| In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu becomes Gilgamesh’s best friend after a series of events and they go on to kill the monster Humbaba together, (122) after which, the hero leaves the plant of immortality by the bank when he goes in to bath in the river. When he reemerges, he finds the serpent has cheated him out of the promise at the last minute. So, as far back as this epic, one of the oldest known tales in history, we find the serpent associated with a plant combined with the concept of immortality. This is a recurring theme in later mythology. (123) In the story of Gilgamesh, the goddess Inanna proposes marriage and Gilgamesh rejects her. In a later Greek myth, similar to Gilgamesh, Odysseus rejects the proposal by Calypso. (124) In the story of Anath and Baal, as well as Inanna in the Gilgamesh Epic and also Joseph in the Old Testament, all anticipate seven-year famine draughts and prepare by storing up grain. (125) (53) When the seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, (54) the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:53-54) The Epic of Gilgamesh (Shortened) He who has seen everything, I will make known (?) to the lands. I will teach (?) about him who experienced all things ... alike, Anu granted him the totality of knowledge of all. He saw the Secret, discovered the Hidden, he brought information of (the time) before the Flood. He went on a distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion, but then was brought to peace. He carved on a stone stela all of his toils, and built the wall of Uruk-Haven, the wall of the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary. … Take and read out from the lapis lazuli tablet how Gilgamesh went through every hardship. Supreme over other kings, lordly in appearance, he is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull. son of the august cow, Rimat-Ninsun;... Gilgamesh is awesome to perfection. … But there are complaints against Gilgamesh because he will “not leave a son to his father” or “a girl to her mother.” (Then they recommend a companion for him, suggesting that he has an insatiable sexual appetite and had his way with both the men and women.) |
Is Gilgamesh the shepherd of Uruk-Haven, is he the shepherd. ... bold, eminent, knowing, and wise! Anu listened to their complaints, Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother(?) "His fellows stand (at the alert), attentive to his (orders!), "Gilgamesh does not leave a son to his father, … and (the gods) called out to Aruru: "it was you, Aruru, who created mankind(?), now create a zikru to it/him. Let him be equal to his (Gilgamesh's) stormy heart, let them be a match for each other so that Uruk may find peace!" When Aruru heard this she created within herself the zikrtt of Anu. Aruru washed her hands, she pinched off some clay, and threw it into the wilderness. In the wildness(?) she created valiant Enkidu, … Then, Enkidu creates a problem in the woods because the neighbors complain they cannot go to drink from the spring now because this animal like person is there who eats the grass and the gazelles. So, Shamhat the harlot is sent by Gilgamesh to seduce Enkidu and make him civilized like men, so the wild animals will abandon him. Once this is accomplished Shamhat suggests to him to go to meet with Gilgamesh who is as mighty in strength as he. Returning to the story: Shamhat unclutched her bosom, exposed her sex, and he took in her voluptuousness. She was not restrained, but took his energy. She spread out her robe and he lay upon her, she performed for the primitive the task of womankind. His lust groaned over her; for six days and seven nights Enkidu stayed aroused, and had intercourse with the harlot until he was sated with her charms. But when he turned his attention to his animals, the gazelles saw Enkidu and darted off, the wild animals distanced themselves from his body. Enkidu ... his utterly depleted(?) body, … Then, afterwards The harlot said to Enkidu: "You are beautiful," Enkidu, you are become like a god. Why do you gallop around the wilderness with the wild beasts? Come, let me bring you into Uruk-Haven, to the Holy Temple, the residence of Anu and Ishtar, the place of Gilgamesh, who is wise to perfection, but who struts his power over the people like a wild bull." … (122) ibid, p. 65 (123) The Serpent and the Goddess, p. 8; Cf. Mircea Eliade, Comparative Religion, p. 289ff, also see A.H. Sayce, "Archaeology of the Book of Genesis,", Expository Times 19 (1907-8): 137-39, 176-78, 260-63, 326-27, vol. 20 (1909):327-28, 423-26, 470-72, 505-9; A.H. Sayce, "The Serpent in Genesis," Expository Times 20 (1909): 562 (124) Before the Bible, p. 68 (125) ibid, p. 69-70 |