M. Kavoukjian, Armenia,
Subartu, and Sumer (Montreal, 1987) pp. 57-81 identified Aratta
with the Metsamor metallurgical complex in the Ayrarat valley.
Dalley, Myths, p. 129 n. 53 observes that the adjective
arattu ("wonderfully wrought") originally meant
"made in Aratta". It is noteworthy that the goddess
Ishtar (herself connected to eastern Asia Minor) when trying to
win Gilgamesh's love, offers him a golden chariot drawn by dragons,
and a home with an arattu threshold, Dalley, p. 77.
79 Enmerkar, lines
25-87, pp. 113-16; lines 124-27, p. 118; lines 196-205, pp. 121-22;
lines 281-93, p.126. The metals included gold, silver, copper,
tin (lines 18, 196-99); timber included boxwood (lines 131, 203),
cedar/cypress (line 401), pine (line 403) and poplar "the
wood for chariots" (line 404), Cohen, pp. 131-32.
80 Enmerkar, lines
323-499, pp. 118-36; lines 500-505, pp. 136-37: "The emissary,
his mouth (being) heavy, was not able to repeat (it). The lord
of Kulaba patted clay and wrote the message like (on a present-
day) tablet. Formerly, the writing of messages on clay was not
established. Now, with [the sun god] Utu's bringing forth the
day, verily, this was so". This myth also refers to the confusion
of tongues, lines 150-55, p. 119.
81 S. N. Kramer, Sumerians,
pp. 272-73.
82 Ibid. pp. 273-74.
83 Cohen, pp. 23-24. The
timber cut by Gilgamesh and Enkidu was also transported south
by boat, see note 65 above.
84 Kramer, Sumerians,
pp. 275-76 places Mount Hurum "in the neighborhood of Lake
Van".