I write stuff

This is where I write whatever I want. whether that be rants or funny stories, or the occasional whump fic. lets see how this goes.

[doppelgangerleaverite]

can anyone on this gay ass website give me an opinion on which translation of the epic of gilgamesh i should read? ive been wanting to read it for ages but theres a number of common translations and i know translations can make or break a story; i dont want to start with the wrong one

[gilgamesh-enjoyer]

I've read a few so I can offer recommendations! I started with the Sandars translation, which is a good starting point but a pretty early translation. Benjamin Foster's translation is one of my favourites, and the version I read (Second Norton Critical Edition) includes some really interesting discussion essays with it. Andrew George's translation received an update a couple of years ago so is up to date with Foster's translation, though I prefer how the language flows in Foster's.

I would also recommend Gilgamesh Retold by Jenny Lewis for a translation with a more modern poetic take.

[perrenlore]

GILGAMESH TRANSLATION MASTERPOST:

Benjamin Foster’s Gilgamesh condenses all the different tablets we’ve found together to make one cohesive narrative which is way less intimidating and therefore my go-to if you want something that feels cohesive while also sticking very close to the language of the original. 10/10

Andrew George is the most thorough and up-to-date, and sticks as close to the text as you can get. It does, however, separate out all the different tablets, and feels very unedited in its style. Definitely not a “pretty” version. 10/10 cuz he’s a legend and this is the most definitive scholarly edition but don’t start with it.

Maureen Kovacs has a lovely translation with some very interesting footnotes on word choices. Her Ninsun is absolutely incredible and if you want to cry your eyes out over Gilgamesh’s fate that’s the one for you. It’s one step up from Foster’s in terms of poetic-ness but still pretty close to the original. 8/10

Sophus Helle is more poetic than Kovacs but BRILLIANT, one of my favourite Enkidus and his Shamhat is wonderful. Top favourite of all time. This is a very good starting point. 9/10

I wouldn’t recommend Sandars simply because it’s prose, and also condenses the twelfth tablet into a nice tidy ending that doesn’t really work with the Standard Babylonian narrative. 6/10

Lewis’ Gilgamesh Retold is more of a poetic retelling than a translation; it’s beautiful but definitely not a starting point. Sweet and gentle Enkidu though, very charming. 7/10

Stephen Mitchell I’m not a fan of. He smooths the poem out into something tame and very expected. This is my personal bias but I really dislike his Shamhat. His Enkidu and Gilgamesh are also explicitly more like brothers, which is a valid interpretation but also again not one I lean towards. 5/10

Herbert Mason’s Gilgamesh has some stunning moments in it (Enkidu! They do not know you like I know you!) However it is nowhere near the real text BUT closer than Lewis’. Changes the ending of the poem so it’s about Gilgamesh mourning Enkidu rather than mourning his own mortality; a much sadder conclusion with less resolution than in the Standard Babylonian. 7/10

BONUS ROUND:

Derek Hines’ play GILGAMESH is fucking DERANGED guys. Ten Gilgillion out of ten.

[headspace-hotel]

Foster's is my favorite that I've read

[meganwhalenturner]

Seconding the Sophus Helle recommendations. I loved his introduction to the text and the essays included at the back.

[corviiids]

the best death note joke format will forever be L asking light a simple question in which logical answer A might increase the likelihood of light being kira and logical answer B similarly might increase the likelihood of light being kira and after a short internal struggle light comes up with answer Y, which no human being has ever thought of as being a normal response in all of living history

[aberrantemotion]

the "what are your pronouns" comic is my fave example.

[k8rgrl]

For those unfamiliar, or simply wanting to see it again:

[lilac-whump]

How many times do you think I can call Shar "Mommy" before Shadowheart kills me?

[hometoursandotherstuff]

[acreaturecalledgreed]

i was gonna say it Does have a tail thats what the cord is thats why its called a mouse!!!! and then i remembered most mouses are cordless now and got fucked up bc IT IS A HAMSTER and now immfucked up bc like. technology has advanced so must thay mice have changed species

[acreaturecalledgreed]

it matters to me that you all know i was wizard high when i wrote that

[bizarrequazar]

May I offer to you,

[scarlettohairdye]

I love the hamster mice but I think we need to discuss the term “wizard high,” something I have never heard before but is incredibly evocative

[twunkish-cleric]

I bought a giant textbook on herbal medicine and it actually goes into the chemical processes that explain why medicinal plants do what they do rather than just explaining that they do them, and I'm actually salivating over the idea of reading it

[twunkish-cleric]

For everyone asking, the book is called "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine" by David Hoffmann. It's around 672 pages long and depending on where you get it, it costs anywhere from $30 to $60

[eldritchboop]

Because I'm a lover of the Internet Archive, you can also check it out here:

Medical herbalism : the science and practice of herbal medicine : Hoffmann, David, 1951- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet A

666 pages : 28 cm

[stephank]

Thaisha has an awkward question for Sir Julien...

[quiddie]

I’m absolutely DYING. THIS IS PERFECTION. 🥹

[assiraphales]

rocky always yells “enrichment for grace! enrichment for grace!” when he has a new invention to make the humans time more interesting on erid. grace, while appreciative, replies ‘I know I’m in a zoo enclosure but could we maybe not call it that? I feel like a bear getting thrown a pumpkin covered in peanut butter.’ rocky simply gives him a thumb, not wanting to explain that a significant amount of the population sees grace as the celebrity savior scientist who rocky keeps as a controversially young trophy wife and publicly lavishes in gifts

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Okay but imagine being the team of Eridian scientists tasked with keeping Erid's Only Human alive for as long as possible while the whole planet's environment is literally trying to kill him. And then Rocky shows up and is like:

“Grace says he would like half of dome to be water.”

“Oh, is necessary for humans to have large amounts of water question?”

Small Eridian equivalent of a sigh. “No. Not needed for life. In fact Grace will die if he falls in water and does not get out.”

“Tell him we give him water in containers that won't kill him. Lots lots lots of water on Erid for Grace to drink.”

“No. Grace say he want water on ground. Also want it with excess sodium chloride compound so it will be unhealthy for drink.”

“WHY QUESTION???”

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

To celebrate Erid getting their sun back on track, Grace asks for some alcohol. There's a small amount left from the Hail Mary and Rocky offers to take it to the science Eridians to see if they can synthesise more.

“Grace want this liquid for celebration.”

“Of course.” They scan it. “You have wrong liquid. This contain compounds which are poisonous for humans.”

“Yes yes yes. Grace say humans like feeling of being slightly poisoned.”

“WHY QUESTION?????”

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Grace is like one of those extremely finicky tropical fish who instantly die if not kept in extremely specific conditions.

Only here the fish can talk and keeps asking you to make it vodka.

[lilac-whump]

I tried to make friends with Minthara but we ended up leading opposing armies and she said she was gonna dissect me but then I blew her up. Usually I'm so good at making friends.....

[lilac-whump]

Now that I'm playing Baldurs Gate 3 I have the competing desires to read a ton of fanfics but also avoid spoilers that I haven't happened across already

[lilac-whump]

Now that I'm playing Baldurs Gate 3 I have the competing desires to read a ton of fanfics but also avoid spoilers that I haven't happened across already

[lilac-whump]

Fam I just started playing Baldurs Gate 3 (I know I'm late but I don't buy games often but I'm here NOW) and I am so beyond excited to experience Astarions story. I'm not going in totally blind so I know some of where this is going and I can already tell it's going to be whumpy and delicious even beyond my expectations.

[paranormal-taters]

"i feel besquintled", said no one ever. because that's not a word.

[paranormal-taters]

okay nevermind it IS a word now and this is exactly what it means.

[paranormal-taters]

EVERYONE SHUT UP AND LOOK AT THIS NEW AND BETTER WORD

[soulren]

“Ghosts are real” I can see how you could believe that

“Ghosts aren’t real” it’s very fair and rational that you believe that

“Ghosts aren’t real anymore” I’m about to hear a poem or very sad story

“Ghosts aren’t real yet” the fuck are you going to do

[prankpuppet354]

I was just trying to get a reaction image of Luis hyping himself up for his turn (like a guy prepping himself before a race) and I instead ended up capturing this 😅

[fluidstatick]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: This is Halandil Fang's theme song. Even more relevant with his Episode 24 level up.

Feed the kittens in the kitchen; set food out for the strays. Try hard to do your best. The magpie will have his way.

Fill your mouth with berries by the full light of the moon. Work all night if you have to. The magpie comes at noon.

Shore up the crucifixes above the archways and the doors. The magpie will come at midday, and you will go down on all fours.

And when the cherry's white with blossoms, be ready and be brave; and remember what we had here, when there was something left to save.

[reallyreallyreallytrying]

“average person eats 3 spiders a year” factoid actualy just statistical error. average person eats 0 spiders per year. Spiders Georg, who lives in cave & eats over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted

[laerugo]

#tapping the reblog button with utmost care because i’m handling a historical artifact (via @malarkiness)

[mortimermcmirestinks]

holy shit OP is not only still active but is still making absolutely banger posts in this exact style 11 years later

[rue-nightly]

A 2025 update