Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Sept 30, 2007 14:18:59 GMT -5
Ishtar's Attempt to Seduce Gilgamesh
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ishtar attempted to seduce Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh refused her advances, and listed several of her previous lovers:
"For Dumuzi the lover of your youth
You decreed that he should keep weeping year after year.
You loved the colourful allallu-bird,
But you hit him and broke his wing.
He stays in the words crying 'My wings!'
You loved the lion, whose strength is complete,
But you dug seven and seven pits for him.
You loved the horse, so trustworthy in battle,
But you decreed the whip, goad, and lash for him
You decreed that he should gallop seven leagues (nonstop),
You decreed that he should be overwrought and thirsty,
You decreed endless weeping for his mother Sililu.
You loved the shepherd, herdsman, and chief shepherd
Who was always heaping up the glowing ashes for you,
And cooked ewe-lambs for you every day.
But you hit him and turned him into a wolf,
His own herd-boys hunt him down
And his dogs tear at his haunches.
You loved Ishullanu, your father's gardener,
Who was always bringing you baskets of dates.
They brightened your table every day;
You lifted your eyes to him and went to him
'My own Ishullanu, let us enjoy this strength,
So put out your hand and touch our vulva!'
But Ishullanu said to you,
'Me? What do you want of me?
Did my mother not bake for me, and did I not eat?
What I eat (with you) would be loaves of dishonour and disgrace,
Rushes would be my only covering against the cold.'
You listened as he said this,
And you hit him, turned him into a frog (?),
Left him to stay amid the fruits of his labor."
- tablet VI, SBV ii
Ishtar was furious at Gilgamesh's rejection and so she went to her father, Anu, and requested the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh. Anu refused at first, but eventually gave in to her pleadings. Enkidu and Gilgamesh were able to slay the bull, but as punishment, Enkidu was plagued by illness and soon died.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ishtar attempted to seduce Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh refused her advances, and listed several of her previous lovers:
"For Dumuzi the lover of your youth
You decreed that he should keep weeping year after year.
You loved the colourful allallu-bird,
But you hit him and broke his wing.
He stays in the words crying 'My wings!'
You loved the lion, whose strength is complete,
But you dug seven and seven pits for him.
You loved the horse, so trustworthy in battle,
But you decreed the whip, goad, and lash for him
You decreed that he should gallop seven leagues (nonstop),
You decreed that he should be overwrought and thirsty,
You decreed endless weeping for his mother Sililu.
You loved the shepherd, herdsman, and chief shepherd
Who was always heaping up the glowing ashes for you,
And cooked ewe-lambs for you every day.
But you hit him and turned him into a wolf,
His own herd-boys hunt him down
And his dogs tear at his haunches.
You loved Ishullanu, your father's gardener,
Who was always bringing you baskets of dates.
They brightened your table every day;
You lifted your eyes to him and went to him
'My own Ishullanu, let us enjoy this strength,
So put out your hand and touch our vulva!'
But Ishullanu said to you,
'Me? What do you want of me?
Did my mother not bake for me, and did I not eat?
What I eat (with you) would be loaves of dishonour and disgrace,
Rushes would be my only covering against the cold.'
You listened as he said this,
And you hit him, turned him into a frog (?),
Left him to stay amid the fruits of his labor."
- tablet VI, SBV ii
Ishtar was furious at Gilgamesh's rejection and so she went to her father, Anu, and requested the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh. Anu refused at first, but eventually gave in to her pleadings. Enkidu and Gilgamesh were able to slay the bull, but as punishment, Enkidu was plagued by illness and soon died.