A divine bull is sent to wage a contest against Gilgamesh, who is assisted by his friend Eabani.
Gilgamesh, recalling to the goddess the sad fate of those who fall a victim to her charms, rejects the offer.
At first, indeed, Eabani curses the fate which led him away from his former life, and Gilgamesh is represented as bewailing Eabani's dissatisfaction.
The sun-god Shamash calls upon Eabani to remain with Gilgamesh, who pays him all honours in his palace at Erech.
But he was a profoundly interested observer of affairs at home and among 1 The Assyrian term abubu is used of the great primeval deluge (in the Gilgamesh epic), and also of the local floods common in the country.
