N39. Triple twisted rope. .17.
The image of a three-fold twisted rope describes the invincibility of two close-knit friends.
Old Testament, Sumer, Akkad.
Western Asia. Old Testament [ 9 ṭôḇîm haššənayim min-hā ʔ eḥāḏ ʔ ăšer yēš-lāhem ŝāḵār ṭôb ba ʕ ămālām 10 kî ʔ im-yippōlû hā ʔ eḥād yāqîm ʔ eṯ-ḥăḇērô wə ʔ îlô hā ʔ eḥāḏ šeyyippôl wə ʔ ên šēnî lahăqîmô 11 gamʔ 12 wə ʔ im-yiṯqəpô hā ʔ eḥāḏ haššənayim ya ʕ amḏû neḡdô wəhaḥûṭ haməšullāš lō ʔ bimhērâ h yinnāṯēq « 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if one falls, his other can lift up his partner. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has no one to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie down, they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one overcome one, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”: Eccl. 4:9-12; Sumer [Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A: Gilgamesh encourages his servant Enkidu, who wants to flee upon seeing the guardian of the cedar forest, Huwawa: ĝar-ra d en-ki-du 10 lu 2 2 nu-uš 2 -e ma 2 -da-la 2 nu-su-su / eš 2 3 tab-ba lu 2 nu-ku 5 -de 3 / bad 3 -da a lu 2 nu-šu 2 -šu 2 / e 2 gi-sig-ga izi nu-te-en-te-en / ze 4 -e ĝe 26 -e taḫ-ma-ab ĝe 26 -e ze 4 -e ga-mu-ra-taḫ a-na-me lu 2 ba-an-tum 3 "Stop, Enkidu! “Two men will not perish. The lifeboat(?) will not sink. / No one will break a threefold rope. / The water will not cover the man (standing) on the wall. / In the reed hut the fire will not go out. / You join me, I will join you. How can (then) anyone put forward anything (against us)?” (lines 106–110; trans. R.M. Nurullin); translator’s comment: we read the first sign in line 107 as ŠE 3 = eš 2"rope"; a number of researchers see here the sign TUG 2 = tug 2 "fabric, clothing": "No one will tear a cloth folded in three"]: Edzard 1991: 202-203; Akkad [Enkidu encourages Gilgamesh before the battle with Humbaba: ibr ī i š t ē n i š t ē n - ma š [ ina š ina - ma ] / l ū mak û- ma š itt [ a …] (In another list: [ š itta ] lub ā r ā tum - ma […]) / l ū mu š ḫalṣ ī tum - ma u [ l …] 2 m [ u - …] / š itta ta š k â ti […] / a š lu š u š lu š [ u …] / i š t ē n kalba danna š ina m ī r ā [ n ū …] “My friend, one is one and t[wo are two]. Even if they are weak, two […]. (In another list: [Two] garments […]) / Even if the ground (under their feet) is slippery, n[e…] two […]. / Two triplets […]. / A threefold rope [will not break(?)]. / Two puppies will overcome(?) one strong dog” (lines 75-80; trans. R.M. Nurullin)]: Al-Rawi, George 2014: 78.