Editing Gilgamesh (section)

===Sumerian poems===
[[File:Gilgamesh in a Sculptured Vase, Shara Temple, Tell Agrab, Iraq.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Sculpted scene depicting Gilgamesh wrestling with animals. From the Shara temple at [[Tell Agrab]], Diyala Region, Iraq. [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic Period]], 2600–2370 BC. On display at the [[National Museum of Iraq]] in [[Baghdad]].]]
[[File:Mace dedicated to Gigamesh-AO 3761 with transcription of the name Gilgamesh.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Mace dedicated to Gilgamesh, with transcription of the name Gilgamesh ({{cuneiform|6|𒀭𒉈𒂵𒈩}}) in standard Sumero-Akkadian [[cuneiform]], [[Ur III]] period, between 2112 and 2004 BC]]
It is certain that, during the later [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic Period]], Gilgamesh was worshiped as a god at various locations across Sumer.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}} In the 21st century BC, King [[Utu-hengal]]  of Uruk adopted Gilgamesh as his patron deity.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}} The kings of the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]] ({{circa|2112|2004 BC}}) were especially fond of Gilgamesh,{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}} calling him their "divine brother" and "friend."{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}} King [[Shulgi]] of Ur (2029–1982 BC) declared himself the son of [[Lugalbanda]] and [[Ninsun]] and the brother of Gilgamesh.{{sfn|Mark|2018}} Over the centuries, there may have been a gradual accretion of stories about Gilgamesh, some possibly derived from the real lives of other historical figures, such as [[Gudea]], the Second Dynasty ruler of [[Lagash]] (2144–2124 BC).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sandars |first=N.K. |title=The Epic of Gilgamesh |date=1972 |publisher=Penguin |chapter=Introduction |author-link=N.K. Sandars}}</ref> Prayers inscribed on clay tablets address Gilgamesh as a judge of the dead in the Underworld.{{sfn|Mark|2018}}

==== "Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld" ====
{{Main|Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld}}
During this period, a large number of myths and legends developed surrounding Gilgamesh.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=45}}{{sfn|George|2003b|page=141}}<ref name="Norton Anthology" />{{rp|95}} Five independent Sumerian poems  have been discovered narrating his exploits.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}} Gilgamesh's first appearance in literature is probably in the Sumerian poem "Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld".{{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=30}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}<ref>[[Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature|ETCSL]] [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1814.htm 1.8.1.4]</ref> The narrative begins with a ''huluppu'' tree—perhaps, according to the Sumerologist [[Samuel Noah Kramer]], a willow,{{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=33}} growing on the banks of the river [[Euphrates]].{{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=33}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}} The goddess Inanna moves the tree to her garden in [[Uruk]] with the intention to carve it into a throne once it is fully grown.{{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=33}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}} The tree grows and matures, but the serpent "who knows no charm," the ''[[Anzû (mythology)|Anzû]]''-bird, and ''[[Lilitu]]'', a [[Mesopotamian demon]], invade the tree, causing Inanna to cry with sorrow.{{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=33}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}}

Gilgamesh, who in this story is portrayed as Inanna's brother, slays the serpent, causing the ''Anzû''-bird and Lilitu to flee.{{sfn|Kramer|1961|pages=33–34}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}} Gilgamesh's companions chop down the tree and carve it into a bed and a throne for Inanna.{{sfn|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=140}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}} The goddess responds by fashioning a ''pikku'' and a ''mikku'' (perhaps a drum and drumsticks){{sfn|Kramer|1961|page=34}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}} as a reward for Gilgamesh's heroism.{{sfn|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=9}}{{sfn|Mark|2018}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=172}} But Gilgamesh loses the ''pikku'' and ''mikku'' and asks who will retrieve them.{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|pages=172–173}} His servant Enkidu descends to the Underworld to find them,{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=173}} but he disobeys its strict laws and can never  return.{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=173}} In the remaining dialog, Gilgamesh questions the [[Shade (mythology)|shade]] of his lost comrade about the Underworld.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|pages=172–173}}

==== Subsequent poems ====
{{multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=340|caption_align=center
| align    = right
| direction =horizontal
| header=Story of Gilgamesh and Aga
| image1   = Obverse. Gilgamesh and Aga. Old Babylonian period, from southern Iraq. Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan.jpg
| image2   = Reverse. Gilgamesh and Aga. Old Babylonian period, from southern Iraq. Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan.jpg
| footer=Story of ''"[[Siege of Uruk|Gilgamesh and Agga]]"''. Old Babylonian period, from southern Iraq. [[Sulaymaniyah Museum]], Iraq
}}
''[[Siege of Uruk|Gilgamesh and Agga]]'' describes Gilgamesh's successful revolt against his liege lord [[Aga of Kish|Agga]], king of the city-state of [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]].{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}<ref>ETCSL [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1811.htm 1.8.1.1]</ref> ''Gilgamesh and Huwawa'' describes how Gilgamesh and his servant [[Enkidu]], with the help of fifty volunteers from Uruk, defeat the monster [[Huwawa]], an ogre appointed as guardian of the [[Cedar Forest]] by the ruling god [[Enlil]].{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=167}}<ref>ETCSL [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1815.htm 1.8.1.5]</ref>

In ''Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven'', Gilgamesh and Enkidu slay the [[Bull of Heaven]], who has been sent to attack them by the goddess [[Inanna]].{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}{{sfn|Tigay|2002|page=24}}<ref>ETCSL [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1812.htm 1.8.1.2]</ref> The details of this poem differ substantially from the corresponding episode in the later Akkadian ''Epic of Gilgamesh''.{{sfn|Tigay|2002|pages=24–25}} In the Sumerian poem, Inanna remains aloof from Gilgamesh, but in the Akkadian epic she asks him to become her consort.{{sfn|Tigay|2002|page=24}} Also, while pressing her father [[Anu|An]] to give her the Bull of Heaven, in  Sumerian Inanna threatens a deafening cry that will reach the earth, while in Akkadian she threatens to [[Undead|wake the dead]] to eat the living.{{sfn|Tigay|2002|pages=24–25}}

A poem known as ''The Death of Gilgamesh'' is poorly preserved, but appears to describe a major state funeral followed by the arrival of the deceased in the Underworld. The poem may have been misinterpreted, and may actually depict the death of Enkidu.<ref>ETCSL [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1813.htm 1.8.1.3]</ref>{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=89}}