The episode leads
to the hostile encounter between Gish and Enkidu. It is referred
to in column 2 of the fourth tablet of the Assyrian version. Lines
35-50--all that is preserved of this column--form in part a parallel
to columns 5-6 of the Pennsylvania tablet, but in much briefer form,
since what on the Pennsylvania tablet is the incident itself is on
the fourth tablet of the Assyrian version merely a repeated summary of
the relationship between the two heroes, leading up to the expedition
against Hu(m)baba. Lines 38-40 of column 2 of the Assyrian version
correspond to lines 174-177 of the Pennsylvania tablet, and lines
44-50 to lines 192-221. It would seem that Gish proceeds stealthily
at night to go to the goddess Ishhara, who lies on a couch in the _b?t
?muti_ , the "family house" Assyrian version, Tablet IV, 2. 46-48). He
encounters Enkidu in the street, and the latter blocks Gish's path,
puts his foot in the gate leading to the house where the goddess is,
and thus prevents Gish from entering. Thereupon the two have a fierce
encounter in which Gish is worsted. The meaning of the episode itself
is not clear. Does Enkidu propose to deprive Gish, here viewed as a god
(cf.
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