Summary
In a quest for immortal life, Gilgamesh searches for the immortal Utnapishtim. Taken over water by the
ferryman Urshanabi, Gilgamesh meets Utnapishtim who reveals why he is immortal: he escaped the flood sent
by the gods, and he begins to recount his story.
Speaking from behind a wall, the god Ea (Enki) warns Utnapishtim about the impending flood and instructs
him to tear his home down and build a boat in the shape of a cube. He was also directed to "make all
living things go intol his boat" Utnapishtim builds the boat in 2 days and the flood starts the next
day. The gods escape to heaven and grieve at the loss of humanity. The flood lasted 7 days and nights
where upon Utnapishtim’s boat rests on Mount Nimush. After 7 more days, Utnapishtim sends his birds out
to see how the flood is receding. He makes an offering to the gods who are attracted to his sacrifice.
Discovering that humans survived the flood, the god En-lil is furious, but admits that famine would be a
better way of controlling mankind’s population. En-lil decides to bless Utnapishtim and his wife with immortality.
The Epic of Gilgamesh – Tablet XI: The Story of the Flood
This version reduces
the number of tablet lines,
de-emphasizes the poetic nature of this story, and
does not identify
the words with questionable translation.
Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim, the Faraway:
"I have been looking at you, but your appearance is not strange--you are like me! You
yourself are not different--you are like me! My mind was resolved to fight with you, but instead my arm
lies useless over you. Tell me, how is it that you stand in the Assembly of the Gods, and have found life!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will
tell you! Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Euphrates, that city was
very old, and there were gods inside it. The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood.
Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy), Valiant Enlil was their Adviser, Ninurta was their
Chamberlain, Ennugi was their Minister of Canals. Ea, the Clever Prince, was under oath with them so he
repeated their talk to the reed house:
'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall!
O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu:
Tear down the house and build a boat! Abandon wealth and seek living beings! Spurn
possessions and keep alive living beings! Make all living beings go up into the boat. The boat which
you are to build, its dimensions must measure equal to each other:
its length must correspond to its width. Roof it over like the Apsu.
I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea:
'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered I will heed and will do it. But
what shall I answer the city, the populace, and the Elders!'
Ea spoke, commanding me, his servant:
'You, well then, this is what you must say to them:
"It appears that Enlil is rejecting me so I cannot reside in your city, nor set foot
on Enlil's earth. I will go down to the Apsu to live with my lord, Ea, and upon you he will rain down
abundance, a profusion of fowl, myriad(!) fishes. He will bring to you a harvest of wealth, in the morning
he will let loaves of bread shower down, and in the evening a rain of wheat!"'
Just as dawn began to glow the land assembled around me - the carpenter carried his hatchet, the reed
worker carried his (flattening) stone, ... the men ... The child carried the pitch, the weak brought whatever
else was needed.
On the fifth day I laid out her exterior. It was a field in area, its walls were each 10 times 12 cubits
in height, the sides of its top were of equal length, 10 times It cubits each. I laid out its (interior)
structure and drew a picture of it.
I provided it with six decks, thus dividing it into seven (levels). The inside of it I divided into
nine (compartments). I drove plugs (to keep out) water in its middle part. I saw to the punting poles
and laid in what was necessary.
Three times 3,600 (units) of raw bitumen I poured into the bitumen kiln, three times 3,600 (units of)
pitch... into it, there were three times 3,600 porters of casks who carried (vegetable) oil, apart from
the 3,600 (units of) oil which they consumed (!) and two times 3,600 (units of) oil which the boatman
stored away.
I butchered oxen for the meat(!), and day upon day I slaughtered sheep.
I gave the workmen ale, beer, oil, and wine, as if it were river water, so they could make a party
like the New Year's Festival. ... and I set my hand to the oiling(!).
The boat was finished by sunset.
The launching was very difficult. They had to keep carrying a runway of poles front to back, until
two-thirds of it had gone into the water.
Whatever I had I loaded on it:
whatever silver I had I loaded on it, whatever gold I had I loaded on it. All the living
beings that I had I loaded on it, I had all my kith and kin go up into the boat, all the beasts and animals
of the field and the craftsmen... I had go up.
Shamash had set a stated time:
'In the morning I will let loaves of bread shower down,... and in the evening a rain
of wheat! Go inside the boat, seal the entry!'
That stated time had arrived.
In the morning he let loaves of bread shower down, and in the evening a rain of wheat. I watched the
appearance of the weather--the weather was frightful to behold! I went into the boat and sealed the entry.
For the caulking of the boat, to Puzuramurri, the boatman, I gave the palace together with its contents.
Just as dawn began to glow there arose from the horizon a black cloud. Adad rumbled inside of it, before
him went Shullat and Hanish, heralds going over mountain and land. Erragal pulled out the mooring poles,
forth went Ninurta and made the dikes overflow. The Anunnaki lifted up the torches, setting the land ablaze
with their flare. Stunned shock over Adad's deeds overtook the heavens, and turned to blackness all that
had been light. The... land shattered like a... pot.
All day long the South Wind blew ..., blowing fast, submerging the mountain in water, overwhelming the
people like an attack. No one could see his fellow, they could not recognize each other in the torrent.
The gods were frightened by the Flood, and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu. The gods were
cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall. Ishtar shrieked like a woman in childbirth, the sweet-voiced
Mistress of the Gods wailed:
'The olden days have alas turned to clay, because I said evil things in the Assembly of
the Gods! How could I say evil things in the Assembly of the Gods, ordering a catastrophe to destroy my
people!! No sooner have I given birth to my dear people than they fill the sea like so many fish!'
The gods--those of the Anunnaki--were weeping with her, the gods humbly sat weeping, sobbing with grief,
their lips burning, parched with thirst.
Six days and seven nights came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land. When the seventh day
arrived, the storm was pounding, the flood was a war--struggling with itself like a woman writhing (in labor).
The sea calmed, fell still, the whirlwind (and) flood stopped up.
I looked around all day long--quiet had set in and all the human beings had turned to clay! The terrain
was as flat as a roof.
I opened a vent and fresh air (daylight!) fell upon the side of my nose. I fell to my knees and sat
weeping, tears streaming down the side of my nose. I looked around for coastlines in the expanse of the
sea, and at twelve leagues there emerged a region (of land).
On Mt. Nimush the boat lodged firm, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway. One day and a second
Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway. A third day, a fourth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no
sway. A fifth day, a sixth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.
When a seventh day arrived I sent forth a dove and released it. The dove went off, but came back to
me; no perch was visible so it circled back to me. I sent forth a swallow and released it. The swallow
went off, but came back to me; no perch was visible so it circled back to me.
I sent forth a raven and released it. The raven went off, and saw the waters slither back. It eats,
it scratches, it bobs, but does not circle back to me.
Then I sent out everything in all directions and sacrificed (a sheep). I offered incense in front of
the mountain-ziggurat. Seven and seven cult vessels I put in place, and (into the fire) underneath (or:
into their bowls) I poured reeds, cedar, and myrtle. The gods smelled the savor, the gods smelled the
sweet savor, and collected like flies over a (sheep) sacrifice.
Just then Beletili arrived. She lifted up the large flies (beads) which Anu had made for his enjoyment(!):
'You gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli around my neck, may I be
mindful of these days, and never forget them! The gods may come to the incense offering, but Enlil may
not come to the incense offering, because without considering he brought about the Flood and consigned
my people to annihilation.'
Just then Enlil arrived. He saw the boat and became furious, he was filled with rage at the Igigi gods:
'Where did a living being escape? No man was to survive the annihilation!'
Ninurta spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
'Who else but Ea could devise such a thing? It is Ea who knows every machination!'
La spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:
'It is yours, O Valiant One, who is the Sage of the Gods. How, how could you bring about
a Flood without consideration? Charge the violation to the violator, charge the offense to the offender,
but be compassionate lest (mankind) be cut off, be patient lest they be killed. Instead of your bringing
on the Flood, would that a lion had appeared to diminish the people! Instead of your bringing on the Flood,
would that a wolf had appeared to diminish the people! Instead of your bringing on the Flood, would that
famine had occurred to slay the land! Instead of your bringing on the Flood, would that (Pestilent) Erra
had appeared to ravage the land! It was not I who revealed the secret of the Great Gods, I (only) made
a dream appear to Atrahasis, and (thus) he heard the secret of the gods. Now then! The deliberation should
be about him!'
Enlil went up inside the boat and, grasping my hand, made me go up. He had my wife go up and kneel by
my side. He touched our forehead and, standing between us, he blessed us:
'Previously Utanapishtim was a human being. But now let Utanapishtim and his wife become
like us, the gods! Let Utanapishtim reside far away, at the Mouth of the Rivers.'
They took us far away and settled us at the Mouth of the Rivers.
"Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf, that you may find the life that
you are seeking! Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights."
Soon as he [Gilgamesh] sat down (with his head) between his legs sleep, like a fog, blew upon him.
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Look there! The man, the youth who wanted (eternal) life! Sleep, like a fog, blew
over him."
His wife said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
"Touch him, let the man awaken. Let him return safely by the way he came. Let him return
to his land by the gate through which he left."
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Mankind is deceptive, and will deceive you. Come, bake leaves for him and keep setting
them by his head and draw on the wall each day that he lay down."
She baked his leaves and placed them by his head and marked on the wall the day that he lay down. The
first loaf was dessicated, the second stale, the third moist(?), the fourth turned white, its ..., the
fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh. the seventh--suddenly he touched him and the man
awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
"The very moment sleep was pouring over me you touched me and alerted me!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your leaves! You should be aware of what is marked
on the wall! Your first loaf is dessicated, the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,
its ... the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh. The seventh--at that instant you awoke!"
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim the Faraway:
"O woe! What shall I do, Utanapishtim, where shall I go! The Snatcher has taken hold
of my flesh, in my bedroom Death dwells, and wherever I set foot there too is Death!" Home Empty-Handed
Utanapishtim said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
"May the harbor reject you, may the ferry landing reject you! May you who used to walk
its shores be denied its shores! The man in front of whom you walk, matted hair chains his body, animal
skins have ruined his beautiful skin. Take him away, Urshanabi, bring him to the washing place. Let him
wash his matted hair in water like ellu. Let him cast away his animal skin and have the sea carry it off,
let his body be moistened with fine oil, let the wrap around his head be made new, let him wear royal robes
worthy of him! Until he goes off to his city, until he sets off on his way, let his royal robe not become
spotted, let it be perfectly new!"
Urshanabi took him away and brought him to the washing place. He washed his matted hair with water like
ellu. He cast off his animal skin and the sea carried it oh. He moistened his body with fine oil, and made
a new wrap for his head. He put on a royal robe worthy of him. Until he went away to his city, until he
set off on his way, his royal robe remained unspotted, it was perfectly clean. Gilgamesh and Urshanabi
boarded the boat, they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away.
The wife of Utanapishtim the Faraway said to him:
"Gilgamesh came here exhausted and worn out. What can you give him so that he can return
to his land (with honor)!"
Then Gilgamesh raised a punting pole and drew the boat to shore.
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:
"Gilgamesh, you came here exhausted and worn out. What can I give you so you can return
to your land? I will disclose to you a thing that is hidden, Gilgamesh, a... I will tell you. There is a
plant... like a boxthorn, whose thorns will prick your hand like a rose. If your hands reach that plant
you will become a young man again."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh opened a conduit(!) (to the Apsu) and attached heavy stones to his feet. They
dragged him down, to the Apsu they pulled him. He took the plant, though it pricked his hand, and cut
the heavy stones from his feet,
letting the waves throw him onto its shores.
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, the ferryman, saying:
"Urshanabi, this plant is a plant against decay(!) by which a man can attain his survival(!).
I will bring it to Uruk-Haven, and have an old man eat the plant to test it. The plant's name is 'The Old
Man Becomes a Young Man.'" Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth."
At twenty leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night. Seeing a
spring and how cool its waters were, Gilgamesh went down and was bathing in the water. A snake smelled
the fragrance of the plant, silently came up and carried off the plant. While going back it sloughed off
its casing.
At that point Gilgamesh sat down, weeping, his tears streaming over the side of his nose.
"Counsel me, O ferryman Urshanabi! For whom have my arms labored, Urshanabi! For whom
has my heart's blood roiled! I have not secured any good deed for myself, but done a good deed for the
'lion of the ground'!" Now the high waters are coursing twenty leagues distant,' as I was opening the
conduit I turned my equipment over into it (!). What can I find (to serve) as a marker for me! I will turn
back (from the journey by sea) and leave the boat by the shore!"
At twenty leagues they broke for some food, at thirty leagues they stopped for the night. They arrived
in Uruk-Haven.
Gilgamesh said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:
"Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around. Examine its foundation, inspect
its brickwork thoroughly--is not (even the core of) the brick structure of kiln-fired brick, and did not
the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan! One league city, one league palm gardens, one league lowlands,
the open area of the Ishtar Temple, three leagues and the open area of Uruk it encloses.