Gilgamesh (Dalley, 39-125)

Tablet I: The Creation of Enkidu (50-59)

The opening tablet of this story shows the power and prestige of Gilgamesh as the ruler of Uruk, located on the Euphrates River.  Although Gilgamesh is powerful, he also has uncontrollable appetites, and he has become unbearable to his own people who cannot sleep or escape his wrath.  The people pray to Aruru, the goddess of creation to create an equal to Gilgamesh.  That creature is Enkidu, man of the “open country.”

1. How is Gilgamesh’s city of Uruk divided?
 
 
 

2. What are some of Gilgamesh’s legendary feats of strength?
 
 
 

3. How can Gilgamesh be two-thirds god and one-third mortal?
 
 
 

4. Why is Gilgamesh constantly referred to as a bull?
 
 
 

5. What complaints do the people of Uruk have about their king?
 
 
 

6. What do the people ask the creation goddess Aruru to do that will bring peace?
 
 
 

7. Describe the physique of the “primitive man,” Enkidu.
 
 
 

8. How does the hunter react when he first encounters Enkidu?
 
 
 

9. Why does Gilgamesh suggest sending a sacred temple prostitute, Shamhat, to meet Enkidu?
 
 
 

10. Shamhat, the sacred prostitute, is sent to “lie with” Enkidu and to “teach him.”  For “six days and seven nights,” what does Enkidu learn?
 
 
 

11. How do the animals treat the newly transformed Enkidu?
 
 
 

12. Why does Shamhat tell Enkidu that he has become “like a god”?
 
 
 

13. What does Enkidu want to do to Gilgamesh before Shamhat convinces him otherwise?
 
 
 

14. What do Gilgamesh’s two dreams signify?
 
 
 

15. Why does Ninsun tell Gilgamesh that he will love Enkidu “as a wife”?
 
 
 

16. Why is Ninsun an appropriate character to interpret Gilgamesh’s dreams?
 
 
 
 

Tablet II: The Challenge (59-63)

Enkidu arrives in town and challenges Gilgamesh on his wedding day to Ishtar, the goddess of love and war.  After wrestling with Gilgamesh to a draw, Enkidu tells Gilgamesh about Humbaba, keeper of the Pine Forest of Lebanon.  Immediately, Gilgamesh devises a plan to leave his legacy.

NOTE: When you reach the bottom of page 60, flip to page 141 and read an alternate description of the wrestling match between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.  This text comes from an Old Babylonian version of the epic, and it supplies additional scenes that embellish the plot.

17. How do the townspeople of Uruk react when they first see Enkidu in the streets?
 
 
 

18. How does Enkidu challenge Gilgamesh?
 
 
 

19. What prompts Enkidu to suddenly collapse and cry?
 
 
 

20. Describe Humbaba.
 
 
 

21. Why is Humbaba protected by Ellil?
 
 
 

22. What does Gilgamesh declare as his new quest?
 
 
 

23. What is Enkidu’s advice to the elders about Gilgamesh’s new mission?
 
 
 
 

Tablet III: Follow the Leader (63-66)

Enkidu agrees to accompany Gilgamesh to the Pine Forest on one condition — that Enkidu leads the way.  Gilgamesh seeks the advice of his mother, Ninsun, who further seeks the advice of Shamash, the sun god.

NOTE: When you reach the bottom of page 66, flip to pages 146-147 to read an additional scene showing the elders of Uruk blessing the travelers before they depart and instructing them on how to win the “impossible challenge.”

24. Why does Enkidu petition to lead the way into the Pine Forest?
 
 
 

25. Why does Gilgamesh run his idea for adventure past his mother, Ninsun?
 
 
 

26. What character trait in Gilgamesh does Ninsun lament to Shamash about?
 
 
 

27. What is Shamash’s decision?  How does he justify it?
 
 
 
 

Tablet IV: The Journey to Lebanon (67-71)

Gilgamesh and Enkidu leave Uruk and travel to the Pine Forest to face Humbaba.  Each night, they dig a pit and make a flour sacrifice to Shamash for protection.  During these last three nights, Gilgamesh receives three prophetic dreams, which Enkidu translates.

28. How many days did the journey last from Uruk to Lebanon?
 
 
 

29. What is Gilgamesh’s first dream, and how does Enkidu interpret it?
 
 
 

30. What is Gilgamesh’s second dream, and how does Enkidu interpret it?
 
 
 

31. What is Gilgamesh’s third dream, and how does Enkidu interpret it?
 
 
 

32. How does this last dream affect Enkidu?
 
 
 

33. Gilgamesh says to Enkidu, “Hold my hand, my friend, let us set off!”  Is this a good or bad decision?
 
 
 
 

Tablet V: The Battle with Humbaba (71-77)

Their encounter with Humbaba does not go well at first, as both characters seem to have underestimated the fierce intimidation they would feel standing in Humbaba’s shadow.  With the assistance of Shamash, Gilgamesh and Enkidu overcome their fear and defeat the keeper of the forest.  They hew timbers that reach the heavens and they float them down the Euphrates down to Uruk.

NOTE: When you reach the middle of page 76, flip to page 148 and read it.  This page contains additional excerpts from an Old Babylonian translation of the tale.  It will fill in some of the textual gaps in the main translation.

34. Why is the Pine Forest so admirable?
 
 
 

35. What insults does Humbaba throw at Gilgamesh and Enkidu upon their first encounter?
 
 
 

36. What assurances does Shamash give to Gilgamesh?
 
 
 

37. What metaphors does Enkidu use to encourage Gilgamesh during the battle?
 
 
 

38. How does Shamash intervene, weakening Humbaba?
 
 
 

39. How does Humbaba plead to Gilgamesh and Enkidu after Shamash’s participation?
 
 
 

40. Why is Enkidu in such a rush to kill Humbaba?
 
 
 

41. What curse does Humbaba place upon both Gilgamesh and Enkidu?
 
 
 

42. What metaphor does Enkidu use that convinces Gilgamesh that they should kill Humbaba?  (NOTE: This question refers to a text sample on Dalley 148)
 
 
 
 

Tablet VI: The Great Bull of Heaven (77-83)

The heroes clean themselves up and travel back to Uruk, victorious.  Ishtar (Inanna) notices Gilgamesh’s power, and she makes advances toward him.  She becomes infuriated when Gilgamesh refuses her, and she acquires the destructive Bull of Heaven from her father, Anu.  Gilgamesh and Enkidu battle the bull to protect humanity.

43. Why does Gilgamesh refuse the advances of Ishtar?
 
 
 

44. Ishtar asks her father for the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh.  What does this bull represent?
 
 
 

45. What is the one condition upon which Anu allows Ishtar to use the Bull?
 
 
 

46. What damage is caused by the bull’s initial three snorts?
 
 
 

47. As Enkidu grabs hold of the bull, what realization comes to his mind?
 
 
 

48. Which character actually kills the bull?
 
 
 

49. What do Gilgamesh and Enkidu do with the dead bull?
 
 
 

50. Why does Enkidu toss a leg from the bull into the heavens?  Is this action appropriate?
 
 
 

51. What does Gilgamesh do with its massive horns?
 
 
 
 

Tablet VII: The Fall of Enkidu (83-90)

The bliss of victory soon turns into the agony of defeat for Enkidu, after the gods declare that someone has to compensate for the deaths of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.  Communicated through dreams, Enkidu sees his fate sealed by the gods, as well as his destination — the dusty realm of the Underworld.  In this tablet, Enkidu comes to terms with his own death.

52. Explain the prophesy of Enkidu’s first dream.  Which is the only god to support Enkidu?
 
 
 

53. Why does Enkidu destroy the great pine door that he had made?
 
 
 

54. What is Gilgamesh’s plan to change the gods’ minds?
 
 
 

55. What curses does Enkidu heap upon the “hunter” and the “harlot”?
 
 
 

56. How does Shamash scold Enkidu, and what does he make Enkidu realize about his life?
 
 
 

57. Describe some of the visions that Enkidu sees in his second dream, when he visits the Underworld.
 
 
 

58. For how many days does Enkidu fall ill?
 
 
 
 

Tablet VIII: The Death of Enkidu (91-95)

The tablet begins with Enkidu having just expired.  Gilgamesh recalls their glorious deeds together, as well as all of the people and things associated with the life of Enkidu.  Although Gilgamesh speaks to himself, within the privacy of his home, his speech acts as a fitting eulogy for his fallen friend.  Gilgamesh erects a statue in Enkidu’s honor and provides several offerings to Shamash.  Gilgamesh also sheds his royal garments for primitive rags.  Unfortunately, the last two pages of this tablet are broken, so we cannot know the details of Gilgamesh’s funeral rituals.

59. Who/What does Gilgamesh blame for the death of Enkidu?
 
 
 

60. Why does Gilgamesh react so violently after he speaks Enkidu’s eulogy?
 
 
 

61. Describe and explain why Gilgamesh changes his physical appearance: “Clad only in lionskin, I will roam the open country.”
 
 
 
 

Tablet IX: The Quest to the land of the faraway (95-99)

Afraid of his own mortality, Gilgamesh embarks on a quest to find the elixir of immortality.  Wearing ragged clothes, Gilgamesh searches for a man named “The Faraway” or “The Far-Distant,” Utnapishtim, who had survived the Great Flood.  In order to travel to the other side of the world, Gilgamesh must trek through a tunnel through Mount Mashu, guarded by the fearsome Scorpion-Men.  Gilgamesh’s journey is successful, and he arrives at the other end of the Earth to a splendorous environment.

62. Afraid of the lions, why does Gilgamesh pray to the god Sin?
 
 
 

63. When Gilgamesh awakens from his dream, he slays the pride of lions playing nearby.  Why?
 
 
 

64. Why does the Scorpion-Man tell Gilgamesh that his journey is “impossible”?
 
 
 

65. Why do you suppose that the gatekeeper allows Gilgamesh to go through the mountain?
 
 
 

66. How long is Gilgamesh’s journey through Mount Mashu?
 
 
 

67. Describe the world at the other end of the tunnel.  What does this setting symbolize?
 
 
 
 

Tablet X: Utnapishtim, the far-distant (99-109)

Gilgamesh is amazed at his new surroundings, but quickly gets back to business.  Siduri, the divine winemaker, directs him to see Urshanabi, the ferryman, who transports Gilgamesh to his destination on the magillu-boat.  Exhausted, Gilgamesh finally meets Utnapishtim, who tells him that his search will only bring more misery, since all mortals must face death.

NOTE: At the bottom of page 101, flip to pages 149-151 to read an alternate version of Gilgamesh’s conversation with Siduri.  You will hear Shamash speak to Gilgamesh first, telling him that he “will not find the eternal life that you seek.”  Siduri will repeat the same message.  This textual excerpt comes from the Old Babylonian version of the story.

68. When Siduri first sees Gilgamesh, what does she mistake him as?
 
 
 

69. After Gilgamesh identifies himself, why does Siduri not believe him?
 
 
 

70. Why do Shamash and Siduri both tell Gilgamesh, “You will not find the eternal life that you seek”?  (NOTE: this question pertains to the additional text, located on pages 149-151).
 
 
 

71. According to Siduri, who is the only one who has ever crossed the sea to Utnapishtim?
 
 
 

72. When he first meets Urshanabi, why does Gilgamesh hit the ferryman on the head and smash the “things of stone”?
 
 
 

73. How does Gilgamesh repay Urshanabi?
 
 
 

74. What instructions does Urshanabi give to Gilgamesh to propel the magillu-boat across the lethal waters?
 
 
 

75. What does Gilgamesh do to propel the boat once all the poles are used?
 
 
 

76. What is Utnapishtim’s response to Gilgamesh and his quest?
 
 
 

Tablet XI: The Flower of immortality  (109-120)

Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the secret story of his survival during the Great Flood.  He also instructs Gilgamesh that he will not achieve eternal life.  Before sending Gilgamesh home, however, Utnapishtim informs Gilgamesh of one last hope — the Flower of Immortality residing at the bottom of the ocean.

77. Why does Gilgamesh want to “pick a fight” against Utnapishtim?
 
 
 

78. List three similarities and at least three differences between Utnapishtim’s account of the flood and the story of Atrahasis.
 
 
 

79. What do the gods to to Utnapishtim and his wife as recompense for their tribulations?
 
 
 

80. What challenge does Utnapishtim propose to Gilgamesh to test his immortality?
 
 
 

81. What instruction does Utnapishtim give his wife to prove to Gilgamesh the results of the challenge?
 
 
 

82. What does Utnapishtim ask Urshanabi to do to Gilgamesh to revitalize him?
 
 
 

83. Why does Utnapishtim tell Gilgamesh the secret of the Flower of Immortality?
 
 
 

84. What does Gilgamesh use as anchors when he dives into the sea to locate the flower?
 
 
 

85. What is significant about the flower spiking Gilgamesh’s hands when he plucks it?
 
 
 

86. What is Gilgamesh’s plan to use the flower?
 
 
 

87. Why does the snake grab the flower, shed its skin, and slither away forever?
 
 
 

88. Why does Gilgamesh finally accept his fate?
 
 
 

89. Why does Gilgamesh give Urshanabi a tour of Uruk when they arrive back home?  What is Gilgamesh’s legacy?
 
 
 

Tablet XII: Coda (120-125)

The story officially ends after Tablet XI; however, this additional tablet has been added at the end of the Dalley translation.  You may read it if you’d like, but it will not be discussed.  It is out of sequence, and is more closely related to another story in your Dalley text called “Nergal and Ereshkigal” (pages 163-176).  The story in Tablet XII shows the living Enkidu visiting the Underworld.  Enkidu is instructed to avoid accepting any gifts, since this action would cause Enkidu to remain in the Underworld forever.  Likewise, Nergal is given similar instructions, but accepts the sexual advances of Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld.