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The Bull of Heaven is a mythical being representing the constellation known today as Taurus. [107] After being unleashed by Ishtar, the bull rampages in Uruk, but Gilgamesh and Enkidu manage to defeat him. [108] An earlier version of this episode is recorded in the Sumerian poem Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven. [109]
The Epic of Gilgamesh (/ ˈ ɡ ɪ l ɡ ə m ɛ ʃ /) [2] is an epic from ancient Mesopotamia.The literary history of Gilgamesh begins with five Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh (formerly read as Sumerian "Bilgames" [3]), king of Uruk, some of which may date back to the Third Dynasty of Ur (c. 2100 BCE). [1]
The second half of the epic deal with Gilgamesh, distressed about the death of his friend and his own impending mortality, as he searches for immortality. In the end he fails, but he comes to terms with the fact that he is eventually going to die and returns to his city of Uruk a wiser king. [3]
In addition to being one of the first cities, Uruk was the main force of urbanization and state formation during the Uruk period, or 'Uruk expansion' (4000–3200 BC). This period of 800 years saw a shift from small, agricultural villages to a larger urban center with a full-time bureaucracy, military, and stratified society.
The poem records the Kishite siege of Uruk after lord Gilgamesh refused to submit to them, ending in Aga's defeat and consequently the fall of Kish's hegemony. [3] While the historicity of the war remains an open question, attempts have been made to assign a historical date.
The Bull's first breath blows a hole in the ground so large that one hundred men fall into it, while its second breath creates a hole larger still, which traps two hundred more. [11] Gilgamesh and Enkidu work together to slay the Bull; [ 9 ] [ 11 ] [ 10 ] Enkidu goes behind the Bull and pulls its tail [ 11 ] while Gilgamesh thrusts his sword ...
In revenge, Ishtar goes to her father Anu and demands that he give her the Bull of Heaven, [55] [56] [44] which she sends to attack Gilgamesh. [47] [55] [56] [44] Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull and offer its heart to Shamash. [57] [56] While Gilgamesh and Enkidu are resting, Ishtar stands up on the walls of Uruk and curses Gilgamesh.
When levees and canals had been cleaned, 7. When … wells had been dug straight down, 8. When the Euphrates River, the bountiful river of Uruk, had been opened up, 9. When … had been erected, 10. When … had been established, 11. When bright An had torn away […], 12. When the offices of en-ship and kingship have been made manifest in Uruk ...