Editing Inanna (section)

===Sumerian version===

In [[Sumerian religion]], the ''[[Kur]]'' or underworld was ruled by the goddess [[Ereshkigal]], the "sister" of Inanna.{{sfnp|Black|Green|1992|page=77}} The text itself does not explicitly state the motivation of Inanna's descent. However, [[Hylistics|hylistic]] myth research could show that at least one variant of the myth processed in the text relates to Inanna demanding the ''me'' (divine powers/rituals) of the netherworld, in which she finally succeeds.<ref>{{Citation |last=Zgoll |first=Annette |title=Mythische Sphärenwechsel |chapter=Durch Tod zur Macht, selbst über den Tod |date=2019-11-18 |pages=83–160 |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110652543-003/html |access-date=2024-03-25 |publisher=De Gruyter |language=de |doi=10.1515/9783110652543-003 |isbn=978-3-11-065254-3}}</ref>

Before leaving, Inanna instructs her minister and servant [[Ninshubur]] to plead with the deities [[Enlil]], [[Sin (mythology)|Nanna]], [[Anu|An]], and [[Enki]] to rescue her if she does not return after three days.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=86–87}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=17}} The laws of the underworld dictate that, with the exception of appointed messengers, those who enter it may never leave.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=86–87}} Inanna dresses elaborately for the visit; she wears a turban, wig, [[lapis lazuli]] necklace, beads upon her breast, the '''pala'' dress' (the ladyship garment), mascara, a pectoral, and golden ring, and holds a lapis lazuli [[measuring rod]].{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=88}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=56}} Each garment is a representation of a powerful ''me'' she possesses.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=157}}

Inanna pounds on the gates of the underworld, demanding to be let in.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=90}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=54–55}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=17}} The gatekeeper [[Neti (deity)|Neti]] asks her why she has come{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=90}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=55}} and Inanna replies that she wishes to attend the funeral rites of [[Gugalanna]], the "husband of my elder sister Ereshkigal".{{sfnp|Black|Green|1992|page=77}}{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=90}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=55}} Neti reports this to Ereshkigal,{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=91}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=56–57}} who tells him: "Bolt the seven gates of the underworld. Then, one by one, open each gate a crack. Let Inanna enter. As she enters, remove her royal garments."{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=57}} Perhaps Inanna's garments, unsuitable for a funeral, along with Inanna's haughty behavior, make Ereshkigal suspicious.{{sfnp|Kilmer|1971|pages=299–309}} Following Ereshkigal's instructions, Neti tells Inanna she may enter the first gate of the underworld, but she must hand over her lapis lazuli measuring rod. She asks why, and is told, "It is just the ways of the underworld." She obliges and passes through. Inanna passes through a total of seven gates, at each one removing a piece of clothing or jewelry she had been wearing at the start of her journey,{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=87}} thus stripping her of her power.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=157–159}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=17}} When she arrives in front of her sister, she is naked:{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=157–159}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=17}}

{{blockquote|After she had crouched down and had her clothes removed, they were carried away. Then she made her sister Erec-ki-gala rise from her throne, and instead she sat on her throne. The [[Anunnaki|Anna]], the seven judges, rendered their decision against her. They looked at her – it was the look of death. They spoke to her – it was the speech of anger. They shouted at her – it was the shout of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Black|first1=Jeremy|last2=Cunningham|first2=Graham|last3=Flückiger-Hawker|first3=Esther|last4=Robson|first4=Eleanor|last5=Taylor|first5=John|last6=Zólyomi|first6=Gábor|title=Inana's descent to the netherworld|url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr141.htm|website=Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature|publisher=Oxford University|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref>}}

Three days and three nights pass, and Ninshubur, following instructions, goes to the temples of [[Enlil]], [[Nanna (Sumerian deity)|Nanna]], [[Anu|An]], and [[Enki]], and pleads with each of them to rescue Inanna.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=93–94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=61–64}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|pages=17–18}} The first three deities refuse, saying Inanna's fate is her own fault,{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=93–94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=61–62}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} but Enki is deeply troubled and agrees to help.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=62–63}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} He creates two sexless figures named ''gala-tura'' and the ''kur-jara'' from the dirt under the fingernails of two of his fingers.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=64}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} He instructs them to appease Ereshkigal{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=64}} and, when she asks them what they want, ask for the corpse of Inanna, which they must sprinkle with the food and water of life.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=94}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=64}} When they come before Ereshkigal, she is in agony like a woman giving birth.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=65–66}} She offers them whatever they want, including life-giving rivers of water and fields of grain, if they can relieve her,{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|page=65}} but they refuse all of her offers and ask only for Inanna's corpse.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=65–66}} The ''gala-tura'' and the ''kur-jara'' sprinkle Inanna's corpse with the food and water of life and revive her.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=94–95}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=67–68}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}}

The Sumerian text connects the myth of Inanna's descent with one variant of the myth concerning the death of Dumuzi: ''[[Gallu|Galla]]'' demons sent by Ereshkigal follow Inanna out of the underworld, insisting that someone else must be taken to the underworld as Inanna's replacement.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=95}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=68–69}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} They first come upon Ninshubur and attempt to take her,{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=95}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=68–69}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} but Inanna stops them, insisting that Ninshubur is her loyal servant and that she had rightfully mourned for her while she was in the underworld.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=95}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=68–69}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} They next come upon Shara, Inanna's beautician, who is still in mourning.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|pages=95–96}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=69–70}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} The demons attempt to take him, but Inanna insists that they may not, because he had also mourned for her.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=96}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=70}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} The third person they come upon is Lulal, who is also in mourning.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=96}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=70–71}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} The demons try to take him, but Inanna stops them once again.{{sfnp|Kramer|1961|page=96}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=70–71}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}}

[[File:Dumuzi aux enfers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Ancient Sumerian [[cylinder seal]] impression showing [[Dumuzid the Shepherd|Dumuzid]] being tortured in the underworld by the ''[[gallu|galla]]'' demons]]

Finally, they come upon Dumuzi, Inanna's husband.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=71–73}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}} Despite Inanna's fate, and in contrast to the other individuals who were properly mourning her, Dumuzi is lavishly clothed and resting beneath a tree, or upon her throne, entertained by slave-girls. Inanna, displeased, decrees that the ''galla'' shall take him.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=71–73}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}}{{sfnp|Tinney|2018|page=86}} The ''galla'' then drag Dumuzi down to the underworld.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=71–73}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}}

Another text known as ''Dumuzi's Dream'' (ETCSL [http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr143.htm 1.4.3]) describes Dumuzi's repeated attempts to evade capture by the ''galla'' demons, an effort in which he is aided by the sun-god Utu.{{sfnp|Tinney|2018|pages=85–86}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=74–84}}{{efn|''Dumuzid's Dream'' is attested in seventy-five known sources, fifty-five of which come from [[Nippur]], nine from [[Ur]], three probably from the region around [[Sippar]], one each from [[Uruk]], [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]], [[Shaduppum]], and [[Susa]].{{sfnp|Tinney|2018|page=86}}}} In the Sumerian poem ''The Return of Dumuzid'', which begins where ''The Dream of Dumuzid'' ends, Dumuzid's sister [[Geshtinanna]] laments continually for days and nights over Dumuzid's death, joined by Inanna, who has apparently experienced a change of heart, and [[Sirtur]], Dumuzid's mother.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=85–87}} The three goddesses mourn continually until a [[fly]] reveals to Inanna the location of her husband.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=87–89}} Together, Inanna and Geshtinanna go to the place where the fly has told them they will find Dumuzid.{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=88–89}} They find him there and Inanna decrees that, from that point onwards, Dumuzid will spend half of the year with her sister Ereshkigal in the underworld and the other half of the year in Heaven with her, while his sister Geshtinanna takes his place in the underworld.{{sfnp|Kramer|1966|page=31}}{{sfnp|Penglase|1994|page=18}}{{sfnp|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=85–89}}