Editing Epic of Gilgamesh (section)

===== Tablet five =====
[[File:Tablet V of the Epic of Gligamesh.JPG|thumb|Tablet V of the ''Epic of Gilgamesh'']]
[[File:Reverse side of the newly discovered tablet V of the Epic of Gilgamesh. It dates back to the old Babylonian period, 2003-1595 BCE and is currently housed in the Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq.jpg|thumb|Reverse side of the newly discovered tablet V of the ''Epic of Gilgamesh''. It dates back to the old Babylonian period, 2003–1595 BC, and is currently housed in the [[Sulaymaniyah Museum]], Iraq.]]
The heroes enter the cedar forest. [[Humbaba]], the guardian of the Cedar Forest, insults and threatens them. He accuses Enkidu of betrayal, and vows to disembowel Gilgamesh and feed his flesh to the birds. Gilgamesh is afraid, but with some encouraging words from Enkidu the battle commences. The mountains quake with the tumult and the sky turns black. The god [[Shamash]] sends 13 winds to bind Humbaba, and he is captured. Humbaba pleads for his life, and Gilgamesh pities him. He offers to make Gilgamesh king of the forest, to cut the trees for him, and to be his slave. Enkidu, however, argues that Gilgamesh should kill Humbaba to establish his reputation forever. Humbaba curses them both and Gilgamesh dispatches him with a blow to the neck, as well as killing his seven sons.<ref name=10.5615 /> The two heroes cut down many cedars, including a gigantic tree that Enkidu plans to fashion into a door for the temple of [[Enlil]]. They build a raft and return home along the [[Euphrates]] with the giant tree and (possibly) the head of Humbaba.