MARCIEGAMBETTA
Marcie Gambetta
English 231
Epic of Gilgamesh
Tablets 5-8
Reading Journal 13
10/14/14
FIRST THOUGHTS
My first thoughts about reading the Epic of Gilgamesh tablets 5-8 are enthusiastic. I am looking forward to reading about the battle with Humbaba. I am entertained by this story so far and am curious about what else will happen, what other exploits Enkidu and Gilgamesh will get into. I am also interested in the friendship of Enkidu and Gilgamesh and want to see how it develops.
QUOTES
From Tablet 5 - "My Friend, Humbaba's face keeps changing!"
In this quote Gilgamesh is telling Enkidu about a strange characteristic of Humbaba. Humbaba's face changed, his name means hugeness, he roared like the torrent of a storm, his mouth was like fire, his jaws were like death, he was a guardian. Besides the obvious dragon connotation, I would like to share my hypothesis with you. I think Humbaba is a Cherubim. Most people think Cherubim are cute, chubby, baby angels but they are not, actually nowhere in the bible are Cherubim called angels and they are certainly not cute babies. The cedar forest is thought to be in the same location as the Garden of Eden.
Humbaba's face changed and because of this he was often depicted with having swirling lines for his face. Cherubim also have changing faces like Humbaba. (Ezekiel 1:6, Ezekiel 1:10, Ezekiel 10:14). Enkidu says Humbaba's countenance is like a lion, he may sometimes look like one and he is fierce. Cherubim are also know to have a face like a lion and be fierce. Cherubim are huge, their height can be 15 feet and their wingspan can be 7.5 feet. (I Kings 6:24-25, 2 Chronicles 3:11).
Humbaba's roar was like the torrent of a storm and the sound of the Cherubim can be heard from very far away. (Ezekiel 10:5) They sound like the voice of the Almighty, the roar of rushing waters, and the tumult of an army. (Ezekiel 10:5, Ezekiel 1:24). Humbaba's mouth was like fire, the Cherubim also have fire attributes. The Cherubim at the Garden of Eden had a flaming sword. (Genesis 3:24). In other parts of the bible Cherubim's appearance is like burning coals of fire or like torches, fire moves back and forth among them. The fire is bright, and lightning flashes out of it. (Ezekiel 1:13, Matthew 28:3)
Humbaba was the keeper or guardian of the forest and he instilled fear in people. The name Cherubim means to guard and throughout the bible they are used for that function. They guard the Garden of Eden, the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple, and the Throne of God among other things. (Genesis 3:24, Ezekiel 10:3-8, 1 Kings 8:7, Exodus 25:17-22, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1, Revelation 4:6). When you guard something you have to actually guard it. A guard that has no power and cannot instill terror would be a terrible guard. Throughout the Bible Cherubim have been known to kill and seek vengeance. (2 Samuel 24:16, Exodus 12:23, 1 Chronicles 21:15, Isaiah 37:36, Revelation 6:8)
When Enkidu and Gilgamesh see Humbaba, Gilgamesh becomes paralyzed and overcome with weakness. When Humbaba cries out Gilgamesh falls into a profound sleep, where he lay on the ground stretched out speechless as if in a dream. This is pretty much exactly what happens to Daniel. In the book of Daniel, Daniel meets a Cherubim and all of his companions run and hide in fear. Daniel stayed and saw the Cherubim, and when he did this several things happened. His natural color turned to a deathly pallor, he retained no strength, at the sound of the Cherubim's words, Daniel fell into a deep sleep on his face, with his face to the ground. Throughout the bible Cherubim and angels instill awe and fear in people, they are terrifyingly beautiful and can cause people to become awestruck and paralyzed with wonderment, like how people stare at a tornado or a blazing forest fire that is coming right for them. (Daniel 10:5-18, Matthew 28:4, Luke 24:4)
From Tablet 5 - "The ground split open with the heels of their feet, as they whirled around in circles Mt. Hermon and Lebanon split. The white clouds darkened, death rained down on them like fog. Shamash raised up against Humbaba mighty tempests'--Southwind, Northwind, Eastwind, Westwind, Whistling Wind, Piercing Wind, Blizzard, Bad Wind, Wind of Simurru, Demon WInd, Ice Wind, Storm, Sandstorm--"
This quote is discussing the battle with Humbaba at the foot of Mt. Hermon. Mt. Hermon was the dwelling place of the gods and also where the palace of Baal was located (Joshua 11:17). In Deuteronomy there is a fierce battle at the base of Mt. Hermon. The defeat of Humbaba was successful due to the help of Shamash and the winds. The defeat of King Og involved help from God and angels. Angels are known as messengers, in the bible God makes the winds his messengers, the messages aren't always good and often angels do battle. (Psalm 104:4, 1 Chronicles 21:15, 1 Corinthians 10:10) After the battle with Humbaba Mt. Hermon was split, after the defeat of King Og the land was split between the two winners. The presence of angels has been known to cause earthquakes as well. (Deuteronomy 3:8, Matthew 28:2, Revelation 8:5) Also, around the time of 2150, there was an earthquake at Mt. Hermon and it has continued to be seismically active.
From Tablet 7 - "On entering the House of Dust, everywhere I looked there were royal crowns gathered in heaps, everywhere I listened, it was the bearer of crowns, who in the past, had ruled the land, but who now served Anu and Enlil and cooked meats, served confections, and poured cool water from waterskins...There sat Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Netherworld. Beletseri, the Scribe of the Netherworld, knelt before her, she was holding the tablet and was reading it out to her Ereshkigal. She raised her head when she saw me---'Who has taken this man?'"
For some reason this quote reminds me of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. This quote also stood out to me because I felt like it was describing how death is the great equalizer. This is the same today, you can't take material items with you when you die, your titles and honors will mean nothing. This is also shown in the Bible, in several places it discusses how we came into the world with nothing and when we die we cannot take anything with us. (1 Timothy 6:7, Job 1:21, Psalm 49:17, Ecclesiastes 5:15) This quote also reminded me of, in the Bible, when we die and are standing at Judgment and our names are read out of the Book of Life. In the quote Beletseri asks who Enkidu is, like he is not written on her tablet, just like how not everyone's name is written in the Book of Life. (Revelation 20:12, Revelation 13:8, Psalm 69:28, Luke 10:20, Revelation 3:5)
QUESTIONS
Were Enkidu and Gilgamesh lovers?
I see nowhere in the story where Enkidu and Gilgamesh are lovers and are in eros love. If they were I think there would have been descriptions of lovemaking between the two in the story, but there is none, in fact the story does go to great lengths to tell us about the lovemaking of Enkidu with Shamhat and Gilgamesh with many women. Their love can be related to what is known as phileo love, which refers to brotherly love and is most often exhibited in a close friendship. Best friends display this generous and affectionate love for each other and seek to make the other happy. Their love could also be storge love which is the close love you would show to a family member, it is naturally occurring and unforced. We see a demonstration of the most powerful form of love, agape, when Enkidu and Gilgamesh are fighting Humbaba. Agape is sacrificial love and it is more than a feeling, it is an act of will. Enkidu demonstrated agape when they went to battle Humbaba, he was afraid but when Gilgamesh was also afraid Enkidu steps in and encourages him.
What is the Bull of Heaven?
The Bull of Heaven is the male version of Istar. Istar is the female version of passion, fertility, love, war, and sex. The Bull of Heaven is loosed to cause destruction and vengeance. The Bull of Heaven could be referring to Baal. Baal's palace was said to be on Mt. Hermon. Baal is a god of passion, fertility, and thunder. Baal's cult animal is a bull, he is said to have sired a bull, and he is often depicted riding a bull.
VOCABULARY
Definition: Those Who from Heaven to Earth Came, often shown with wings.
Sentence: The Anunnaki are thought of as ancient deities, some stayed in heaven and some went to the underworld.
Anzu:
Definition: servant of the chief sky god Enlil, guard of the throne in Enlil's sanctuary; depicted as divine storm-bird and the personification of the southern wind and the thunder clouds.
Sentence: Anzu was a lion headed eagle, so he looked like a reverse griffin.
Definition: underworld from which there is no return
Sentence: When people died they would go to Irkalla.
Definition: wood from the Sissoo Tree; an evergreen rosewood tree, native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southern Iran.
Sentence: They used Sissoo wood to make the jewelry box.
SUMMARY/RESPONSE
Today I noticed, again, the many connections with numbers. The number 3, 7, and 40 in particular are recurring. In one part, Humbaba says "In my belly" I just wanted to bring this up because I thought it was funny. It totally reminded me of Austin Powers, when Fat Bastard is yelling at Mini Me to "Get in my belly". Another part I found humor in was when Gilgamesh was reminding Istar of all the terrible ways she treated her past lovers. Gilgamesh says "As you listened to these his words you struck him, turning him into a dwarf, and made him live in the middle of his (garden of) labors" all I could picture when I read that part was one of those colorful garden gnomes. I really needed something funny after, I was getting ready to post this and my computer crashed, and not just like it shut down, it completely crashed, erasing my work, and never to start again. I had to re-do this entire assignment.
Tablet 5 is all about Humbaba and Enkidu and Gilgamesh's defeat of him. I discussed my wild theory about Humbaba being a Cherubim above so I won't go back into it. Enkidu and Gilgamesh traveled very far to dispense of Humbaba. Along the way Gilgamesh has many dreams which Enkidu interprets. Enkidu has a knack for interpreting dreams just like Joseph in the Bible. Joseph interprets three people's dreams before he is requested by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. Pharaoh has a crazy dream about seven skinny cows eating seven fat cows and seven skinny grains swallowing seven fat grains. Due to Joseph's past successes at interpreting dreams he is called before Pharaoh and gives the correct interpretation. (Genesis 41:1-32). After they defeat Humbaba cut down the seven tallest trees, out of those they make a great door from the tallest one. They take Humbaba's head as a trophy as well.
In Tablet 6 Gilgamesh and Enkidu are fresh off their victory over Humbaba and looking virile, successful, and strong. Upon seeing this Istar decides she wants Gilgamesh for herself. Gilgamesh has a good memory and is smart though, and he recounts her six previous lovers and how she ruined each of them. He tells her no because if they all ended up as they did, how will he end up? This makes Istar furious, she tattles, cries and weeps to Anu and Anrum. She whines about how dare Gilgamesh say despicable things about her. She acts like he did a terrible thing when he is only recounting the truth. Sometimes the truth is painful and she is obviously in denial. Istar wants the Bull of Heaven released to serve vengeance on Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Before Anu will allow the Bull of Heaven to be released he discusses the implications with Istar. He says that if the Bull is released he will cause a seven year famine on the land and he wants to make sure that Istar has provided seven years of plenty so the people will not starve when he is released. She says she has and he gives his consent. This section again reminded me of Joseph when he interprets Pharaoh's dreams because the situation is pretty similar. (Genesis 41:1-32) This section also reminded me of the old adage "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
The Bull of Heaven is released and manages to cause destruction and many deaths. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are able to win the battle with the Bull of Heaven and the Bull of Heaven is slain. Gilgamesh takes the head of the Bull and has its horns decorated so he can put it on display. Istar is not happy with Gilgamesh and Enkidu and climbs up onto the wall and hurls a curse at Gilgamesh. This makes Enkidu mad and so he cuts off the "right hind thigh" of the Bull and sends it over the wall to her and telling her he wishes he could do the same to her. She receives it and gathers many temple priestesses and prostitutes and they mourn over the thigh of the Bull. Some people suggest that it was actually referring to the phallus of the Bull. The Bull represents virility and fertility and Istar is a goddess of sex, it seems to me the phallus would be a more appropriate insult for Enkidu to fling at her. This would also make more sense about why it is such a big deal that she has to gather temple priestesses and prostitutes to mourn over it.
Tablet 7 begins with the gods discussing the havoc Gilgamesh and Enkidu have caused. They feel someone must pay, but it can't be Gilgamesh, it must be innocent Enkidu. Enkidu is to be the innocent sacrifice to pay the price for Gilgamesh. This is a parallel of Jesus. Jesus is the innocent sacrifice who pays the price for mankind. (Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 13:15, Romans 3:25) Enkidu becomes ill and when he does he starts cursing the trapper for finding him and then curses Shamhat for civilizing him. This part reminds me of Job and how he curses the day he was born (Job 3). Shamash chastises him and points out that if not for Shamhat, he would have never met Gilgamesh or become civilized. Enkidu is calmed and relents, he now asks for blessings for Shamhut. Enkidu has a vision of a "Dark Man", this dark man traps Enkidu and turns him into a dove with feathered arms. This would suggest he is dead in his vision because in their culture, the dead were often depicted with feathers or wings.
In Tablet 8 Gilgamesh is in deep mourning for his close friend Enkidu, and he is extolling everyone around him to mourn too. He gives a eulogy for Enkidu and seems to ponder the fragility of life when he says "After we joined together and went up into the mountain, fought the Bull of Heaven and killed it, and overwhelmed Humbaba, who lived in cedar forest, now what is this sleep which has seized you?" Enkidu is in a coma, or perhaps already dead and Gilgamesh cannot believe that Enkidu has survived all of those dangerous trials, only to succumb to death through sleep or an illness.
The themes that stood out the most to me were "Overcoming Adversity and the Value of a Good Friend" tied together. Gilgamesh and Enkidu overcome several trials together as good friends in this set of Tablets. Beginning with the long journey to the cedar forest. Then they have to fight to overcome Humbaba. Next Gilgamesh has to fight off Istar, only to have the wrath of a scorned woman chasing him. Enkidu and Gilgamesh again work together to overcome the Bull of Heaven that Istar has released on them. Then they still have to work together to overcome Enkidu's death. While he is dying, Gilgamesh helps him come to terms with his death and mortality.
I used Reader-Response to help analyze this text. As I read I wrote a summary, notes, and questions to be answered. This helped me to organize my thoughts and allowed my writing to come much smoothly and quickly. The connections were firing away and it was nice to be able to refer back to my notes to help with the reading journal. This was also extremely helpful, since my computer crashed and burned taking everything with it. I was at least able to refer to my notes. I did have to re-do my entire paper, and re-look up all of my sources which took time to re-find everything I used.
WORKS CITED
George, A. R. The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic: Introduction, Critical Edition and Cuneiform Texts. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2003.
Print.
The Bible. New International Version
Bulkeley, Tim. "Bible Dictionary: Baal, Canaanite God."Bible Dictionary: Baal, Canaanite God. N.p., 1996-2005. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.
Dictionary. Dictionary.com LLC 2014. Retrieved 9/27/14, from http://dictionary.reference.com/
"Epic of Gilgamesh." (n.d.): n. pag. Books Online. Assyrian International News Agency. Web.
Rostankowski, Cynthia, trans. Epic of Gilgamesh. N.p.: n.p., n.d. San Jose State University. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
Bloom, Harold, and Blake Hobby. The Hero's Journey. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2009. Print.
Hayes, Dr. Walter. "Notable Earthquakes in the Mediterranean Region." N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.
Cooper, James. "Whyangels?com - What the Bible Says about Angels!"Seraphim, Cherubim & The Four Living Creatures. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.
Photo Credit:
Anunnaki http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5519/10258607706_49d713030f_m.jpg
Anzu http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Chaos_Monster_and_Sun_God.png
Bull of Heaven http://www.astra-fire.com/mystic-moons/images/humbaba1.png
Mask of Humbaba https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3199/2653062451_9eb05a5ff2.jpg
Mask of Humbaba
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/sl60oq1eMwM/TZ6_7RYeofI/AAAAAAAAAcg/6MOf26hNwls/s1600/maskOfHumbaba.JPG
Shape Shifter http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.7386094.6491/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg
Shape Shifter http://www.crystalinks.com/3goddesseslion.jpg
Sissou Trea http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Dalbergia_sissoo.jpg
Reading Journal
