humbaba has 16 splendors or ornaments.
humbaba has 16 splendors or ornaments.
how many splendors or ornaments does humbaba have?
16
humbaba is first mentioned in tablet ii of the "epic of gilgamesh". after gilgamesh and enkidu become friends following their initial fight, they set out on an adventure to the cedar forest beyond the seventh mountain range, to slay humbaba (huwawa): "enkidu," gilgamesh vows, "since a man cannot pass beyond the final end of life, i want to set off into the mountains, to establish my renown there." gilgamesh tricks the monster into giving away his seven "radiances" by offering his sisters as wife and concubine. when humbaba's guard is down, gilgamesh punches him and captures the monster. defeated, humbaba appeals to a receptive gilgamesh for mercy, but enkidu convinces gilgamesh to slay humbaba. in a last effort, humbaba tries to escape but is decapitated by enkidu, or in some versions by both heroes together; his head is put in a leather sack, which is brought to enlil, the god who set humbaba as the forest's guardian. enlil becomes enraged upon learning this and redistributes humbaba's seven splendors (or in some tablets "auras"):
humbaba
gilgamesh and enkidu enter the gloriously beautiful cedar forest and begin to cut down the trees. hearing the sound, humbaba comes roaring up to them and warns them off. enkidu shouts at humbaba that the two of them are much stronger than the demon, but humbaba, who knows gilgamesh is a king, taunts the king for taking orders from a nobody like enkidu. turning his face into a hideous mask, humbaba begins to threaten the pair, and gilgamesh runs and hides. enkidu shouts at gilgamesh, inspiring him with courage, and gilgamesh appears from hiding and the two begin their epic battle with humbaba. shamash intrudes on the battle, helping the pair, and humbaba is defeated. on his knees, with gilgamesh's sword at his throat, humbaba begs for his life and offers gilgamesh all the trees in the forest and his eternal servitude. while gilgamesh is thinking this over, enkidu intervenes, telling gilgamesh to kill humbaba before any of the gods arrive and stop him from doing so. should he kill humbaba, he will achieve widespread fame for all the times to come. gilgamesh, with a great sweep of his sword, removes humbaba's head. but before he dies, humbaba screams out a curse on enkidu: "of you two, may enkidu not live the longer, may enkidu not find any peace in this world!" soon later enkidu becomes sick and dies.
cedar forest