick of similar magic potency, and gave them both to Gilgamesh. One day both these precious objects fell into the nether world. Gilgamesh sought to retrieve them but could not. Lamenting his loss, he cried 'O my pukku, 0 my mikkii.' It is at this point that the Akkadian translation, known to us as Tablet XII, sets in, a fact witnessed by the catch-line at the end of Tablet XI.
… In the translation given below, restorations based on the Sumerian text will be indicated by square brackets.)
'That time when I verily ha[d]' the Drum in the
carpenter's house,
[ (When] the carpenter's wife was verily like my mother
who bore me],
[ (When) the carpenter's daughter was verily like my
younger sister] !
Lo, [who will bring up] the Dr[um from the nether
world] ?
[Who will bring up] the Drumstick [from the nether
world] ? '
[Enkidu… says to him, to Gilgamesh, his lord]:
'My lord, why [criest thou (and) why is so ill thy heart] ?
Lo, [I will bring up] the Dr[um from the nether world], [I will bring up] the Drumst[ick from the nether world].'
Gi[Igamesh says to him, to Enkidu,
his servant]:
'If [thou wilt go down] to [the nether world], [I will speak a word to thee, take my word]; My admonition (s)… [heed thou well]:
Clean raiment [thou shalt not put on] I
As a sojourner… they would ma[rk thee].
With sweet oil from the cruse thou shalt not anoint thee!
At its fragrance they would gather about thee.
A throw stick into the nether world thou shalt not hurl!
Those struck with the throw stick would surround thee.
A staff into thy hands thou shalt not take!
The spirits would tremble… on thy account. Sandals to thy feet thou shalt not fasten,
A sound against the nether world thou shalt not make,
Thy wife whom thou lovest thou shalt not kiss,
Thy wife whom thou hatest thou shalt not strike,
Thy son whom thou lovest thou shalt not kiss,
Thy son whom thou hatest thou shalt not strike!
The wailing of the nether world would seize thee!
She who rests, she who rests,
The mother of Ninazu, O she who rests;
Her holy shoulders are not covered
with raiment,
Her cruse-shaped breasts are not wrapped with cloth.'
[To his lord's admonitions Enkidu gave no] heed.
[He] put [on clean raiment]:
[They mar]ked him as a sojourners.
With [sweet] oil from the cruse [he anoin]ted himself: At the frag[rance of it they gath]ered about him. [He hurled] the throw stick in[to the nether world]: [Those struck] with the throw stick surrounded him. A staff [he took into his] hand:
The spirits trembled [on his account].
Sandals to [his feet he fastened],
A sound [against the nether world he malde, [He kissed his beloved] wife, [He struck his] hated wife, [He kissed his be]lov[ed son],
He str[uck his] hated [son]:
The wailing of the nether world seized him. She who rests, she who rests,
The mother of Ninazu, she who rests; Her holy shoulders are not covered with raiment, Her cruse-shaped breasts are not wrapped with cloth. She allow[ed] not Enkidu to ascend from
the nether world.
Nam[tar did not seize] him, Fever did not seize him;
The nether world seized him.
[Nergal's] unsparing deputy did not seize him;
The nether world [seized] him.
On the [battielfield of men he did not fall;
The nether world [seized him]!
The[n] my l[ord], the son of Ninsun,
Weeping over Enkidu, his servant,
Went all alone to [Ekur], the temple of Enlil:
'Father [Enlil], lo, my Drum fell into the nether world,
My Drumstick [fell into the nether world];
Namtar did not seize him, Fever did not seize him;
The nether world seized him.
Nergal's unsparing deputy did not seize him;
The nether world seized him.
On the battlefield of men he did not fall;
The nether world seized him!'
Father Enlil did not intercede for him in the matter;… [To Ur]… he went:
'Father Sin, lo, my Drum fell into the nether world, My Drumstick fell into the nether world.
Enkidu, whom [I sent] to bring them up, the nether world seized.
Namtar did not seize him, Fever did not [seize] him;
The nether world seized him.
Nergal's unsparing deputy did not seize him;
The nether world seized him.
On [the battlefield of men he did not] fall;
The nether world seized him!'
[Father Sin did not intercede for him in the matter];
[To Eridu… he went]:
'[Father Ea, lo, my Drum fell into the
nether world],
[My Drumstick fell into the nether world].
[Enkidu, whom I sent to bring them up, the nether
world seized].
Na[mtar did not seize him, Fever did not seize him];
[The nether world seized him].
Nergal's unsparing deputy [did not seize him];
[The nether world seized him].
On the battlefield of men [he did not fall];
[The nether world seized him]!'
Father Ea [did intercede for him in the matter]. [He said] to [Nergall, the valiant hero: 'O valiant hero, Ne[rgal… ], [Open] forthwith a hole… [in the earth,] That the spirit of [Enkidu may issue forth
from the nether world],
That to his brother [he might tell the ways of the nether
world].'
Nergal, the valiant hero, [hearkened to Ea],
Scarcely had he opened a hole in the earth,
When the spirit of Enkidu, like a wind-puff,
Issued forth from the nether world.
They embraced and kissed each other.
They exchanged counsel, sighing at each other:… 'Tell me, my friend, tell me, my friend,
Tell me the order of the nether world which thou hast seen.'
'I shall not tell thee, I shall not tell thee
(But) if I tell thee the order of the nether world
which I have seen,
Sit thou down (and) weep!'
I will sit down and weep.
'[My body … ], which thou didst touch as thy heart rejoiced,
Vermin devour [as though] an old garment.
[My body … J, which thou didst touch as thy heart rejoiced,
is filled with dust.'
He cried '[Woe!]' and threw himself [in the dust], Gilgamesh] cried '[Woe!]' and threw himself [in the dust].
… has thou seen] ?' 'I have seen.'
] ?' 'I have seen:
weeps over (it).'
'I have seen:
eats bread.'
?' 'I have seen:
drinks water.'
hast thou se]en?' 'I have seen:
his heart rejoices.'
] hast thou seen?' 'I have seen:
[Like that of a] good [scribe] is his arm bared.''
he enters the palace.'
] hast thou seen?' 'I have seen:
Like a beautiful standard
(twenty-six lines destroyed)
'Him who [fell doun ] from the mast hast
thou seen?'
'[I have seen]:
Scarcely [ I the pegs are pulled out.'
'Him [who died a sud[den] death… hast thou seen?'
'[I have seen]:
He lies upon the night couch and drinks pure water.'
'Him who was killed in battle hast thou seen?'
'I have seen:
His father and his mother raise up his head,
And his wife [weeps] over him.'
'Him whose corpse was cast out upon the steppe hast
thou seen?'
'I have seen:
His spirit finds no rest in the nether world.'
'Him whose spirit has no one to tend (it) hast thou
seen ?
'I have seen:
Lees of the pot, crumbs of bread, offals of the street he
eats.'
Source: Akkadian Myths and Epics—The Gilgamesh Epic. Ancient Near Eastern Texts Collections.http://iktinos.org/archives/anet/2.html. Accessed 15 December 2002.