Cedar Forest
The sacred forest of the gods in the Gilgamesh epic, guarded by Humbaba, where Gilgamesh and Enkidu cut the great cedars.
- Named in
- Epic of Gilgamesh (Tablets II–V); Sumerian 'Gilgamesh and Huwawa'
- Guardian
- Humbaba (Huwawa), appointed by Enlil
- Location in texts
- Western mountains; later versions point to Lebanon
- Real counterpart
- Cedar forests of Lebanon and the Amanus
- New evidence
- Tablet V fragment, Sulaymaniyah Museum (2011)
What is Cedar Forest known for?
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Cedar Forest is the dwelling of the gods, a vast wood guarded by the monster Humbaba, whom Enlil appointed to keep people out. Gilgamesh and Enkidu travel there, kill Humbaba and cut the cedars, bringing timber home to Uruk. Enlil is angry at the killing, and the gods later decide that Enkidu must die.
Older Sumerian versions put the forest in eastern mountains, while the Babylonian epic points west to the mountains of Lebanon. Mesopotamian kings really did send expeditions for cedar from Lebanon and the Amanus range to build temples and palaces.
A tablet fragment acquired by the Sulaymaniyah Museum in 2011 and published by Farouk Al-Rawi and Andrew George adds about twenty lines to Tablet V. It describes the forest as noisy with monkeys, cicadas and birds, and presents Humbaba as a ruler entertained by this natural music.
Humbaba's forest, home of the gods, which Gilgamesh and Enkidu invade.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeEnlil
- Rabbit holeHumbaba
- PassageHumbaba and the seven auras (Gilgamesh, tablets II–V)
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia, 'The Newly Discovered Tablet V of the Epic of Gilgamesh'Reference
- Epic of Gilgamesh (tr. R. Campbell Thompson), sacred-texts.comPrimary text
- Wikipedia, 'Cedar Forest'Reference
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