Wine and Beer in the Daily Lite and Religion of the Ancient Orientals. 117 



banquet, let them eat bread, let them mix wine." The closing 

 lines give a vivid description of a banquet of the gods: 



iksasuninima illak\kiini\ 



Hani rabiiti kalihimi musim[inu siinti] 



irjibuina inuttis Ansar hnlji 



innisku ahii ahi ina puhri 



lisanu iskunu ina kij-eti [usdu] 

 asnan ikulu iptiku [kumniia] 

 sirisa inatkn usajini deradisu[nu] 

 iikrii ina sate habasii sum\ri] 

 ma dis egfi kabittasun itel\li\ 



"They came together and went, 



The great gods, all of them, who decree fate. 



They entered and before Anshar they filled 



They kissed each other, in the assembly 



They prepared for the feast, they sat at the banquet; 

 Bread they ate, strong wine they mixed. 

 Sweet herb-wine confused their minds (r). 



They became intoxicated with drinking, (their) bodies 



were filled. 

 They were wholly at ease, their spirit was exalted." 



In the recently published version of the Gilgamesh epic 

 Enkidu is decribed in these words: ul idi '''"Enkidu aklain 

 ana akalitn sikaram ana lathn la hinivmd, "Enkidu did not 

 know to eat food. He had not been taught to drink beer," 

 From the Assyrian version we know (see Tablet I, 2, 39 40; 

 3. 37, 3334; 4, 34) that. 



"He ate herbs wite the gazelles, 

 Drank out of a through with cattle." 



The woman, who introduces him to civilized life, speaks to him : 



akiil aklatn ''^'Enkidu 

 sitnat balafim 

 sikaram siti Umti mati 



"Eat food, O Enkidu, the provender of Hfe! Drink beer, the 

 custom of the landl" So "Enkidu ate food till be was satiated. 

 Beer he drank, seven goblets. His spirit was loosened, he 

 became hilarious. His heart became glad and his face shone" 



