Editing Gilgamesh (section)

==== "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}}