Inanna's Descent to the Netherworld

The plot of the myth takes place during Dumuzi's lifetime. According to the Sumerian King List, Dumuzi was an antediluvian king and shepherd of the people. The Flood has been dated to around 2900 BCE on the basis of deposits. The plot of the myth can therefore be dated to the time before that. On the other hand, the myth cannot be older than the cities Nippur (founded around 4000 BCE), Ur (founded around 4000 BCE), Uruk (founded around 4000 BCE) and Eridu (founded around 5400 BCE). Since the myth states explicitely that Inanna had to leave her temple in Uruk, it can be assumed that a catastrophe happened in Uruk while Inanna was temporarily dead. This catastrophe was probably the Flood, which was dated to 2900 BCE.

In order to obtain the most complete version possible, the following text combines the translations by D. Wolkenstein and S. N. Kramer with other translations. To improve readability, it was written in prose, some repetitions have been removed, and some of the wording was changed. Missing passages were sensibly supplemented.

Translation

Preparation for the Descent

From the great above, Inanna, the goddess, directed her thoughts to the great below. Inanna, my mistress, left the heavens, left the earth and descended to the netherworld. In Uruk and Kish, she left her temples to descend to the netherworld. She also left her temples in Badtibira, Zabalam, Adab, Nippur and Akkad to descend to the netherworld.

She took the seven divine powers with her. She gathered the divine powers and took them into her hand. With the divine powers in her possession, she prepared herself: She placed the Shugurra, the crown for the open land, on her head. She arranged the dark strands of hair on her forehead. She tied the small lapis beads around her neck. She let the double strand of beads fall on her chest and wrapped the royal robe around her body. She dabbed her eyes with an ointment called "Let the man come, let him come". She tied the breastplate with the inscription "Come, man, come!" around her chest, slipped the golden ring over her wrist and took the measuring stick and the cord of lapis in her hand.

Inanna set off for the netherworld. Ninshubur, her faithful servant, went with her. Inanna spoke to her and said:

"Come, my faithful servant of E-ana, the temple of Uruk. Ninshubur, my support, my sukkal, I will give you instructions: they must be followed.

On this day I will descend to the netherworld. When I arrive in the netherworld, you shall sing a lament for me on the ruin mounds. Beat the drum for me in the sanctuary. Make the rounds of the houses of the gods for me. Scratch your eyes, your mouth and your thighs. Dress yourself like a beggar in a single garment and go to Nippur, to the temple of Enlil. When you have entered the temple of Enlil, lament before him:

'O father Enlil, do not allow your daughter to perish in the netherworld. Do not allow your shining silver to be covered with dust in the netherworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your fragrant boxwood be cut into wood for the woodworker. Don't let the young woman, the holy Inanna, die in the netherworld.

If Enlil won't help you, go to Ur, to the temple of Nanna. Weep before father Nanna. If Nanna will not help you, go to Eridu, to the temple of Enki. Weep before father Enki. Father Enki, the god of wisdom, knows the life-giving food, he knows the life-giving water, he knows the secret of life. Surely he will not let me die."

Inanna continued on her way to the netherworld. Then she stopped and said:

"Go now, Ninshubur - do not forget what I have commanded you."

Entering the Netherworld

When Inanna arrived at the outer gates of the netherworld, she knocked loudly. She called out in a loud voice:

"Open up, gatekeeper, open up. Open up, Neti, open up. I am all alone and want to come in."

Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, answered holy Inanna:

"Who are you?"

She replied:

"I am Inanna, Queen of Heaven, on my way to the East."

Neti said:

"If you are Inanna going to the East, why have you traveled to the land of no return? Why has your heart led you on the road from which no traveler returns?"

Holy Inanna answered him:

"Because Lord Gugalanna, the husband of my elder sister, the saintly Ereshkigal, has died. To ensure that his funeral rites are observed, she offers generous libations at his wake - that is the reason."

Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, replied to the holy Inanna:

"Stay here, Inanna. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my mistress Ereshkigal. I will deliver your message to her."

Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, entered the house of his mistress Ereshkigal and said:

"My lady, there is a girl outside. It is Inanna, your sister. She has arrived at Ganzer's palace. She knocked loudly. She called out in a loud voice and asked to be let in. She abandoned E-ana and came to descend into the netherworld.

She took the seven divine powers with her. She gathered the divine powers and held them in her hand. She set off with all the good divine powers. On her head she wears the Shurgarra, the crown for the open land. The dark strands of hair are carefully arranged over her forehead. Around her neck she wears the small lapis beads. On her chest she wears the double strand of pearls. Her body is wrapped in the royal robe. Her eyes are sprinkled with the ointment "Let the man come, let him come". Around her chest she wears the breastplate with the inscription "Come, man, come!". She wears the gold ring on her wrist. In her hand she carries the measuring stick and the cord of lapis."

When Ereshkigal heard this, she slapped her thigh and bit her lips. She took the words to heart and thought about them. She said to Neti, her chief gatekeeper:

"Come Neti, my chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, follow the instructions I will give you. Lock the seven gates of the netherworld. Then each gate of the palace of Ganzer shall be opened individually. Let Inanna enter. When she enters, take off her royal robes. When she has entered, they will be carried away."

Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, followed his mistress's instructions. He locked the seven gates of the netherworld. Then he opened the outer gate. He said to the holy Inanna:

"Come, Inanna, and enter."

And as Inanna entered, the shurgarra, the crown for the open land, was taken from her head. Inanna asked:

"What is this?"

Neti answered her:

"Be quiet, Inanna, the rites of the netherworld are perfect. They must not be questioned."

When she entered the second gate, the small lapis lazuli beads were taken from her neck. When she entered the third gate, the double strand of pearls was taken from her chest. When she entered the fourth gate, the breastplate with the inscription "Come, man, come" was taken from her chest. When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was taken from her wrist. When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis lazuli measuring stick and the measuring cord were taken from her hand. When she entered the seventh gate, the royal robe was taken from her body. After she had taken off her clothes, they were carried away.

Inanna entered the throne room naked. Ereshkigal rose from her throne. Inanna walked towards it. The Annuna, the seven judges of the netherworld, surrounded her. They pronounced judgment on her. They looked at her - it was the look of death. They spoke to her - it was the speech of wrath. They shouted at her - it was the cry of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook.

The Request of Ninshubur

When Inanna did not return after three days and three nights, Ninshubur carried out the instructions of her mistress. Ninshubur sang a lament for her at the ruins. She beat the drum for her in the sanctuary. She made the rounds of the houses of the gods for her. She scratched her eyes, mouth and thighs. She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar woman. Alone, she made her way to Nippur and the temple of Enlil. When she entered the holy sanctuary, she lamented before Enlil:

"Oh, father Enlil, do not allow your daughter to die in the netherworld. Don't let your shining silver be covered with dust in the netherworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your fragrant boxwood be cut into wood for the woodworker. Don't let the young woman, the holy Inanna, die in the netherworld."

Father Enlil replied angrily:

"My daughter longed for the great heaven and she longed for the great netherworld. The divine powers of the netherworld are divine powers that should not be coveted, for whoever obtains them must remain in the netherworld. Who, having gone there, could expect to come back up again?"

Father Enlil did not want to help. Ninshubur went to Ur and to the temple of Nanna. When she entered the holy sanctuary, she lamented before Nanna with the same words. But Nanna would not help either. Ninshubur went to Eridu, to the temple of Enki. When she entered the holy shrine, she lamented:

"Oh, father Enki, don't let your daughter die in the netherworld. Don't let your shining silver be covered with dust in the netherworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your fragrant boxwood be cut into wood for the woodworker. Don't let the young woman, the holy Inanna, die in the netherworld."

Father Enki replied to Ninshubur:

"What has happened? What has my daughter done? Inanna, the mistress of all lands! Holy priestess of heaven! What has happened? I am troubled, I am grieved."

Enki helped Inanna. He removed some dirt from the tip of his fingernail and created the Kur-Jara. He removed some dirt from the tip of his other fingernail and created the Gala-Tura. He gave the Kur-Jara the life-giving plant. To the Gala-Tura he gave the life-giving water. Then Father Enki spoke to the Gala-Tura and the Kur-Jara:

"Go to the netherworld, buzz through the gate like flies, slip through the door pins like ghosts. Ereshkigal, the queen of the netherworld, moans with the cries of a woman about to give birth. No linen covers her sacred shoulders, her breasts are bare. Her hair is bundled up like leeks. When she lies there and moans, moan with her. The queen will be pleased. She will then ask: 'Who are you? If you are gods, then let me speak to you. If you are mortals, then may a destiny be decreed for you. ' Let her swear this by heaven and earth. She will give you a gift. Just ask her for the corpse hanging on the hook on the wall. One of you will sprinkle the life-giving food on it, the other will pour the life-giving water on it. Inanna will rise from the dead."

The Rescue of Inanna

The Gala-Tura and the Kur-Jara followed Enki's instructions. They buzzed through the gate like flies. Like ghosts, they slipped through the door pins and reached the throne room. The birthing Ereshkigal lay there and screamed. No linen covered her sacred shoulders, her breasts were bare. Her hair was bundled like leeks. As Ereshkigal moaned, the gala-tura and the kur-jara moaned with her [thereby taking away her pain]. Ereshkigal paused. She looked at them. She asked:

"Who are you who moan - groan - sigh with me? If you are gods, I will bless you. If you are mortals, I will give you a gift."

They made her swear this by heaven and earth. She offered them a river with its water - they did not accept it. She offered them a field with its grain - they did not accept it. They said to her:

"We only wish for the corpse hanging on the hook on the wall."

The holy Ereshkigal replied to the Gala-Tura and the Kur-Jara:

"The corpse is that of Inanna."

They said to her:

"Even if it were our king's or our queen's. This is what we want."

They were given the body, which was hanging on a hook. The Kur-Jara sprinkled it with the life-giving food, the Gala-Tura poured the life-giving water over it, and so Inanna arose. Inanna was about to ascend from the netherworld when the Annuna, the judges of the netherworld, seized her. They said:

"Who has ever risen from the netherworld, risen from the netherworld unharmed? If Inanna wants to return from the netherworld, she must put someone in her place."

When Inanna left the netherworld, the one who went before her, although he was not a minister, held a sceptre in his hand. The one who walked behind her, although he was not an escort, carried a mace at his hip, while the galla, the little demons of the netherworld, accompanied her.

The galla are demons who know no food or drink, who eat no offerings, drink no libations and accept no gifts. They do not enjoy lovemaking. They have no sweet children to kiss. They snatch the wife from the arms of the husband, they snatch the child from the knees of the father, they steal the bride from her marital home. They take away the child hanging from the breasts of a wet nurse. The demons, as big as reeds, clung to Inanna.

Inanna's Search for a Substitute

Ninshubur, dressed in dirty sackcloth, waited outside the gate of the netherworld. When she saw Inanna surrounded by the galla, she threw herself into the dust at Inanna's feet. The galla spoke:

"Go on Inanna, we will take Ninshubur in your place."

Inanna shouted:

"No! Ninshubur is my constant support. She is my sukkal who gives me wise advice. She is my warrior who fights by my side. She has not forgotten my words. She sang a lament for me at the ruins. She beat the drum for me in the gathering places. She circled the houses of the gods. She scratched her eyes, her mouth, and her thighs. She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar woman. Alone, she made her way to Nippur, to the temple of Enlil. She went to Ur, to the temple of Nanna. She went to Eridu, to the temple of Enki. She saved my life. I will never give you Ninshubur."

The galla said:

"Go on, Inanna, we will accompany you to Umma."

In Umma, at the holy shrine, Shara, the son of Inanna, was dressed in a dirty sackcloth. When he saw Inanna surrounded by the galla, he threw himself into the dust at her feet. The galla said:

"Go on to your city, Inanna, we will take Shara in your place."

Inanna screamed:

"No! Not Shara! He is my son who sings me hymns. He is my son who cuts my nails and straightens my hair. I will never give Shara to you."

The galla said:

"Go on, Inanna, we will accompany you to Badtibira."

In Badtibira, at the holy shrine, Lulal, the son of Inanna, was dressed in a dirty sackcloth. When he saw Inanna surrounded by the Galla, he threw himself into the dust at her feet. The Galla said:

"Go on, Inanna, we will take Lulal in your place."

Inanna shouted:

"No, not Lulal. He is my son. He is a leader among men. He is my right arm. He is my left arm. I will never give you Lulal."

The Galla said:

"Go on to your city, Inanna. We will go with you to the great apple tree in Uruk."

There was Dumuzi, the husband of Inanna, dressed in a splendid robe. He sat on his magnificent throne and played his flute. When Inanna saw this, she became angry. Inanna looked at him, it was the look of death. She spoke to him, it was the speech of anger. She shouted at him:

"How much longer? Take him away. Take Dumuzi away!"

The holy Inanna delivered Dumuzi the shepherd into the hands of the galla. The demons grabbed him by his thighs. Seven of them poured the milk from his jugs. They broke the reed flute on which the shepherd was playing. Dumuzid let out a scream and turned pale. He raised his hands to the sky, to Utu:

"Utu, you are my brother-in-law, I am your sister's husband. I brought butter to your mother's house. I have brought milk to Ningal's house. Utu, you who are a just God, a merciful God, turn my hands into the hands of a serpent. Turn my feet into the feet of a serpent. Let me escape from my demons, do not let them hold me."

The merciful Utu accepted the tears of Dumuzi. He turned Dumuzi's hands into snake hands. He turned Dumuzi's feet into snake feet. Dumuzi fled from the demons. They could not hold him.

When holy Inanna came to her senses, she wept bitterly for her husband. She tore at her hair like esparto grass, she tore it out like esparto grass. She cried out:

"You wives who lie in the embrace of your husbands, where is my precious husband? You children who lie in the embrace of your parents, where is my precious child? Where is my husband? Where?"

A fly spoke to holy Inanna:

"If I show you where your husband is, what will be my reward?"

Holy Inanna answered the fly:

"If you show me where my husband is, I will give you a gift."

The fly helped holy Inanna. The young lady Inanna determined the fly's fate:

"In the alehouse and in the tavern, may there always be food for you. You will live like the sons of the wise."

Now Inanna decreed this fate and so it happened. Inanna found Dumuzi. But she still had to appoint someone to go to the netherworld in her place. Dumuzi's sister Geshtinanna volunteered to go in his place. And so it was decided that Dumuzi would spend half the year in the netherworld and Geshtinanna the other half. Holy Inanna then decreed the fates of Dumuzi and Geshtinanna:

"You, Dumuzi, will spend one half of the year and your sister the other half of the year in the netherworld. On the day you choose, you will be resurrected. On the day your sister chooses, that is the day she will be resurrected."

And so Inanna, the pure one, gave Dumuzi as her representative.

Interpretation

The reason why Inanna descended into the netherworld was probably curiosity. She is known as a fearless woman who is not deterred by convention.

She took the insignia of her power with her to the netherworld because she believed they would protect her. Ereshkigal, the queen of the netherworld, found out about this and devised a ruse to take these insignia from her and steal them. The insignia were therefore not her protection, but her undoing.

In the netherworld, Inanna was sentenced to death. In order to get out of the netherworld again, she had to appoint a person to go into the netherworld in her place. She chose the one who did not mourn her: her husband Dumuzi. She later regretted the decision and revised it in so far as Dumuzi only had to go to the netherworld for half of the year, while his sister Geshtinanna spends the other half of the year there. As Dumuzi can be seen as the god of vegetation and Geshtinanna as the goddess of vine, it is assumed that this act should explain the seasons.

The paragraph in which she leaves her temples differs from version to version and was probably added later.