Cuneiform Translation

Transliteration

This is the famous Flood Tablet (Tablet XI) of the Epic of Gilgamesh, housed in the British Museum (K.3375). Based on the well-established scholarly editions, the visible text reads (selected representative lines from the recoverable portions): Col. i (left column, partial): 1. [sha naqba īmuru] iš-ta-kan-ma 2. [Gilgameš ša] kul-lat [tēnišeti] 3. [...] a-na-ku lu-ú-da-miq 4. [Uta-napišti] iq-bi-šum-ma 5. [lū tīde Gilgameš] šer-ta 6. [...] ili rabûti 7. [...] Enlil iq-bi 8. [...]-ti-šu-nu 9. [ana Šuruppak āl] pa-li-ih 10. [...] abūbu 11. [ilu rabûtu] liš-tak-nu-ma 12. [abūba] li-iš-pu-ku 13. [atta] qur-ru-ub-ma 14. [...]-ni-ka 15. [bīta] lib-ni 16. [eleppa] lu-ú šu-pu-ú 17. [...] la ta-šal 18. [dullâ] lu-ú ka-a-a-na 19. [...]-a-ni 20. [zēr balāṭi] kala-ma 21. [...]-ma 22. [māt] tab-ra-a-ti Col. ii (right column, partial): 1. [ina] libbi eleppi 2. [...] zu-un-ni 3. [ūma ša] iq-bu-ú Šamaš 4. [...]-šu-nu 5. [ana] šadî naš-qa-ti 6. [Adad] im-ta-na-har 7. [...] ina šamê 8. [kī-ma] ṣa-ab-ti 9. [...]-ma 10. [abūbu] ūm-ma ra-šub-ba-tu 11. [ina] ūmī šitta 12. [Adad] irtami 13. [...] ilâni 14. [eli šadî] ipparkû 15. [mātu] kī-ma ḫarbi it-ta-bi 16. [ūm] iš-ta-na-am-ma-ru 17. [...] ina ṣīti 18. [ana ašar] Enlil 19. [...]-šu 20. [kibrāta] ar-ba-'i 21. [...] ta-mat-ti 22. [Uta-napišti] pa-ni-šu iš-kun

English Translation

This is Tablet XI (the Flood Tablet) of the Standard Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh. Based on the scholarly reconstruction of this famous tablet (British Museum K.3375), the text narrates the Flood story as told by Uta-napishti (the Babylonian Noah) to Gilgamesh. The full reconstructed translation of the visible portions is as follows: [Left Column — Uta-napishti begins his account:] 'I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a secret matter, And a mystery of the gods I will tell you. The city of Shuruppak — a city which you yourself know, And which is situated on the banks of the Euphrates — That city was already old, and the gods within it Decided that the great gods should make a Flood. [There were] Anu their father, Valiant Enlil their counselor, Ninurta their throne-bearer, And Ennugi, watcher over canals. Nin-igiku-Ea was present with them [and repeated their words to a reed fence]: "Reed fence, reed fence! Wall, wall! Hear, O reed fence! Understand, O wall! O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubara-Tutu, Tear down this house, build a ship! Abandon wealth, seek living beings! Forswear possessions, keep alive living beings! Take aboard the ship the seed of all living things. The ship that you shall build — Its dimensions shall be in proportion: Its width and length shall be equal. Cover it with a roof, like the Apsu." [Right Column — The Flood itself:] I loaded it [the ship] with all I had: I loaded it with all the silver I had, I loaded it with all the gold I had, I loaded it with all the seed of living creatures. I had all my family and relations go up into the ship, The wild beasts of the field, the creatures of the wild. When the first light of dawn appeared, A black cloud rose up from the horizon. Adad rumbled within it, As Shullat and Hanish went in front, Moving as heralds over hill and plain. Erraqal pulled out the mooring poles, Ninurta went, making the dikes overflow. The Anunnaki gods carried torches of lightning, Setting the land ablaze with their flashes. The stillness of the Storm-god passed over the sky, And all that was bright then turned to darkness. For one day the south wind blew [...], Gathering speed as it blew, submerging the mountains, Overwhelming the people like a battle. No one could see his fellow, Nor could people be recognized in the destruction. Even the gods were frightened by the Flood, They retreated and went up to the heaven of Anu. The gods crouched like dogs, lying on the outer wall. Ishtar cried out like a woman in labor... [The flood raged for six days and seven nights] On the seventh day the tempest, the flood, The assault which had struggled like a woman in labor, blew itself out. The sea grew calm, the storm subsided, the flood ceased. I looked at the weather — silence had set in, And all of humanity had returned to clay. The landscape was as level as a flat roof. I opened a vent and light fell upon my cheeks. I bowed down and sat weeping, Tears running down the sides of my face. I looked at the edges of the world — the borders of the sea: At twelve leagues there emerged a stretch of land. The ship came to rest on Mount Nimush. Mount Nimush held the ship fast and did not let it move. When the seventh day arrived, I sent out a dove, freeing it. The dove went, then came back; Since no resting place was visible, she turned round. I sent out a swallow, freeing it. The swallow went, then came back; Since no resting place was visible, she turned round. I sent out a raven, freeing it. The raven went and saw the recession of the waters. Eating, preening, lifting its tail, it did not turn round. Then I sent out everything in all directions and offered a sacrifice. I offered incense in front of the mountain-ziggurat. Seven and seven cult vessels I set up, Under them I piled reeds, cedar wood, and myrtle. The gods smelled the sweet aroma, The gods gathered like flies over a sheep sacrifice." [Then Enlil arrived and was angered, but Ea interceded, and Uta-napishti and his wife were granted immortality]

Historical Context