Stephen Langdon

“ The contents supply the South Babylonian version of the second book of the epic ša nagba imuru, “He who has seen all things,” commonly referred to as the Epic of Gilgamish. The tablet is said to have been found at Senkere, ancient Larsa near Warka, modern Arabic name for and vulgar descendant of the ancient name Uruk, the Biblical Erech mentioned in Genesis X. 10. This fact makes the new text the more interesting since the legend of Gilgamish is said to have originated at Erech and the hero in fact figures as one of the prehistoric Sumerian rulers of that ancient city. ”

“ The struggle between the two heroes, where Enkidu strives to rescue his friend from the fatal charms of Išhara, is probably depicted on seals also. On one of the seals published by Ward, Seal Cylinders of Western Asia, No. 459, a nude female stands beside the struggling heroes.12 This scene not improbably illustrates the effort of Enkidu to rescue his friend from the goddess. In fact the satyr stands between Gilgamish and Išhara (?) ”

“ When he enters he sees someone, whose name is broken away, eating bread and drinking milk, but the beautiful barbarian understands not. The harlot commands him to eat and drink also:
“It is the conformity of life,
Of the conditions and fate of the Land.” ”

“ This fragment, heretofore assigned to the second book, probably belongs to Book III. The tablet of the Assyrian version which carries the portion related on the new tablet has not been found. Man redeemed from barbarism is the major theme of Book II.
The newly recovered section of the epic contains two legends which supplied the glyptic artists of Sumer and Accad with subjects for seals. Obverse III 28–32 describes Enkidu the slayer of lions and panthers. Seals in all periods frequently represent Enkidu in combat with a lion. ”

“ I behold thee Enkidu; like a god thou art.
12Why with the animals
13wanderest thou on the plain?
14Come! I will lead thee
15into the midst of Erech of the wide places,
16even unto the holy house, dwelling place of Anu.
17Oh Enkidu, arise, I will conduct thee
18unto Eanna dwelling place of Anu,
19where Gilgamish [oppresses] the souls of men (?) ”

“ II (part of the Assyrian version) published in HAUPT, ibid., 81–4 preserves a defective text of this part of the epic. This tablet has been erroneously assigned to Book IV, but it appears to be Book III.
11 K. 2589 and duplicate (unnumbered) in Haupt, ibid., 16–19.
12 See also Ward, No. 199.
Transliteration
1it-bi-e-ma iluGilgamiš šu-na-tam i-pa-aš-šar. ”

“ Gibil, god, 197, 3.
gi-gál (giš) ,interlude, 151 n. 1; 182, 33.
gigunna, 114, 23.
Gilgamish, king of Erech, 207; 211, 1:115 f. 212, 17:37; 213, 2; 217, 21; 218, 9:20:24:29 and below 2; 219, 10;15:20:26. Derivation of name, 208. See also No. 16 Rev. II 15; 197, 42; 124 f.
gilsa, a sacred relic, 132, 22.
Girra, Irra, god, 174, 7; 177, 12.
girru, lion, 215, 29.
Girsu, city, 181, 23.
Guanna, deity, No. 16 Rev. II 18.
Guedin, province, 129, 28.
Gunura, goddess of healing, 176, 6.
gupru, mighty, 214, 33.
Gutium, land, 120 ff.
H.
Hallab, city, 125; 141.
ḫanābu, grow thickly, Prs. ”

“ Innini, goddess, 123. Liturgy to, 184; 123, 29. Consort of Shamash, 148, 4. Other references, 154, 21.
iṣṣur šamê, unclean birds, 195 n. 10.
Išhara, goddess, 218, 22.
Isin, city, 122, 15; 176, 4.
Ishme-Dagan, 178 ff. Son of Enlil, 181, 29; 182, 32. Liturgy to, 143.
K.
KA-DIB-BI, sibit pî, 194, 10.
KAK-DIG, a weapon, 130, 4.
kakkitu (?) , weapon. Pl. kakkiatum, 218, 16.
KAK-SIR, a weapon (?) , 130, 4. [121]
kalama, the Land, Sumer, 138, 25; 141, 5; 147, 22; 150, 4; 154, 17; 177, 9. ”

“ E-namtila, temple, 160, 4; 169, 24.
en-a-nu-un, en-á-nun, title of Innini and Gula, 173, 2.
Enbilulu, title of Marduk, 170, 5.
E-ninnû, temple, 181, 22.
EN-ḪUL-tim-mu, 194 n. 2.
EN-KA-KA, bêl dabābi, 194, 2.
Enki, god. Hymn to, No. 20, 113, 7; 114, 10; 116, 21; 122, 7; 149, 16.
Enkidu, satyr, 213, 3:7:10:11; 214, 6; 215, 11:12:15:34; 216, 13; 219, 8:15:25; 131, 11; 134, 16; 178, 13.
Enlil, god. Liturgy to, 155–184. Regarded as god of light, 157, 1 ff. 158, 3 f. Other references, 114, 19; 115, 2; 116, 19; 131, 6; 136, 5; 139, 40; 149, 22; 146, 3:7:14; 189, 11:19; 220, 33. ”