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Gilgamesh spoke to the hunter: Go, hunter mine, and take with thee Ukhat When the cattle comes to the trough, Let her tear off her dress and disclose her nakedness. He will see her and approach her. His cattle, which grew up on his field, will forsake him. Ukhatu is a name for a harlot devoted to the worship of Ishtar. Other names for such devotees are Kharimtu and Kizritu.
In the continuation of the story Eabani becomes the companion of Gilgamesh, but I venture to think that the title was transferred in the development of the epic from Ukhat, to whom it originally belonged. It is she who awakens in Eabani a sense of dignity which made him superior to the animals. The word translated 'companion' may be appropriately applied to Ukhat.
In Ukhat, however, he found a worthier mate, and he accordingly abandons his former associates to cling to her. He yields and obeys her command. In the wisdom of his heart he recognized a companion.
Popular belief makes her responsible for decay and death, since life and fertility appear to be in her hand. Gilgamesh, as a popular hero, is brought into association by popular traditions with Ishtar, as he is brought into relationships with Eabani and Ukhat. A factor in this association was the necessity of accounting for Gilgamesh's death.
After he had satiated himself with her charms, He turned his countenance to his cattle. The reposing gazelles saw Eabani, The cattle of the field turned away from him. Eabani was startled and grew faint, His limbs grew stiff as his cattle ran off. But Ukhat has gained control of him. He gives up the thought of gazelles and cattle, and returns to enjoy the love of Ukhat. His senses return,
Come, I will bring thee to walled Uruk, To the glorious house, the dwelling of Anu and Ishtar, To the seat of Gilgamesh, perfect in power, Surpassing men in strength, like a mountain bull." It would appear from these lines that previous to the coming of Ukhat, Eabani had satisfied his desire on the beasts.
As it is, Eabani asks Ukhat to conduct him To the glorious dwelling, the sacred seat of Anu and Ishtar, To the seat of Gilgamesh, perfect in power, Surpassing men in strength like a mountain bull.
In the episode of Eabani, Ukhat, and the hunter who, be it noted, plays the part of the tempter we seem to have an ancient legend forming part of some tradition regarding the beginnings of man's history, and which has been brought into connection with the Gilgamesh epic, when and how, it is impossible, of course, to say. The hunter follows the instructions of Gilgamesh.
In the sixth tablet, Gilgamesh is celebrated as the victor and not Eabani. We may conclude, therefore, that the episode belongs originally to Gilgamesh's career, and that Eabani has been introduced into it. On the other hand, for Eabani to be placed in a beautiful garden would be a natural consequence of his deserting the gazelles and cattle, the reward, as it were, of his clinging to Ukhat.
Unfortunately, the tablet at this point is defective, and the following three tablets are represented by small fragments only, from which it is exceedingly difficult to determine more than the general course of the narrative. Ukhat and Eabani proceed to Uruk.
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