From the Great Above she opened her ear to the Great Below.
\nFrom the Great Above the goddess opened her ear to the Great Below.
\nFrom the Great Above Inanna opened her ear to the Great Below.<\/p>\n
My Lady abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld.
\nInanna abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld.
\nShe abandoned her office of holy priestess to descend to the underworld.<\/p>\n
In Uruk she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Badtibira she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Zabalam she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Adab she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Nippur she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Kish she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
\nIn Akkad she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.<\/p>\n
She gathered together the seven me<\/i>.
\nShe took them into her hands.
\nWith the me<\/i> in her possession, she prepared herself.<\/p>\n
She placed the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, on her head.
\nShe arranged the dark locks of hair across her forehead.
\nShe tied the small lapis beads around her neck,
\nLet the double strand of beads fall to her breast,
\nAnd wrapped the royal robe around her body.
\nShe daubed her eyes with ointment called “Let him come, let him come,”
\nBound the breastplate called “Come, man, come!” around her chest,
\nSlipped the gold ring over her wrist,
\nAnd took the lapis measuring rod and line in her hand.<\/p>\n
Inanna set out for the underworld.
\nNinshubur, her faithful servant, went with her.
\nInanna spoke to her, saying:<\/p>\n
“Ninshubur, my constant support,
\n My sukkal who gives me wise advice,
\n My warrior who fights by my side,
\n I am descending to the kur, to the underworld.
\n If I do not return,
\n Set up a lament for me by the ruins.
\n Beat the drum for me in the assembly places.
\n Circle the houses of the gods.
\n Tear at your eyes, at your mouth, at your thighs.
\n Dress yourself in a single garment like a beggar.
\n Go to Nippur, to the temple of Enlil.
\n When you enter his holy shrine, cry out:
\n ‘O Father Enlil, do not let your daughter
\n Be put to death in the underworld.
\n Do not let your bright silver
\n Be covered with the dust of the underworld.
\n Do not let your precious lapis
\n Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
\n Do not let your fragrant boxwood
\n Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
\n Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
\n Be put to death in the underworld.’<\/p>\n
If Enlil will not help you,
\n Go to Ur, to the temple of Nanna.
\n Weep before Father Nanna.
\n If Nanna will not help you,
\n Go to Eridu, to the temple of Enki.
\n Weep before Father Enki.
\n Father Enki, the God of Wisdom, knows the food of life,
\n He knows the water of life;
\n He knows the secrets.
\n Surely he will not let me die.”<\/p>\n
Inanna continued on her way to the underworld.
\nThen she stopped and said:
\n “Go now, Ninshubur –
\n Do not forget the words I have commanded you.”<\/p>\n
When Inanna arrived at the outer gates of the underworld,
\nShe knocked loudly.
\nShe cried out in a fierce voice:<\/p>\n
“Open, the door, gatekeeper!
\n “Open the door, Neti!”
\n I alone would enter!”<\/p>\n
Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the kur, asked:
\n “Who are you?”<\/p>\n
She answered:
\n “I am Inanna, Queen of Heaven,
\n On my way to the East.”<\/p>\n
Neti said:<\/p>\n
“If you are truly Inanna, Queen of Heaven,
\n On your way to the East,
\n Why has your heart led you on the road
\n From which no traveler returns?”<\/p>\n
Inanna answered:<\/p>\n
“Because . . . of my older sister, Ereshkigal,
\n Her husband, Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven, has died.
\n I have come to witness the funeral rites.
\n Let the beer of his funeral rites be poured into the cup.
\n Let it be done.<\/p>\n
Neti spoke:
\n “Stay here, Inanna, I will speak to my queen.
\n I will give her your message.”<\/p>\n
Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the kur,
\nEntered the palace of Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld, and said:<\/p>\n
“My queen, a maid
\n As tall as heaven,
\n As wide as the earth,
\n As strong as the foundations of the city wall,
\n Waits outside the palace gates.<\/p>\n
She has gathered together the seven me<\/i>.
\n She has taken them into her hands.
\n With the me<\/i> in her possession, she has prepared herself.<\/p>\n
On her head she wears the shugurra, the crown of the steppe.
\n Across her forehead her dark locks of hair are carefully arranged.
\n Around her neck she wears the small lapis beads.
\n At her breast she wears the double strand of beads.
\n Her body is wrapped with the royal robe.
\n Her eyes are daubed with the ointment called, ‘Let him come, let him come.’
\n Around her chest she wears the breastplate called ‘Come, man, come!’
\n On her wrist she wears the gold ring.
\n In her hand she carries the lapis measuring rod and line.”<\/p>\n
When Ereshkigal heard this,
\nShe slapped her thigh and bit her lip.
\nShe took the matter into her heart and dwelt on it.
\nThen she spoke:<\/p>\n
“Come, Neti, my chief gatekeeper of the kur,
\n Heed my words:
\n Bolt the seven gates of the underworld.
\n Then, one by one, open each gate a crack.
\n Let Inanna enter.
\n As she enters, remove her royal garments.
\n Let the holy priestess of heaven enter bowed low.”<\/p>\n
Neti heeded the words of his queen.
\nHe bolted the seven gates of the underworld.
\nThen he hopened the outer gate.
\nHe said to the maid:
\n “Come, Inanna, enter.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the first gate,
\nFrom her head, the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the second gate,
\nFrom her neck the small lapis beads were removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the third gate,
\nFrom her breast the double strand of beads was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the fourth gate,
\nFrom her chest the breastplate called “Come, man, come!” was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the fifth gate,
\nFrom her wrist the gold ring was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the sixth gate,
\nFrom her hand the lapis measuring rod and line was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
When she entered the seventh gate,
\nFrom her body the royal robe was removed.<\/p>\n
Inanna asked:
\n “What is this?”<\/p>\n
She was told:
\n “Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
\n They may not be questioned.”<\/p>\n
Naked and bowed low, Inanna entered the throne room.
\nEreshkigal rose from her throne.
\nInanna started toward the throne.
\nThe Annuna, the judges of the underworld, surrounded her.
\nThey passed judgment against her.<\/p>\n
Then Ereshkigal fastened on Inanna the eye of death.
\nShe spoke against her the word of wrath.
\nShe uttered against her the cry of guilt.<\/p>\n
She struck her.
\nInanna was turned into a corpse,
\nA piece of rotting meat,
\nAnd was hung from a hook on the wall.<\/p>\n
When, after three days and three nights, Inanna had not returned,
\nNinshubur set up a lament for her by the ruins.
\nShe beat the drum for her in the assembly places.
\nShe circled the houses of the gods.
\nShe tore at her eyes; she tore at her mouth; she tore at her thighs.
\nShe dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar.
\nAlone, she set out for Nippur and the temple of Enlil.<\/p>\n
When she entered the holy shrine,
\nShe cried out:<\/p>\n
“O Father Enlil, do not let your daughter
\n Be put to death in the underworld.
\n Do not let your bright silver
\n Be covered with the dust of the underworld.
\n Do not let your precious lapis
\n Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
\n Do not let your fragrant boxwood
\n Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
\n Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
\n Be put to death in the underworld.’<\/p>\n
Father Enlil answered angrily:<\/p>\n
“My daughter craved the Great Above.
\n Inanna craved the Great Below.
\n She who receives the me<\/i> of the underworld does not return.
\n She who goes to the Dark City stays there.”<\/p>\n
Father Enlil would not help.<\/p>\n
When she entered the holy shrine,
\nShe cried out:<\/p>\n
“O Father Nanna, do not let your daughter
\n Be put to death in the underworld.
\n Do not let your bright silver
\n Be covered with the dust of the underworld.
\n Do not let your precious lapis
\n Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
\n Do not let your fragrant boxwood
\n Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
\n Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
\n Be put to death in the underworld.’<\/p>\n
Father Enki said:<\/p>\n
“What has happened?
\n What has my daughter done?
\n Inanna! Queen of All the Lands! Holy Priestess of Heaven!
\n What has happened?
\n I am troubled. I am grieved.”<\/p>\n
From under his fingernail Father Enki brought forth dirt.
\nHe fashioned the dirt into a kurgarra, a creature neither male nor female.
\nFrom under the fingernail of his other hand he brought forth dirt.
\nHe fashioned the dirt into a galatur, a creature neither male nor female.<\/p>\n
He gave the food of life to the kurgarra.
\nHe gave the water of life to the galatur.
\nEnki spoke to the kurgarra and galatur, saying:<\/p>\n
“Go to the underworld,
\n Enter the door like flies.
\n Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld, is moaning
\n With the cries of a woman about to give birth.
\n No linen is spread over her body.
\n Her breasts are uncovered.
\n Her hair swirls about her head like leeks.
\n When she cries, ‘Oh! Oh! My inside!’
\n Cry also, ‘Oh! Oh! Your inside!’
\n When she cries, ‘Oh! Oh! My outside!’
\n Cry also, ‘Oh! Oh! Your outside!’
\n The queen will be pleased.
\n She will offer you a gift.
\n Ask her only for the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall.
\n One of you will sprinkle the food of life on it.
\n The other will sprinkle the water of life.
\n Inanna will arise.”<\/p>\n
The kurgarra and the galatur heeded Enki’s words.
\nThey set out for the underworld.
\nLike flies, they slipped through the cracks of the gates.
\nThey entered the throne room of the Queen of the Underworld.
\nNo linen was spread over her body.
\nHer breasts were uncovered.
\nHer hair swirled around her head like leeks.<\/p>\n
Ereshkigal was moaning:
\n “Oh! Oh! My inside!”<\/p>\n
They moaned:
\n “Oh! Oh! Your inside!”<\/p>\n
She moaned:
\n “Ohhhh! Oh! My outside!”<\/p>\n
They moaned:
\n “Ohhhh! Oh! Your outside!”<\/p>\n
She groaned:
\n “Oh! Oh! My belly!”<\/p>\n
They groaned:
\n “Oh! Oh! Your belly!”<\/p>\n
She groaned:
\n “Oh! Ohhhh! My back!”<\/p>\n
They groaned:
\n “Oh! Ohhhh! Your back!”<\/p>\n
She sighed:
\n “Ah! Ah! My heart!”<\/p>\n
They sighed:
\n “Ah! Ah! Your heart!”<\/p>\n
She sighed:
\n “Ah! Ahhhh! My liver!”<\/p>\n
They sighed:
\n “Ah! Ahhhh! Your liver!”<\/p>\n
Ereshkigal stopped.
\nShe looked at them.
\nShe asked:<\/p>\n
“Who are you,
\n Moaning – groaning – sighing with me?
\n If you are gods, I will bless you.
\n If you are mortals, I will give you a gift.
\n I will give you the water-gift, the river in its fullness.”<\/p>\n
The kurgarra and galatur answered:
\n “We do not wish it.”<\/p>\n
Ereshkigal said:
\n “I will give you the grain-gift, the fields in harvest.”<\/p>\n
The kurgarra and galatur said:
\n “We do not wish it.”<\/p>\n
Ereshkigal said:
\n “Speak then! What do you wish?”<\/p>\n
They answered:
\n “We wish only the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall.”<\/p>\n
Ereshkigal said:
\n “The corpse belongs to Inanna.”<\/p>\n
They said:<\/p>\n
“Whether it belongs to our queen,
\n Whether it belongs to our king,
\n That is what we wish.”<\/p>\n
The corpse was given to them.<\/p>\n
The kurgarra sprinkled the food of life on the corpse.
\nThe galatur sprinkled the water of life on the corpse.
\nInanna arose. . . .<\/p>\n
Inanna was about to ascend from the underworld
\nWhen the Annuna, the judges of the underworld, seized her.
\nThey said:
\n “No one ascends from the underworld unmarked.
\n If Inanna wishes to return from the underworld,
\n She must provide someone in her place.”<\/p>\n
As Inanna ascended from the underworld,
\nThe galla, the demons of the underworld, clung to her.
\nThe galla were demons who know no food, who know no drink,
\nWho eat no offerings, who drink no libations,
\nWho accept no gifts.
\nThey enjoy no lovemaking.
\nThey have no sweet children to kiss.
\nThey tear the wife from the husband’s arms,
\nThey tear the child from the father’s knees,
\nThey steal the bride from her marriage home.<\/p>\n
The demons clung to Inanna.
\nThe small galla who accompanied Inanna
\nWere like reeds the size of low picket fences.
\nThe large galla who accompanied Inanna
\nWere like reeds the size of high picket fences.<\/p>\n
The one who walked in front of Inanna was not a minister,
\nYet he carried a sceptre.
\nThe one who walked behind her was not a warrior,
\nYet he carried a mace.
\nNinshubur, dressed in a soiled sackcloth,
\nWaited outside the palace gates.
\nWhen she saw Inanna
\nSurrounded by the galla,
\nShe threw herself in the dust at Inanna’s feet.<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n “Walk on, Inanna,
\n We will take Ninshubur in your place.”<\/p>\n
Inanna cried:<\/p>\n
“No! Ninshubur is my constant support.
\n She is my sukkal who gives me wise advice.
\n She is my warrior who fights by my side.
\n She did not forget my words.<\/p>\n
She set up a lament for me by the ruins.
\n She beat the drum for me at the assembly places.
\n She circled the houses of the gods.
\n She tore at her eyes, at her mouth, at her thighs.
\n She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar.<\/p>\n
Alone, she set out for Nippur and the temple of Enlil.
\n She went to Ur and the temple of Nanna.
\n She went to Eridu and the temple of Enki.
\n Because of her, my life was saved.
\n I will never give Ninshubur to you.”<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n “Walk on, Inanna,
\n We will accompany you to Umma.”<\/p>\n
In Umma, at the holy shrine,
\nShara, the son of Inanna, was dressed in a soiled sackcloth.
\nWhen he saw Inanna
\nSurrounded by the galla,
\nHe threw himself in the dust at her feet.<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n “Walk on to your city, Inanna,
\n We will take Shara in your place.”<\/p>\n
Inanna cried:<\/p>\n
“No! Not Shara!
\n He is my son who sings hymns to me!
\n He is my son who cuts my nails and smooths my hair.
\n I will never give Shara to you.”<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n “Walk on, Inanna,
\n We will accompany you to Badtibira.”<\/p>\n
In Badtibira, at the holy shrine,
\nLulal, the son of Inanna, was dressed in a soiled sackcloth.
\nWhen he saw Inanna
\nSurrounded by the galla,
\nHe threw himself in the dust at her feet.<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n “Walk on to your city, Inanna,
\n We will take Lulal in your place.”<\/p>\n
Inanna cried:<\/p>\n
“Not Lulal! He is my son.
\n He is a leader among men.
\n He is my right arm. He is my left arm.
\n I will never give Lulal to you.”<\/p>\n
The galla said:
\n Walk on to your city, Inanna.
\n We will go with you to the big apple tree in Uruk.”<\/p>\n
In Urukk, by the big apple tree,
\nDumuzi, the husband of Inanna, was dressed in his shining me<\/i>-garments.
\nHe sat on his magnificent throne; (he did not move).<\/p>\n
The galla seized him by his thighs.
\nThey poured milk out of his seven churns.
\nThey broke the reed pipe which the shepherd was playing.<\/p>\n
Inanna fastened on Dumuzi the eye of death.
\nShe spoke against him the word of wrath.
\nShe uttered against him the cry of guilt:
\n “Take him! Take Dumuzi away!”<\/p>\n
The galla, who know no food, who know no drink,
\nWho eat no offerings, who drink no libations,
\nWho accept no gifts, seized Dumuzi.
\nThey made him stand up; they made him sit down.
\nThey beat the husband of Inanna.
\nThey gashed him with axes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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