Epic of Gilgamesh
TABLET 1
column 1
SAMPLE
MOTIFS

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Concerning the one who discovered all things, I shall inform the land.
Concerning the one who experienced everything, I shall instruct everyone.
He searched throughout the land.
The one who experienced everything achieved thoroughgoing wisdom.
He revealed what was secret and uncovered what was hidden.
He brought back the story of the times before the Flood.
He had traveled near and far, exhausted and finally resigned.
He inscribed all deeds on a memorial of stone.
He had Uruk's wall constructed,
"the Sheepfold" of holiest Eanna, "The Pure Treasury."
Observe its wall—it is like a copper band.
View its battlements, which no one can match.
Take the threshold, which is from primeval time.
Approach Eanna, Ishtar's home.
which no future king nor anyone will ever match.
Ascend Uruk's wall and walk round it.
Examine the base and inspect masonry.
Witness that its bricks are baked,
and the Seven Sages must have laid its foundation.
One square mile is urban, one square mile is orchards.
One square mile is claypits, along with the open area of Ishtar's temple.
Uruk is made up of three square miles and the open area.
Examine the copper tablet box; undo its bronze lock;
open the door to its secret.
Lift out the lapis lazuli tablet and read it:
the story of the man—Gilgamesh—the one who survived many sufferings.
He was greater than other kings, a warlord of great stature,
a hero born in Uruk, a goring wild bull.
He marches at the front as leader;
he circles back as the support of his brothers,
a strong net, the protection of his men,
The raging Flood, that can destroy even a stone wall.
The son of Lugalbanda, Gilgamesh, perfect in strength,
the son of the lofty cow: Ninsun, the wild cow.
He is Gilgamesh, perfect in splendor,
Who opened up mountain passes,
Who could dig pits in the sides of mountains,
Who crossed the sea, the wide seas, all the way to sunrise.
He inspected the edges of the world and kept searching for eternal life.
He reached Utnapishtim the distant by force.
He restored shrines to original state which the Flood had damaged.
There is no one among the kings among all humanity
who can compare with him,
who can say "I am king!" except for Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh was tapped at birth to become famous.

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the great Flood
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hero as city-builder
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the Seven Sages
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the king as warrior
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the search for eternal life
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the king as restorer of shrines
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fame from birth