An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic quotes
The lines readers remember from An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic, by Morris Jastrow and Albert T. Clay.
25 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
The life that thou seekest, thou wilt not find.
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“Why, O Gish, does thou run about?
The life that thou seekest, thou wilt not find.
When the gods created mankind,
Death they imposed on mankind;
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When the gods created mankind,
Death they imposed on mankind;
Life they kept in their power.
Life they kept in their power.
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Death they imposed on mankind;
Life they kept in their power.
Thou, O Gish, fill thy belly,
Wherever terror is to be faced,
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“
Wherever terror is to be faced,
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
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“Wherever terror is to be faced,
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
I will go before thee,
The provender of life!
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93
The provender of life!
94Drink wine, the custom of the land!”
All quotes
Introduction.
The life that thou seekest, thou wilt not find.
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“Why, O Gish, does thou run about?
The life that thou seekest, thou wilt not find.
When the gods created mankind,
Death they imposed on mankind;
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When the gods created mankind,
Death they imposed on mankind;
Life they kept in their power.
Life they kept in their power.
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Death they imposed on mankind;
Life they kept in their power.
Thou, O Gish, fill thy belly,
Day and night a renewal of jollification!
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Day and night do thou rejoice,
Day and night a renewal of jollification!
Let thy clothes be clean,
Care for the little one who takes hold of thy hand!
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Wash thy head and pour water over thee!
Care for the little one who takes hold of thy hand!
Let the wife rejoice in thy bosom!”
Wherever terror is to be faced,
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“
Wherever terror is to be faced,
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
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“Wherever terror is to be faced,
Thou, forsooth, art in fear of death.
I will go before thee,
If I fall, I will establish my name.
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Though thy mouth shouts to me: ‘thou art afraid to approach,’
If I fall, I will establish my name.
” (lines 143–148)
Thou dost not know what thou proposest to do.
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“Thou art young, O Gish, and thy heart carries thee away,
Thou dost not know what thou proposest to do.
” (lines 190–191)
He is acquainted with the way, he has trodden the road
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“
He is acquainted with the way, he has trodden the road
[to] the entrance of the forest.” (lines 252–253)
Col. I.
The mother of Gish, who knows all things,
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37
The mother of Gish, who knows all things,
39[“O Gish, the man whom thou sawest,]
I loved him as a woman,
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33
I loved him as a woman,
35I took him and regarded him
Col II.
Six days and seven nights
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46
Six days and seven nights
48To cohabit with [the courtesan].
Come, arise from the ground
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62
Come, arise from the ground
64He heard her word and accepted her speech.
Col. III.
The provender of life!
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93
The provender of life!
94Drink wine, the custom of the land!”
Drink wine, the custom of the land!
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94
Drink wine, the custom of the land!
”
His spirit was loosened, he became hilarious.
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99
His spirit was loosened, he became hilarious.
100His heart became glad and
Col. VI.
Like oxen they fought.
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224
Like oxen they fought.
228His foot to the ground,8
Col. II.
The eyes [of Enkidu filled with tears].
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72
The eyes [of Enkidu filled with tears].
75[The eyes of En]kidu filled with tears.
Col. V.
Gish of whom they speak, let me see!
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Col. V. 181
Gish of whom they speak, let me see!
182whose name fills the lands.
Thou art young, O Gish, and thy heart carries thee away.
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190“
Thou art young, O Gish, and thy heart carries thee away.
191Thou dost not know what thou proposest to do.
Who has ever opposed his weapon?
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193
Who has ever opposed his weapon?
194To one [double hour] in the heart of the forest,
Ḫuwawa, whose roar is a deluge,
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196
Ḫuwawa, whose roar is a deluge,
197whose mouth is fire, whose breath is death.
Col. VI.
May he track out (for thee) the closed path!
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259
May he track out (for thee) the closed path!
260May he level the road for thy treading!
May he level the mountain for thy foot!
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261
May he level the mountain for thy foot!
262During thy night6 the word that wilt rejoice
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