Did you sleep well knowing that Tablets III and IV were going to be talked about? I'm sure you were restless wondering what happened with Humbaba. Fortunately, these tablets aren't quite as long as Tablets I and II
Tablet III is appropriately titled "Preparations for the Expedition to the Forest of Cedar." Since Enkidu was made to be Gilgamesh's partner, it calmed him down. It turned him in to a kinder ruler. The people of Uruk were thrilled with that, but now he is going to fight a supposedly invincible foe, which could kill him. The citizens don't want their king to die trying to accomplish this foolish task for fame.
At the beginning of the tablet, the elders of Uruk are appalled that Gilgamesh is going to the Cedar Forest, but they realize that he's determined to go. They tell him to Enkidu go first and guide Gilgamesh because he has been to the Cedar Forest before and he's been tried and tested in combat. The elders tell Enkidu that he better bring their king back safely. After that, Gilgamesh tells Enkidu that they should go to Ninsun because she is "clever and wise, well versed in everything,/ she will set our feet in steps of good counsel" (III 17-18). This is a pretty high comment coming from the king spoken about a woman.
Ninsun is upset that her son is traveling on this dangerous journey, so she prays to the Sun God Shamash. She is frustrated that Shamash has given Gilgamesh such a restless heart, but she asks him to protect Gilgamesh and help him against Humbaba. After she prays to Shamash, she talks to Enkidu. She says, "O mighty Enkidu, you are not sprung from my womb,/ but henceforth your brood will belong with the votaries of Gilgamesh" (III 121-22) and she gives him a pendant to wear around his neck. Now, Enkidu and Gilgamesh are not only best friends, but brothers. After another blessing ritual and Gilgamesh giving instructions to the town on how to run while he is away, the two friends/brothers leave to battle Humbaba.
See, that was pretty short wasn't it? Tablet IV is titled "The Journey to the Forest of Cedar," and is pretty fragmented, making the tablet rather short. As Gilgamesh and Enkidu leave the town, they walk twenty leagues before they break for camp. In three days, they have covered 150 leagues (around 450 miles). No ordinary man could do this in three days. Throughout this journey, they try to boost each other's morale. Gilgamesh has dreams that he thinks are nightmares, but Enkidu assures him that these dreams are actually good and mean that they will defeat Humbaba.
They arrive at the Cedar Forest and contemplate what they are going to do. They hear Humbaba, "he bellowed once, a bellow full of terror/...Humbaba was thundering like the God of the Storm" (IV 208 and 210). Enkidu tells Gilgamesh he is stiff with terror. Gilgamesh tells Enkidu that they are the ones who have traveled all this way and to "forget death and seek life" (IV 255). Gilgamesh tells Enkidu that they are going to make a name for themselves, no matter what happens. The two then think about the best way to fight Humbaba.
That was fun wasn't it? Rising action in a story is always exciting. The next post is about the importance of these tablets. Since they were pretty short, you might get another short post! Yay!
Get ready to take some notes!
Cassy
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