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Anonymous: The Epic of Gilgamesh (1960, Penguin Classics) 3 stars

Miraculously preserved on clay tablets deciphered only in the last century, the cycle of poems …

Review of 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' on Goodreads

3 stars

1) ''Go ahead, Enkidu. This is food,
we humans eat and drink this.'' Warily
he tasted the bread. Then he ate a piece,
he ate a whole loaf, then ate another,
he ate until he was full, drank seven
pitchers of the beer, his heart grew light,
his face glowed, and he sang out with joy.''

2) [Gilgamesh to Ishtar, goddess of love]
''You loved the gardener Ishullanu,
who would bring you baskets of fresh-picked dates,
every day, to brighten your table,
you lusted for him, you drew close and said,
'Sweet Ishullanu, let me suck your rod,
touch my vagina, caress my jewel.'''

3) ''There was singing and feasting in the palace that night.
Later, when the warriors were stretched out asleep,
Enkidu had a terrifying dream.
When he woke up, he said to Gilgamesh,
'Dear friend, why are the great gods assembled?'''