Gilgamesh and the Humappah Tree
translated by S.N. Kramer, 1938












© 1995-2001 Untangle Incorporated
Last Updated: Monday, November 05, 2001


Transliteration
Translation
(unreadable) (nothing to translate)
mu-ri (?) (unsure)
u(?) UL NIG .. -a-b[a] Aft[er]
... nig-du7-e...dug4-ga-a-ba After..(uncertain)
...[ka]lam...-a-ba After....(uncertain)
...su-rin(?)-na(?) kalam-ma...-ag-a-ba After... (uncertain)
[u4 a]n-ki-ta ba-ra-bad-du-a-ba After (hea)ven had moved away from earth
[ki]-an-[t]a ba-da-sur-r[i](!)-a-ba After (earth) had been separated (f)rom heaven
[m]u(?)-nam-lu-GAL.LU ba-gar-ra-a-ba After the (na)me(?) of mankind had been fixed
u4 an-ni an ba-an-DU-a-ba After Anu carried off unto himself the heaven
den-lil-li ki ba-an-DU-a-ba After Enlil had carried off unto himself the earth
deris-ki-gal-la kur-ra sag-rig7-ga-se i(m)-ma-ab-rig7-a-ba After Ereshkigal had been presented(?) as a gift(?) to(?) the nether world
ba-u5-a-ba ba-u5-a-ba After he had set sail, after he had set sail
a-a kur-se ba-u5-a-ba After the father for the nether world had set sail
den-ki kur-se ba-u5-a-ba After Enki for the nether world had set sail
lugal-ra tur-tur ba-da-an-ri For (?) the king the small ones stormed(?)
den-ki-ra gal-gal ba-da-en-ri For(?) Enki the large ones stormed(?)
[tur-tu]r-bi na4-su-kam Its [smallo]nes,being ...stones
[gal-gal-bi] na4-zi-ga(?)-ud(?)-da-a-kam [Its large ones,] being ...stones,
[lir-m]a-t[ur]-ri-den-ki-ga-ke4 At [the keel of the [tur-]boat of Enki
[se-en-KA+LI- ]na [u4]-du7-am i-su-su ...like a raging storm fall
lugal-ra a-gisma-sag-ga-ke4 For the king the water at the head of the [boat]
ur-bar-ra-gim [ur] mu-na-ku-e Like a jackal devours(?)
den-ki-ra a-gisma-egir-ra-ke4 For Enki the water at the rear of the boat
[ur-m]ah-gim sag-gis im-ra-ra Like a (li)on strikes down
[u4-bi-a gi]s-dis-am gisha-lu-ub-dis-am gis-dis-am [On that day] a tree, a huluppu-tree, a tree
[gu-idbu]ranuna-kug-ga-ka du-a-bi On the [bank of] the pure Euphrates it had been planted
idburanuna a-na8-na8-da-bi [The E]uphrates (was) its drinking water
[a tu15]gal-lu ur-ba mu-ni-slr pa-ba mu-ni-dar [Mightily(?)] the South Wind plucked at its base, tore at its crown
[idbu]ranuna a im-ma-ni-ib-ra [The E]uphrates on(?) (its) waters carried it off
[munus] enem-an-na-ta n[i-te-a DU] [A lady walking(?) in f]ear at the word of Anu,
enem-den-lil-l[a-]ta n[i-te-a] DU Walking(?) [in f]ear at the word of Enlil,
gis su-na mu-un-dib unukki-se ba-ni-in-tu Seized the tree in her hand (and) brought it to Uruk
kiri6 -gi-[rin-kug]-dinanna-se im-ma-ni-in-tu-ri-en "To pu[re] Inanna's holy garden thou(?) sha1t bring it~
munus-e gis [su-na-a] LI-bi-in-[du gir-]ni-ta bl-in-gub The lady ten[ded(?)] the tree [with her hand], she let It stand(?) at her [foot(?)]
mu[nus]e gis [s]u-na-a LI-bi-in-[du gir-n]i-ta bi-in-gub(!) The la[dy] ten[ded(?)] the tree with her [ha]nd, she let it stand (?) at[herfoot(?)]
me-na-am gis gu-za-gi-rin ba-ni-[tus-u-de]-en bi-in-dug4,
"When at last (shall I have) a holy throne that I may [sit]on it?" concerning it she said;
me-na-am gis na-gi-rin ba-ni-[na-de]-en bi-in-dug "When at last (shall I have) a holy bed that I may [lie] on it ?" concerning it she said.
[g]is ba-gur4 su-bi nu-mu-[un-da-d]ar [The t]ree grew large, (but) she could(?) not cut off(?) it bark(?)
ur-bi-a mus-tu6(?)-nu-zu-e gud im-ma-ni-ib-us At its base the snake who knows no charm(?) had set up for itself a nest
pa-[bi-]a musen d[IM-dugu]dmusen-de amar im-ma-ni-ib-gar In [its] crown the [Zu]-bird had placed (his) young,
sab-bi-a ki-sikil-lil-la-ke4 e im-ma-ni-ib-du In its midst Lilith had built for herself a house.
ki-sikil gu-de-de sa-hul-hul The ever shouting(?) maid, the rejoicer of all hearts,
kug dinanna-ke4 ir e-NE ba-se8-se8 The pure Inanna, how(?) she weeps!
[u4- ]zal-li-da an-ur-zalag-gi-da At the break of [day], as the horizon became light,
SIM(?)-u4-zal-li KA gi4-gi4-da ?
....e(?)-nun-ta...a-ni ?
[munus(?)].....dinanna(?)-ke4 [The lady(?)]....Inanna(?)
[d gis gi(b) il–ga-mes(?)]-ra gu-mu-na-de-e To Gilgamesh(?) speaks:
...[m]u(?)-ri-a [ka-na]-ag ba(?)-ba ...For Enki the water at the rear of the boat
u4 he-gal(?)-la ka-na-ag ba-e-zal-la-RI [After(?)] the land had been saturated(?) with floodwaters
u4 an-ni an ba-an-ir-ra-ba After Anu had carried off unto himself the heaven
[m]u-ul-lil-li(!) ki ba-an-ir-ra-ba After [En]lil had carried off unto himself the earth
der[es]-ki(!)-gal(!)-la(!) kur-ra sag-rig7- ga-se im-ma-ab-rig7—[ga-ba] [After Enresh]kigal had been presented(?) as a gift (?) to(?) the nether world
ba-u5-[a-ba ba-u5-a-ba] [After he had] set sail, [after he had set sail]
a-a kur-s[e] ba-[u5-a-ba] [After] the father for the nether world had set sail
dam-an-ki kur-se ba-u5-a-[ba] [Af]ter Enki for the nether world had set sail
u-mu-un-ra tur-tur ba-an-da-[ri] For (?) the lord the small ones [stormed(?)]
dam-an-ki-ra gal-gal ba-an-da-ri For (?) Enki the large ones [stormed(?)]
tur-tur-bi na4-su-k[am] Its small ones, be[ing] ...stones,
gal-gal-bi na4-zi-ga(?)-ud(?)-da-[a-kam] Its large ones, be[ing] ...stones,
ur-ma-tur-ri-dam-an-ki-ga-kam At the keel of the tur-boat of Enki
se-en KA+LI-na u4-du7-am i-su-su ...Like a raging storm fall
u-mu-un-ra tur-tur ba-an-da-[ri] For the lord the water at the head of the boat
ur-bar-ra-gim ur mu-un-na-ku[-e] Like a jackal devours
dam-an-ki-ra a-ma-egir-ra-ke4 For Enki the waters at the rear of the boat
ur-mah-gim sag-gis im-ra-ra Like a lion strikes down
u4-bi-a mu-ki-ta-am gis ha-lu-ub-k[i]-ta-a[mir] gisKU(?)-ki-ta-amir On that day a tree...a huluppah tree... a tree
gu idburanuna-kug-ga-ka du-a-bis On the banks of the pure Euphrates it had been planted
idburanuna a-na8-na8-da-bi Euphrates (was) its drinking water
a gal-lu ur-ba mu-ni-in-sir pa-ba mu-ni-in-dar Mightily(?) the South wind plucked at its base, tore at its crown
idburanuna a im-ma-ni-ib-ra The Euphrates on(?); (its) waters carried it off
nu-nuz e-ne-em-an-na-ta ni-te-a DU (I), a lady walking in fear in at the word of Anu
e-de-em-dmu-ul-lil-ia-ta ni-te-a DU Walking(?) in fear at the world of Enlil
mu su-ma mu-un-dib unukki-se ba-ni-in-tull Seized the tree in my hand (and) brought it to Ur-uk
Kiri6-gi-rin-kug-ga-sa-an-na-se im-ma-ni-in-tu-ri To pure Inanna's holy thou(?) shalt bring it
nu-nuz-e mu su-na LI-bi-in-du me-ri-ni-ta... bi-in-gub The lady tended(?) the tree with her hand, she let it stand(?) at her foot(?).
d[ga]-sa(!)-an-na-ke4( ?) mu su-na Ll-bi-in-du me-ri-ni-ta bi-[in-gub] I tended the tree with my hand, I let it stand(?) at my feet(?)
me-na-am gisgu-za-gi-[rin] ba-ni-tus-u-de-en bi-[in-dug4 "When at last (shall I have) a [ho]ly throne that I may sit on it? " concerning it [she said]
me-na-am gisna-gi-rin [ba-ni]-na-de-en bi-in-dug4 "When at last (shall I have) a holy bed that I may lie [on it]" concerning it she said
mu ba-gar4 SU-bi nu-mu-un-da-dar The tree grew large, but she could(?) not cut off(?) its bark
ur-bi-a mus-tu6(?)-nu-zu-e gud im-ma-ni-ib-us At its base the snake who knows no charm(?) had set up for itself a nest
pa-bi-a musen d IM-dugudmusen-de amar im-ma-ni-ib-gar In its crown the Zu-bird had placed (its) young
sab-ba-bi-a ki-sikil-lil-la-ke4 e im-ma-ni-ib-du In its midst Lilith had built for herself a house.
ki-sikil gu-de-de sa-hul-hul The ever shouting(?) maid, hte rejoicer of all hearts
kug dga-sa-an-an-na-DU ir e-NE ba-se8-se8 The pure Inanna, how(?) she weeps!"
SAL+KU-a-ni inim in-na-an-dug4-ga In the matter concerning which his sister had spoke to him,
ses-a-ni ur-sag d gisgi(b)il-ga-mes inim-bi ba-de-DU In that matter her brother, the hero Gilgamesh, stood by her
tugib-ba-ru ninnu-ma-an-am ib-ba-na ba-kar Armor(?) (weighting) as much as fifty minas he fastened(?) at his waist -
ninnu-ma-na-am usu-gin ba-si-in-ag That which(weighed) as much as fifty minas he treated(?) like(?) thirty shekels
uruduha-zi-in-na-ni har-ra-an-na-ka-ni His bronze ax, his (ax) of the road
imin-gu-imin-ma-na-ka-ni su-ni-a ba-an-dib At its base he smote the snake who knows no charm(?)
pa-bi-a musen dIM-dugudmusen-de amar-bi su-ba-an-ti In its crown the Zu-bird took its young
hur-sag-se ba-an-tu (And) brought it to the mountain
sab-bi-a ki-skikil-lil-la-ke4 e im-ma-ni-in-zal In its midst Lilith destroyed her house
a-ri-a-ri-es su-ba-an-kar-kar-ri (And) escapes to the desert places
gis ur-ba mi-ni-sir pa-ba mi-ni-in-dar The tree, he plucked at its base, he tore at its crown
dumu-uru-na-mu-un-da-sug-es-am pa mu-un-si-tar-ru-ne The sons of his city who had accompanied him cut down its crown
kug-dinanna-ra gisgu-za-ni-se mu-na-ab-sim-mu Unto the pure Inana for her throne he gives it,
gisna-ni-se mu-na-ab-sim-mu For her bed he gives it.
e-ne ur-bi gisellage-a-ni-se ba-ab-dim-e He, its base into his pukku he makes,
pa-bi gis[E.A]G-ma-ni-se ba-ab-dim-e Its crown into his mikku he makes.
 

Literary Translation

......(6 lines not clear)
After heaven and earth separated,
After humankind was created,
After Anu rested in heaven,
After Enlil rested in the earth,
After Ereshkigal was forced into Hell
After the Furher of Hell set sail,
After Enki the ruler of Hell set sail,
There was hailstones for kings
There was meteorites for Enki
A storm broke, rain fell on the king's boat
Like jackel on prey,
A storm broke, divine rain fell on Enki's boat
Like a lion on prey,
In this storm a Huluppah tree fell over
The seed of this tree long ago fell
On the banks of the Eurphrates.
That seed grew into a tree as it drank
The water of the Euphrates
On the day of the storm the south wind
pulled at the roots of this tree
This wind pushed at the crown of this tree
And when the tree fell over
It fell into the Euphrates, which carried it off
By the Euphrates walked one lady who respected Anu's word
By the Euphrates walked that lady who also respected Enlil's word
By the Euphrates that lady seized the Huluppah tree
That lady pulled that tree from the waters
That lady brought that tree to Uruk the great city of Inanna
As the words are written "To pure Inanna's holy garden shall you bring it"
Such did that lady do.
That lady placed her hand on the tree and raised it to standing at her feet
That lady proclaimed: "I shall have a chair, devoted to the gods, from this tree!"
"Yes, a chair I shall have to sit in and praise the gods."
"And from this tree I shall have a bed that I shall lay on and praise the gods!"
The tree was so large she could not strip it to begin the work she proclaimed.
Time passed.
At the base of the tree lay a poisonous snake in a nest it had made in the top most roots
In the crown on the tree a Zu-bird made it's nest.
Lilith had built herself a home in its branches
Inanna, whose voice makes hearts grow joyous, now weeps in frustration
Until dawn appears and with dawn appears Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh hears pure Inanna's crying
"Tell me why such sweetness sheds bitter tears!"
And Inanna speaks:
"Once upon a time,
After the heaven and earth and humankind were created,
After Anu rested in his heaven,
After Enlil rested in his earth,
After Ereshkigal was forced into Hell
After the Furher of Hell set sail,
After Enki the ruler of Hell set sail,
There was hailstones for kings
There was meteorites for Enki
A storm broke, rain fell on the king's boat
Like jackel on prey,
A storm broke, divine rain fell on Enki's boat
Like a lion on prey,
In this storm a Huluppah tree fell over
The seed of this tree long ago fell
On the banks of the Eurphrates.
That seed grew into a tree as it drank
The water of the Euphrates
On the day of the storm the south wind
pulled at the roots of this tree
This wind pushed at the crown of this tree
And when the tree fell over
It fell into the Euphrates, which carried it off
By the Euphrates walked one lady who respected Anu's word
By the Euphrates walked that lady who also respected Enlil's word
By the Euphrates that lady seized the Huluppah tree
That lady pulled that tree from the waters
That lady brought that tree to Uruk the great city of Inanna
As the words are written "To pure Inanna's holy garden shall you bring it"
Such did that lady do.
That lady placed her hand on the tree and raised it to standing at her feet
That lady proclaimed: "I shall a chair, devoted to the gods, from this tree!"
"Yes, a chair I shall have to sit in and praise the gods."
"And from this tree I shall have a bed that I shall lay on and praise the gods!"
The tree was so large she could not strip it to begin the work she proclaimed.
Time passed.
At the base of the tree lay a poisonous snake in a nest it had made in the top most roots
In the crown on the tree a Zu-bird made it's nest.
Lilith had built herself a home in its branches
Inanna, whose voice makes hearts grow joyous, now weeps in frustration "
On hearing her words Gilgamesh does thusly:
"I will stand by you, sister, as I am your brother"
Gilgamesh's armour fifty minas in weight he fastened round his waist
Fifty minas he treated like thirty shekels of cloth
Gilgamesh seized his bronze military ax
Gilgamesh's ax weighed 7 talents and 7 minas
Yet he seized it in his hand and with it
Smote the wild snake at the base of the tree
From the crown the Zu-bird flew with it's young to the mountain
And Lilith destroyed her home and fled to desert lands
Gilgamesh pulled off the roots and pushed free the crown
With him the sons of his city pulled off some of the crown
And Gilgamesh gives this crown to pure Inanna to make her divine chair
And Gilgamesh gives the trunk to Inanna to make her divine bed
And from the base Gilgamesh makes a pukku for himself
And from the remaining crown Gilgamesh makes a mikku for himself.


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