The Descent of Inanna
Inanana is thought to be the most important goddesses of Mesopotamia. She was known as the goddess of love, fertility, and war as well as the Queen of Heaven. In the Sumerian Poem, The Descent of Inanna, Inanna had gone through a journey from heaven to earth and to the underworld with the goal of visiting her sister, Ereshkigal who is known as the Queen of the Dead. During her journey she was with her faithful servant, Ninshubur, only part of the way.
Before Inanna enters the underworld, she gives Ninshubur instructions on how to aide her if she fails to return from the underworld. Upon entering the underworld, Inanna brings with her, her scepter, the rod of power. She knocks on the gates of the underworld and demands entrance to which Neti the chief of gatekeeper questions her why would she want to go in. She says it because was she had witness her widowed sister's husband's death. Neti goes to Ereshkigal to deliver the news that her sister was at the gate, and Ereshkigal responded in a negative way. She tells Neti to bolt the seven gates of the underworld against Inanna, and for every gate Inanna has to pass through, she must take one of her royal clothing pieces off. Neti does as told, and Inanna was stripped naked when she entered Ereshkigal's room. The Anunna pass judgement against Inanna, and her sister killed her and hung her corpse on the wall.
After three days Ninshubur follows the instructions Inanna had given her and asked Enki, the father of Inanna, to help look for Inanna. Enki then sends out two "Gella", and the two sexless creatures enters the underworld and emphasizes with Ereshkigal's suffering and there, she gave them the gift of Inanna's corpse. Eventually, the two Gella restores Inanna with the Bread of Life and the Water of Life. However, the Sunmerian underworld has a "death law" that can not allow anyone to leave without having someone else stay in their place.
Therefore, they find Dumunzi in his throne and seize him, but he escapes twice and eventually was caught. Inanna then permits Dumunzi to stay in the underworld in return in Geshtina must stay the other half. The changing of season is connected to the switching places of Demunzi and Geshtina as well as the emerging of plants from the ground.
It is said that Inanna was the same Biblical Goddess Astharoth or Astarte.
Before Inanna enters the underworld, she gives Ninshubur instructions on how to aide her if she fails to return from the underworld. Upon entering the underworld, Inanna brings with her, her scepter, the rod of power. She knocks on the gates of the underworld and demands entrance to which Neti the chief of gatekeeper questions her why would she want to go in. She says it because was she had witness her widowed sister's husband's death. Neti goes to Ereshkigal to deliver the news that her sister was at the gate, and Ereshkigal responded in a negative way. She tells Neti to bolt the seven gates of the underworld against Inanna, and for every gate Inanna has to pass through, she must take one of her royal clothing pieces off. Neti does as told, and Inanna was stripped naked when she entered Ereshkigal's room. The Anunna pass judgement against Inanna, and her sister killed her and hung her corpse on the wall.
After three days Ninshubur follows the instructions Inanna had given her and asked Enki, the father of Inanna, to help look for Inanna. Enki then sends out two "Gella", and the two sexless creatures enters the underworld and emphasizes with Ereshkigal's suffering and there, she gave them the gift of Inanna's corpse. Eventually, the two Gella restores Inanna with the Bread of Life and the Water of Life. However, the Sunmerian underworld has a "death law" that can not allow anyone to leave without having someone else stay in their place.
Therefore, they find Dumunzi in his throne and seize him, but he escapes twice and eventually was caught. Inanna then permits Dumunzi to stay in the underworld in return in Geshtina must stay the other half. The changing of season is connected to the switching places of Demunzi and Geshtina as well as the emerging of plants from the ground.
It is said that Inanna was the same Biblical Goddess Astharoth or Astarte.
1. Mark, Joshua J. "Inanna's Descent: A Sumerian Tale of Injustice." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
2. "Mesopotamians And Their Gods." Mesopotamians And Their Gods. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
2. "Mesopotamians And Their Gods." Mesopotamians And Their Gods. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.