This is the shortest Sumerian epic poem, and there is no mention of any gods. Apparently, this legend can be considered as a historiographical text. Tablets with this myth were found by an expedition of the University of Pennsylvania in Nippur and date back to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC, possibly being copies of earlier Sumerian texts.
Agga was the last ruler of the 1st Dynasty of Kish, which dominated Sumer after the flood. Seeing the rise of Uruk, where Gilgamesh ruled, Agga sent envoys there demanding that the inhabitants of Uruk be sent for construction work in Kish. Gilgamesh turned to the council of elders of his city and they recommended submission. Then the disappointed Gilgamesh goes to a meeting of the “men of the city” and they support his desire to free himself from the hegemony of Kish. The ruler of Uruk refused the ambassadors.
Soon, “it wasn’t five days, it wasn’t ten days,” Agga besieged Uruk. Despite the incendiary speeches, fear settles in the hearts of the city's residents. Then Gilgamesh, turning to the heroes of the city, asks them to go beyond the fortifications and fight the king of Kish. The chief councilor Birhurturre (Girishhurturre) responds to his call, but as soon as he leaves the gate, he is captured, tortured and brought to Agga. The ruler of Kish starts a conversation with him. Here another hero Zabardibunug climbs the wall. Seeing him, Agga asks Birhurturre if this is Gilgamesh. He gives a negative answer and the people of Kish continue to torture Birhurturre.
Now Gilgamesh himself climbs the wall and all of Uruk freezes in horror. Having learned from Birhurturre that this is the ruler of Uruk, Agga holds back the troops who are ready to rush into battle.
Gilgamesh expresses his gratitude to Agga and the poem ends with praise for the savior of Uruk, the ruler of Gilgamesh.
Ambassadors of Aga, son of En-Mebaragesi,
From Kish to Uruk they came to Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh before the elders of his city
The Word speaks, the words seek them:
"So that we can dig wells,
Dig all the wells in the country,
Big and small in the country to dig,
To complete the work, attach the bucket with a rope,
We will not bow our heads before Kish, we will defeat Kish with weapons!”
Meeting of the Elders of the City of Uruk
Answers Gilgamesh:
"So that we can dig wells,
Dig all the wells in the country,
Big and small in the country to dig,
To complete the work, attach the bucket with a rope,
We will bow our heads before Kish, we will not defeat Kish with weapons!”
Gilgamesh, High Priest of Kulab,
He trusts in Inanna,
I did not accept the words of the elders with my heart.
And the second time Gilgamesh, priest of Kulab,
He speaks the word before the men of the city, seeks their words:
"So that we can dig wells,
Dig all the wells in the country.
Big and small in the country to dig,
To complete the work, attach the bucket with a rope,
Don’t bow your head before Kish, strike Kish with weapons!”
Meeting of the Men of Uruk
Answers Gilgamesh:
"O those who stand, O those who sit!
Those who follow the military leader!
The donkey's sides are squeezing!
Who breathes to protect the city? —
We will not bow our heads before Kish, we will defeat Kish with weapons!'
Uruk is God's work,
Eanna - a temple that descended from heaven:
Great gods created it!
The Great Wall - the touch of menacing clouds,
The buildings of the mighty are the creation of heavenly steeps, -
From now on, the guardian, the military leader-leader is you!
From now on, you are the warrior, Anom’s beloved prince!
How can you be afraid of Aga?
Agha's army is small, its ranks are thinning,
People don’t dare raise their eyes!”
Then Gilgamesh, priest of Kulab, -
How my heart leaped at the speeches of the soldiers,
The liver rejoiced! —
He says to his servant Enkidu:
“Now the ax will replace the hoe!
The weapon of war will return to your thigh,
You will cover it with the radiance of glory!
And Agu, when he comes out, he will cover my radiance!
May his thoughts be confused, his mind clouded!”
And there are not five days, and there are not ten days,
And Aga, the son of En-Mebaragesi, is on the outskirts of Uruk.
Uruk's thoughts are confused,
Gilgamesh, High Priest of Kulab,
To his valiant men he says a word:
"My heroes! My sharp-eyed ones!
Let the brave one rise up and go to Are!”
Girishkhurtura, chief adviser to the leader,
He praises his leader!
"Truly I will go to Are!
May his thoughts be confused, his mind clouded!”
Girishkhurtura comes out of the main gate.
Girishkhurturu at the main gate, upon exit,
On leaving the main gate they grabbed me.
They torture Girishkhurtura's body.
They bring him to Are.
He addresses Are.
He speaks, and the handsome Uruk climbs the wall.
He hung his head over the wall.
Yeah I noticed him there
Girishhurture says:
“Servant! Is this husband your leader?”
"This husband is not my leader!
For my leader is truly a man!
His brow is menacing, truly so!
The anger of the tour is in the eyes, truly so!
The beard is lapis lazuli, truly so!
Grace is in the fingers, truly so!
Wouldn't he have brought down people, wouldn't he have lifted people up?
Wouldn't he mix people up with dust?
Wouldn't you crush hostile countries?
Wouldn’t you cover the “mouth of the earth” with ashes?
Wouldn't you cut off the loaded bow of a boat?
Agu, the leader of Kish, would not have taken him prisoner among the army?
They beat him, they tear him,
They torture the body of Girishkhurtura,
Following the handsome Uruk, Gilgamesh climbed the wall.
His radiance fell on the small and old of Kulaba.
The warriors of Uruk grabbed their weapons,
They stood at the city gates and in the alleys.
Enkidu walked out of the city gates.
Gilgamesh hung his head over the wall.
Yeah I noticed him there.
“Servant! Is this husband your leader?”
"This husband is my leader!
It’s truly said, truly so!”
He brought down people, he lifted up people,
He mixed people with dust,
He crushed hostile countries,
He covered the “mouth of the earth” with ashes,
The rooks are loaded with a bow compartment,
Agu, the leader of Kish, took him prisoner among the army.
Gilgamesh, High Priest of Kulab,
Addresses to Are:
“Aga is my headman, Aga is my work supervisor!
Yeah - the boss of my troops!
Yeah, you feed the runaway bird grain!
Yeah, you're bringing fugitives home!
Aha, you gave me back my breath, Aha, you gave me back my life!”
"Uruk is God's work!
The Great Wall - the touch of menacing clouds, -
The buildings of the mighty are the creation of heavenly peaks, -
You are the guardian, the leader-leader
Warrior, Anom's beloved prince!
Pred Utu regained his former strength,
He freed Aga for Kish!
O Gilgamesh, high priest of Kulab,
A good song of praise for you!"
Translation by V. K. Afanasyeva
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru