How Gilgamesh Met Enkidu

What you hear me singing in this video, are lines 135 through 229 from THE BABYLONIAN GILGAMESH EPIC (Pennsylvania cuneiform Tablet OB II) which tell the story of the first meeting between Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and the wild man called Enkidu.
Although the Babylonians wrote this down nearly 4000 years ago, the tale was taken from Sumer, a much older culture that preceded the Babylonians in southern Mesopotamia. It is possible that Gilgamesh was a real, historical Sumerian king who ruled in Uruk some 5000 years ago.
For those who are interested, a pdf of THE BABYLONIAN GILGAMESH EPIC as translated and transliterated by Andrew R. George, can be downloaded from the following URL.
eprints.soas.a...
While we do know what sort of musical instruments were used in ancient Mesopotamia, neither the Sumerians nor the Babylonians had a system of notation, so we do not know what their music sounded like. These cultures were brilliantly clever and could unquestionably have invented a way to write down music if they had wanted. It is my belief that they did not do it because their music was largely improvisational and created by musicians themselves, in performance, much like certain types of jazz and the classical music of India are today. In this video, I have done what I believe the ancient musicians would have done. I have improvised the music on the spot using a “saz”, a modern variety of three course lute, which we know existed in Mesopotamia, and double reed wind instruments whose sound would likely have been similar to the folk oboe known today as the “duduk”.
The story I am singing tells of the first meeting between king Gilgamesh and the hero Enkidu, in which a man who is planning a wedding feast explains to Enkidu and his consort Shamkat, that Gilgamesh has the right to have intercourse with any young bride, on her wedding night, before her husband has the right to touch her. This is a tradition known in French as “le droit de cuissage” that existed in Europe up into medieval times.
Enkidu is horrified, and decides he’s going to throw Gilgamesh (whom he has never met and does not know) through the wall of the wedding chamber before he gets a chance to violate the poor girl!
Enkidu confronts Gilgamesh in the street of Uruk, and a fight ensues which goes on for quite some time, until Gilgamesh (who had never been beaten) realizes he has finally met his match and neither man can win. At this point, he breaks off the fight, and ultimately the two men become lifelong friends.

[@diegonieto2897]

NEW GILGALORE DROPPED

[@Dr.ZoidbergPhD]

Gilgalore!? 😳😂

[@kimashitawa8113]

New?🤨

[@DrunkenCoward1]

@@diegonieto2897 Dropped?!

[@deadknuckles6346]

???

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

@@DrunkenCoward1 slang for new post/upload

[@swordkitty]

imagine living 4000 years ago and this drops

[@peterslaby9782]

"Yo I just got some wack-ass copper from that Ea-nāṣir bitch but this track really brightened up my day after dealing with all that."

[@Ezullof]

They'd likely think it's some mad man singing, because there's no way anyone at the time could appreciate such bold harmonic combinations.

[@Halo_Legend]

​@@EzullofI don't know what historical snobery copium are you huffin, but please put it down. Historians lose their will to live from people like you.

[@webkid4567]

Right?? And the album "dropping" would just be some dude rolling through your town/village like "ya'll heard this one yet? Meet me around the fire tonight it'll blow your minds." Between that, and the collective songs you knew together as a clan was "music." That and what you wrote yourself. We are able to share a genuine piece of ourselves through art with others on the other side of the planet and that's an amazing thing

[@miceliusbeverus6447]

​@Ezullof I don't believe it. We tend to be horribly conceited and believe that anything older than 100 (or even 50) years must be stupid or primitive... We are so sure about it that if anything produced in the past seems "too good to be true", we tend to think it was made by aliens... The truth is, while technology needed time to develop, those people of the past were very skilled and had lots of profound expertise on things they did know; if not for other reasons, it was because they did it for centuries in ways not changed too much, just honed. Scientists are amazed to discover how functional and highly considered historical weapons or tools used to be; maybe lacking some theoretical background, but instead taking advantage of years and centuries of practical experience. We are now learning to appreciate again the idea of "slow food", they had "slow lifes". And music has been with the human kind roughly speaking forever...

[@DrunkenCoward1]

I love this part of the story. Gilgamesh was out to get his freak on, then a quasi-animalman walks in and starts mauling him and Gilgamesh just goes "That screams best friend material."

[@clairewithbanjo4992]

Some times it’s the friends you make along the way

[@enriquejoseantequerasanche6180]

It was the first time Gilgamesh found an equal, someone who would not only oppose him, but equal him in strenght. We all need a friend we can compete with, be it in strenght, wits, or art, and when one bests the other and they congratulate "that was a great match, and we have both grown from it", that is true friendship. Gilgamesh needed a friend to tell him "no, don't do that, you're being a jerk" and slap him over the head. We all do, from time to time.

[@razorknight92]

"get his freak on" is a very polite way to say what evil he was going to do

[@KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd]

@@razorknight92 "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future" -Oscar Wilde

[@neotokyo385]

Breed the snake wife

[@alexjjgreen]

Been waiting for a Pringle drop since those ancient days

[@ramasirama8251]

Since those ancient days when all things had been created? In ancient time when all things were given their place? When bread was first tasted in the sacred shrines of the land? When the ovens had been lighted? When the Heavens had been separated from the Earth? When the Earth had been separated from the Heavens? When mankind had been established? Those were the days.

[@proto566]

​@@ramasirama8251❤

[@proto566]

Ud reaaaah...!

[@a.m.4479]

Best. Comment.

[@RockerfellerRothchild1776]

Is it wrong that I got ......well..."excited" like a virgin on wedding night

[@huszaratraktor]

Imagine making a song that makes people excited 4000 years later

[@curtrod]

not too hard to do since there were no notes as the poster said, and he imagined the whole thing to begin with, it being not too bad not withstanding

[@huszaratraktor]

@@curtrod you ----------- | | | the point | ------>

[@mfaizsyahmi]

The attention to detail, when Peter raises an octave when speaking Shamkat's part 👌

[@monkeyonroof]

He knew he ate when he finished that part, too

[@Ledabot]

Fr. Loved how he grins after it. Good fun

[@urzathehappy72]

I am in love with this performance. Such incredible talent in every detail

[@urzathehappy72]

The drumming part is so cool too i usualy hate drumming on guitars but on his lute it works perfectly

[@blakeprocter5818]

@@urzathehappy72 It sounds reminiscent on how the tonbak drum is played, with that finger tapping technique. It's very appropriate as goblet drums are some of the oldest known instruments.

[@sava-smth]

Babe wake up, new Peter Pringle dropped!

[@draft13]

That's how I feel every time!

[@johan.svensson]

Upvote! Upvote! Upvote!

[@SamuraiMujuru]

No joke, I just woke up for work and this was the comment KZbin was displaying.

[@adityapawar4692]

Bang Bang Bang (on the door), neighbor wake up, NEW Peter Pringle DROPPED!!!!!

[@malapertfourohfour2112]

Y'all don't have babes but if you spent less time larping in KZbin comments like this you might practice and develop enough game to be able to pull one 🙄

[@JH51687]

We need an album of the entire Gilgamesh being sung like this

[@susano8473]

Billy Carson would be elated!

[@ozzie_goat]

As someone from Mesopotamia, this was the #1 jam all summer long

[@rdl3290]

Dont you Mean All Sumer Long ? ;)

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

@@rdl3290 🤣🤣🤣 okay, you win the comments contest!!

[@rdl3290]

@@hurdygurdyguy1 hehe i really dont know how the original commenter missed that 1 :p

[@Halo_Legend]

So you're a jam from Mesopotamia? Funny how kindergarden grade grammar makes you look.

[@ozzie_goat]

​@@rdl3290I've been on vacation all week...didn't cross my mind

[@ThePointlessBox_]

5:40 the beat starts, Peter looks left and right to confirm the fact that absolute fire is about to drop

[@ahsandhindsa4550]

Bro was calling Gilgamesh and Enkidu themselves,to witness this fire being dropped.

[@cito2820]

This is so odd. I looked at your channel for the first time in a while today and noticed you hadn’t uploaded in 7 months. I hoped everything was alright. About an hour later you uploaded a new video! How lucky!

[@brainworm666]

Gilgamesh works in mysteries ways

[@christofferniemonen8872]

Peter doesn't sit down for sure, he's active with instrument stuff too

[@Raul_Oliveira344]

So nostalgic! I remember when I first heard this in a brothel in Uruk... Feels like it was yesterday.

[@Gedagnors]

İt was yesterday. Time flies so fast.

[@NetHacker100]

We all know at least one GILGACHAD that always brings his gishgudi at the Ziggurat celebration

[@somerandomyoutubeuser271]

Last time i was this early, bread wasn't invented

[@iltonnotattico6231]

Been waiting 4000 years for this one

[@miguelv.p739]

As a person who knew nothing of the pre-classic era before taking classes on it in college, I am still taken aback by the relatability of such a old tale from such a far gone time. The epic of Gilgamesh is, to me, a story about the necessity of friends, of equals, the struggle with our own mortality and of our place in the world. To think that the people of Mesopotamia were thinking of these things, feeling these emotions with the same complexity and care that we do, it is something that makes us feel connected with a people who are so far away from us but also so close in other regards. Mr. Pringle is doing some amazing history work by trying to also preserve the singing/playing of this beautiful epic and utilizing instruments that might have been used back then and with a beautiful improvisation. As a fellow enthusiast of Ancient Mesopotamia, I thank Mr. Pringle for showing that no matter the gap, both in time or culture, bridges can always be built and we could imagine ourselves talking about life with a Sumerian fellow on the bank of the Tigris.

[@Hobs55679]

This man is a treasure

[@NobodiesBusinessimo]

My first born child was conceived to this song as it played opposite us a tavern wall, the notes filled our chamber with not only the sweet amber of love, but the fiery passion of Gilgamesh's fury. Our child came into this world strong, and he grew to be tall. We are grateful for him and our large house.

[@peterslaby9782]

We makin' it out of Uruk with this one boys!

[@Supahdave1000]

We learnin' horseback riding before pottery with this one!

[@Cardioid2035]

@@peterslaby9782 𐎼𐎤 𐎮𐎸𐏂 𐎧𐎤𐎱𐎤 !!💪

[@DooDoo-f4v]

​@@Supahdave1000Steppe by Steppe!

[@mistermistah3380]

Damn, what a powerful song. A wild man stands against a king because a divine law is inherently wrong.

[@diogoduarte8008]

Because he sees that the law isn't really divine, it's corruption of the law. I might miss remembering but enkidu was created to be as strong as gilgamesh to humble him before the people and the gods, and even tho he was a wild animal, a lawless man created in the wild he knew the law of the gods.

[@Jorgee-]

Enkidu is an inspiration. Wild and Infantile, free of Original Sin.

[@DooDoo-f4v]

​@@Jorgee-Exactly! He's the embodiment of the old ways.

[@doomerhumor3848]

Then they immediately become friends, according to the whole poem

[@zekeoutdoors]

You are a time machine

[@thehunter8417]

These videos are what got me fascinated by the Epic of Gilgamesh in the first place. Thank you once again, Peter.

[@theverdantfern]

What a beautiful thing to wake up to! Thank you, Peter! Stunning & moving as always!

[@aresaurelian]

I feel this is in the sense of the ancient originals. Well done. We drummed our bellies, and sang to our love, for men, and women. High knees, tap the belly, two to the side, two to the other side.

[@prometheus_beard]

Really happy to have you back my friend! I have never used the term "transporting" in any other context than your music. Incredible.

[@doctahgiru]

The king is backkk🔥🔥🔥 Watching from MESOPOTAMIA🇮🇶🇮🇶🫶

[@Panino4554]

Please make a full version of the Epic,🥺🥺😭

[@victorkreig6089]

You always look so happy when making these, a treasure as always Peter

[@beziek]

In those crazy ever changing times, I love to be probably first of all my ancestors ever (rather not related to sumerians) to hear such an old piece of human culture. It truly gives me inner peace, also by the way how simple yet warm and familiar this story can be... from different people in different times. Thank you all that are making it for us to hear ^-^

[@KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd]

Dude. Real. We are literally the first in our lines of centuries to hear this since the fall of mesopotamian culture.

[@JettyTex]

Big fan of your songs about Gilgamesh. This one is particularly breathtaking in use multiple instruments and different voices for each character. I hope you keep making songs and smiling ❤

[@Мелкор]

Оживший голос тысячелетий. Браво!

[@iberius9937]

One of your best performances, Mr. Pringle. The ending was on another level of being confident and satisified with your work. Excellent!

[@hectorpontos9038]

Always a delight when you share new songs with us, Mr. Pringle!

[@arrievanbruggen6966]

Peter, we love your work! Please post more frequently!

[@nachtschatten8710]

Aww, ❤, Peter the Bard is back! How fortunate are we to be blessed by the immortal story of the friendship of the legendary hero king and the mighty man of the forest, made to find their respective equal and soulmate in each other, sung by our silver-tongued Peter. ❤

[@vonsterb7065]

I had a feeling that you were cooking up something nice during your seven month absence. Great stuff!

[@Alonoda]

Was doing some Sumerian reading and this appears. Divine timing by the gods 🙌

[@calladeem240]

It's so amazing that we can share this snapshot of culture made by people thousands of years ago. The way art and artists can connect us across such vast gulfs of space and time is one of the most beautiful aspects of humanity.

[@r.b.antunes1768]

Amazing video! Please, never stop making your songs

[@Bread-nx9fo]

So interesting how one of the first ever recorded stories is about being humble.

[@imperialwatchdog191]

I fell in love with my Gilgamesh and even though he is now with his "girl destined for him" I will love him until the end of his days-enkiduC

[@bath_foam4576]

ugh im obsessed with this guy. he's a talented musician AND awesome historian. jack of all trades, master of all fr

[@ЗимнееСолнце]

IT IS AMAZING! Thank you Peter and all of them who support to you in this work. People of antiquity praised the man-made world and were incredibly wise. Because even time had no power over the great power of art. Oh, may the gods hear and grant you the strength and time to give humanity the entire epic of Gilgamesh.

[@Sonya_skazki]

Ура, новые чудеса, благодарю!!! Ждем еще больше новых музыкальных видео! С любовью, из Сибири

[@Gongchime]

A classic finding airplay thousands of years later.

[@marklammas2465]

Possibly your best yet, Peter. Highly expressive; does what it says on the tin. I'm greatly inspired to do more practice on my darbuka. I missed out recently on a chance to play my whistles, flutes, recorders and darbuka with a saz player, because I was unfortunately ill on that day. Thanks for giving me my belated saz fix! 😁🎶

[@TheresaMagario]

he's laughing at the end like he's already reading the comment section

[@GayestWinston]

This was wonderful to listen to, and what a beautiful instrument:) Thank you for the description as well. I had to grab that downloadable file

[@pikiwiki]

Expert delivery. Can easily imagine people listening to this narrative by firelight a thousand years ago

[@st.anselmsfire3547]

This artist is seriously underrated. Here he is, playing ancient instruments to bring a dead language to life, from the first culture to actually write stuff down (that we know of). One of these songs opens with a line that's something along the lines of, "So, back when we first figured out how to bake bread...." I love mythology, history, and music. This is just great stuff all around.

[@nangotoman9429]

that was beautiful! thanks yt for the recomendation, and thanks Peter for you invaluable work and musicianship! this is my first video and I'm staying!

[@selenialatovara6259]

Some days, the algorithm says hold my beer and I couldn’t be happier. You are incredible. I’m so thankful this popped up in my feed

[@CristiNeagu]

The fight between the two reminds me of Jacob wrestling with the angel. A fight which happened right after Jacob sent his wives and children away and he was alone, with the angel standing in the path of their reunion. The stories are not identical, of course, but they seem related.

[@physics1518]

Good catch! I think you're onto something there. I have to think about the struggle in the context of both narratives, but I don't think this is just a coincidence.

[@Aspensauce64]

It wouldn’t be the first instance of a bible story being inspired by Gilgamesh

[@NephilaClavata]

I think you'd like at least perusing through Hidden Riches by Christopher Hayes. It's filled with different sources and material for comparative studies of ancient Near Eastern literature.

[@CristiNeagu]

@@NephilaClavata Nice suggestion, thanks.

[@Rcloud666]

Love and Respect for amazing mister Pringles ❤. He teleported us back 5000 years in ancient sumer with his fanciful piece of composition.

[@bcubiaco]

Thanks be to Enlil for directing the algorithm to recommend me this.

[@susano8473]

Etheric. Blessed to have watched this on Sunday night. My Monday 5 a.m. wake up alarm will be more palatable now. Thank You ❤

[@pablocardilloaleman241]

Peter bring back to life those heroes from the fog of the past. Amazing

[@ianavery2489]

What a voice! Very cool to hear to babylonian being sung. Thank You Mr. Pringle

[@weichiang89]

What a time to be alive. You sir are a treasure. Thank you.

[@physics1518]

My favorite ancient bromance sung by my favorite ancient singer!

[@zapoper]

I did not fully appreciate your talent when I was 16 back sur l'avenue des pins à Montréal. Now I do. Thanks.

[@MrKaMiKaDzE345]

Peter - you are a treasure! Thank you for bringing to life such an ancient but important piece of culture! I am waiting for the full version of Epic of Gilgamesh!

[@梨-i5l]

Always happy to hear Peter again, especially Gilgamesh!

[@AliceRight-f2y]

Thank you so much for the amazing performance, I enjoyed every second of it. It was as if I was transported to ancient Uruk and witnessed the meeting of Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

[@Angiie884]

Your interpretations have made me interested in Mesopotamia and I’m very glad to have the experience of enjoying the culture and stories of the oldest civilization on earth!

[@KARKATELCESARENVIADODESA-pv4yd]

The first story talking about the sacredness of marriage.... I am speechless, much like Gilgamesh I am, and are upon a realization.

[@urzathehappy72]

The is inxredib🎉 i really hope you perform the full epic and put it all together. Thank you for keeping history alive. Alot can be learned about the soul and human condition from this performance of the epic

[@MagicRing]

Just imagine you're in the Hanging Gardens nightclub drinking beer from really long straws with the homies.

[@MootingInsanity]

My heart is warmed to hear any of this epic sung

[@melcombrowne5208]

should make a playlist chronologically to listen through the epic

[@SacredDreamer]

BRAVO ! Gorgeous !! And The Harmonics at the end !! Perfect !! 💓💓💓

[@SetuwoKecik]

Man if only this video is 13 years earlier, i can use these songs for my presentantion in ancient history class, to answer my crush's question about Epic Gilgamesh 😔

[@Eltoyotacorolla]

thank you for this Peter, this music, even if not historically accurate (I actually have no idea if it is) takes me and thousands more back in time, connecting us to the roots of civilization. Warm and kind regards from Chile, your work is astounding and inspiring!

[@rickannigan4587]

OMGGGGG!!!!!!!!! need your stuff on spotify so bad please!

[@自由闊達を志す者]

This was absolutely amazing, and truly beautiful. I can only fathom how much study you have had to put in in order to be able to perform such a rendering of this classic. Thank you very much, I am deeply grateful

[@TaxistGeviskon]

08:05 That smile ❤ This is some real good piece of art. Thank you for uploading ancient bangers. edit: Is there a way to make it appear on KZbin Music?

[@Necrontir]

It was really good. Especially description of their fight. Thank you.

[@KreStoK5o]

Niceeee, we've been waiting years for more Gilgamesh

[@priyatoshnayakarts3350]

Imaging hearing this the statues on the wall starts moving

[@Causainstrumentalis]

You are a grace upon all people of good will, Mr. Pringle, preserving such magnificent a piece for our times!

[@hian]

Ah, I remember when this first dropped. A good oldie.

[@miceliusbeverus6447]

Amazing! Just close my eyes and float through centuries...

[@lightlysaltedseadog6255]

you nailed the female part! what a vocal range!

[@KingLich451]

Welcome back, with another timeless classic!

[@Nyctophora]

Sir you are a gift to the world, thank you!

[@tatumergo3931]

Just like I heard it the first time at the palace of Ninhursag, and at the temple of Inanna...

[@NetHacker100]

Everyone knows that one GIGLACHAD that brings his own gishgudi to the Ziggurat celebration.

[@slonaut]

This is the kind of rock'n'roll I signed up for when I incarnated. Blessed we are. Thank you. Endless love of the divine kind.

[@ledio015]

We have been blessed by the Anunnaki! Sounds threaded together from beyond time!

[@gabriels.i.780]

Bravo! So beautiful. I'm always ecstatic to see new videos of yours!

[@schweinehund3497]

Peter you are such a blessing!

[@Babbajune]

Always so awesome! Thank you! ❤❤

[@rosscoughanour]

This stuff inspires me so much. Thank you for the quality art.

[@theyoutubeprowler]

casually slipping into a countertenor for the woman was 🎉

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

The man, the myth, the legend has returned to us!

[@vansongoku3520]

Это просто невероятно, каждый раз как первый и всегда бросает в дрожь. А улыбка в конце неимоверно обваражительна.

[@a.m.4479]

The legend is back!!!!!!!!!!

[@Lars-Rundqvist]

The master returns!

[@justergin]

you are such a rare gem in this enormous world

[@artemlul]

THE LEGEND IS BACK