From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below. From the
great heaven the goddess set her mind on the great below. From the
great heaven Inana set her mind on the great below. My mistress
abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld.
Inana abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the
underworld.
She abandoned the office of en, abandoned the office of lagar, and
descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-ana in Unug, and
descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira,
and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Giguna in Zabalam,
and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-cara in Adab,
and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Barag-dur-jara in
Nibru, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the
Hursaj-kalama in Kic, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned
the E- Ulmac in Agade, and descended to the underworld.
(1 ms. adds
8 lines: She abandoned the Ibgal in Umma, and descended to the
underworld. She abandoned the E- Dilmuna in Urim, and descended to
the underworld. She abandoned the Amac-e-kug in Kisiga, and
descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-ecdam-kug in Jirsu,
and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-sig-mece-du in
Isin, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Anzagar in
Akcak, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the
Nijin-jar-kug in Curuppag, and descended to the underworld. She
abandoned the E-cag-hula in Kazallu, and descended to the
underworld.)
She took the seven divine powers. She collected the divine powers
and grasped them in her hand. With the good divine powers, she went
on her way. She put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her
head. She took a wig for her forehead. She hung small lapis-lazuli
beads around her neck.
She placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She covered her body
with a pala dress, the garment of ladyship. She placed mascara which
is called "Let a man come, let him come" on her eyes. She pulled the
pectoral which is called "Come, man, come" over her breast. She
placed a golden ring on her hand. She held the lapis-lazuli
measuring rod and measuring line in her hand.
Inana travelled towards the underworld. Her minister Nincubur
travelled behind her.
Holy Inana said to Nincubur: "Come my faithful minister of E-ana, my
minister who speaks fair words, my escort who speaks trustworthy
words (1 ms. has instead: I am going to give you instructions: my
instructions must be followed; I am going to say something to you:
it must be observed).
"On this day I will descend to the underworld. When I have arrived
in the underworld, make 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.
"Lacerate your eyes for me, lacerate your nose for me. (1 ms. adds
the line: Lacerate your ears for me, in public.) In private,
lacerate your buttocks for me. Like a pauper, clothe yourself in a
single garment and all alone set your foot in the E-kur, the house
of Enlil.
"When you have entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, lament before
Enlil: "Father Enlil, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the
underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the
dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be
split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be
chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady
Inana be killed in the underworld."
"If Enlil does not help you in this matter, go to Urim. In the
E-mud-kura at Urim, when you have entered the E-kic-nu-jal, the
house of Nanna, lament before Nanna: "Father Nanna, don't let anyone
kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal
be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your
precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't
let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood.
Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld."
"And if Nanna does not help you in this matter, go to Eridug. In
Eridug, when you have entered the house of Enki, lament before Enki:
"Father Enki, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld.
Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the
underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with
the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with
the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the
underworld."
"Father Enki, the lord of great wisdom, knows about the life-giving
plant and the life-giving water. He is the one who will restore me
to life."
When Inana travelled on towards the underworld, her minister
Nincubur travelled on behind her. She said to her minister Nincubur:
"Go now, my Nincubur, and pay attention. Don't neglect the
instructions I gave you."
When Inana arrived at the palace Ganzer, she pushed aggressively on
the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of
the underworld: "Open up, doorman, open up. Open up, Neti, open up.
I am all alone and I want to come in."
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: "Who
are you?" "I am Inana going to the east." "If you are Inana going to
the east, why have you travelled to the land of no return? How did
you set your heart on the road whose traveller never returns?"
Holy Inana answered him: "Because lord Gud-gal-ana, the husband of
my elder sister holy Erec-ki-gala, has died; in order to have his
funeral rites observed, she offers generous libations at his wake --
that is the reason."
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana:
"Stay here, Inana. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my
mistress Erec-ki-gala and tell her what you have said."
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, entered the house of his
mistress Erec-ki-gala and said: "My mistress, there is a lone girl
outside. It is Inana, your sister, and she has arrived at the palace
Ganzer. She pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She
shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld. She has
abandoned E-ana and has descended to the underworld.
"She has taken the seven divine powers. She has collected the divine
powers and grasped them in her hand. She has come on her way with
all the good divine powers. She has put a turban, headgear for the
open country, on her head. She has taken a wig for her forehead. She
has hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.
"She has placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She has covered
her body with the pala dress of ladyship. She has placed mascara
which is called "Let a man come" on her eyes. She has pulled the
pectoral which is called "Come, man, come" over her breast. She has
placed a golden ring on her hand. She is holding the lapis-lazuli
measuring rod and measuring line in her hand."
When she heard this, Erec-ki-gala slapped the side of her thigh. She
bit her lip and took the words to heart. She said to Neti, her chief
doorman: "Come Neti, my chief doorman of the underworld, don't
neglect the instructions I will give you. Let the seven gates of the
underworld be bolted. Then let each door of the palace Ganzer be
opened separately. As for her, after she has entered, and crouched
down and had her clothes removed, they will be carried away."
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, paid attention to the
instructions of his mistress. He bolted the seven gates of the
underworld. Then he opened each of the doors of the palace Ganzer
separately. He said to holy Inana: "Come on, Inana, and enter."
And when Inana entered, (1 ms. adds 2 lines: the lapis-lazuli
measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand, when
she entered the first gate,) the turban, headgear for the open
country, was removed from her head. "What is this?" "Be satisfied,
Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana,
you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld."
When she entered the second gate, the small lapis-lazuli beads were
removed from her neck. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a
divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must
not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld."
When she entered the third gate, the twin egg-shaped beads were
removed from her breast. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a
divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must
not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld."
When she entered the fourth gate, the "Come, man, come" pectoral was
removed from her breast. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a
divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must
not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld."
When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was removed from
her hand. "What is this?" "Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of
the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your
mouth against the rites of the underworld."
When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and
measuring line were removed from her hand. "What is this?" "Be
satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been
fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of
the underworld."
When she entered the seventh gate, the pala dress, the garment of
ladyship, was removed from her body. "What is this?" "Be satisfied,
Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana,
you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld."
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 Anuna, 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.
After three days and three nights had passed, her minister Nincubura
(2 mss. add 2 lines: , her minister who speaks fair words, her
escort who speaks trustworthy words,) carried out the instructions
of her mistress (1 ms. has instead 2 lines: did not forget her
orders, she did not neglect her instructions).
She made a lament for her in her ruined (houses). She beat the drum
for her in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the houses of the
gods for her. She lacerated her eyes for her, she lacerated her
nose. In private she lacerated her buttocks for her. Like a pauper,
she clothed herself in a single garment, and all alone she set her
foot in the E-kur, the house of Enlil.
When she had entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, she lamented
before Enlil: "Father Enlil, don't let anyone kill your daughter in
the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with
the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be
split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be
chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady
Inana be killed in the underworld."
In his rage father Enlil answered Nincubura: "My daughter craved the
great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved
the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine
powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be
craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who,
having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?"
Thus father Enlil did not help in this matter, so she went to Urim.
In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when she had entered the E-kic-nu-jal,
the house of Nanna, she lamented before Nanna: "Father Nanna, don't
let your daughter be killed in the underworld. Don't let your
precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld.
Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's
stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the
carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the
underworld."
In his rage father Nanna answered Nincubura: "My daughter craved the
great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved
the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine
powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be
craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who,
having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?"
Thus father Nanna did not help her in this matter, so she went to
Eridug. In Eridug, when she had entered the house of Enki, she
lamented before Enki: "Father Enki, don't let anyone kill your
daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed
there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis
lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood
be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady
Inana be killed in the underworld."
Father Enki answered Nincubura: "What has my daughter done? She has
me worried. What has Inana done? She has me worried. What has the
mistress of all the lands done? She has me worried. What has the
hierodule of An done? She has me worried." (1 ms. adds 1 line: Thus
father Enki helped her in this matter.) 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.
To the kur-jara he gave the life-giving plant. To the gala-tura he
gave the life-giving water.
Then father Enki spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-jara: " (1
ms. has instead the line: One of you sprinkle the life-giving plant
over her, and the other the life-giving water.) Go and direct your
steps to the underworld. Flit past the door like flies. Slip through
the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth,
Erec-ki-gala, on account of her children, is lying there. Her holy
shoulders are not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts are not full
like a cagan vessel. Her nails are like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The
hair on her head is bunched up as if it were leeks.
"When she says "Oh my heart", you are to say "You are troubled, our
mistress, oh your heart". When she says "Oh my liver", you are to
say "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver". (She will then
ask:) "Who are you? Speaking to you from my heart to your heart,
from my liver to your liver -- if you are gods, let me talk with
you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you." Make her
swear this by heaven and earth.
1 line fragmentary
"They will offer you a riverful of water -- don't accept it. They
will offer you a field with its grain -- don't accept it. But say to
her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." (She will answer:)
"That is the corpse of your queen." Say to her: "Whether it is that
of our king, whether it is that of our queen, give it to us." She
will give you the corpse hanging on the hook. One of you sprinkle on
it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. Thus
let Inana arise."
The gala-tura and the kur-jara paid attention to the instructions of
Enki. They flitted through the door like flies. They slipped through
the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth,
Erec-ki-gala, because of her children, was lying there. Her holy
shoulders were not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts were not
full like a cagan vessel. Her nails were like a pickaxe (?) upon
her. The hair on her head was bunched up as if it were leeks.
When she said "Oh my heart", they said to her "You are troubled, our
mistress, oh your heart". When she said "Oh my liver", they said to
her "You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver". (Then she
asked:) "Who are you? I tell you from my heart to your heart, from
my liver to your liver -- if you are gods, I will talk with you; if
you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you." They made her
swear this by heaven and earth. They .......
They were offered a river with its water -- they did not accept it.
They were offered a field with its grain -- they did not accept it.
They said to her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." Holy
Erec-ki-gala answered the gala-tura and the kur-jara: "The corpse is
that of your queen." They said to her: "Whether it is that of our
king or that of our queen, give it to us." They were given the
corpse hanging on the hook. One of them sprinkled on it the
life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. And thus
Inana arose.
Erec-ki-gala said to the gala-tura and the kur-jara: "Bring your
queen ......, your ...... has been seized." Inana, because of Enki's
instructions, was about to ascend from the underworld. But as Inana
was about to ascend from the underworld, the Anuna seized her: "Who
has ever ascended from the underworld, has ascended unscathed from
the underworld? If Inana is to ascend from the underworld, let her
provide a substitute for herself."
So when Inana left the underworld, the one in front of her, though
not a minister, held a sceptre in his hand; the one behind her,
though not an escort, carried a mace at his hip, while the small
demons, like a reed enclosure, and the big demons, like the reeds of
a fence, restrained her on all sides.
Those who accompanied her, those who accompanied Inana, know no
food, know no drink, eat no flour offering and drink no libation.
They accept no pleasant gifts. They never enjoy the pleasures of the
marital embrace, never have any sweet children to kiss. They tear
away the wife from a man's embrace. They snatch the son from a man's
knee. They make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law
(instead of lines 300-305, 1 ms. has 2 lines: They take the wife
away from a man's embrace. They take away the child hanging on a
wet-nurse's breasts). (1 ms. adds 3 lines: They crush no bitter
garlic. They eat no fish, they eat no leeks. They, it was, who
accompanied Inana.)
After Inana had ascended from the underworld, Nincubura threw
herself at her feet at the door of the Ganzer. She had sat in the
dust and clothed herself in a filthy garment. The demons said to
holy Inana: " Inana, proceed to your city, we will take her back."
Holy Inana answered the demons: "This is my minister of fair words,
my escort of trustworthy words. She did not forget my instructions.
She did not neglect the orders I gave her. She made a lament for me
on the ruin mounds. She beat the drum for me in the sanctuaries. She
made the rounds of the gods' houses for me. She lacerated her eyes
for me, lacerated her nose for me. (1 ms. adds 1 line: She lacerated
her ears for me in public.) In private, she lacerated her buttocks
for me. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment.
"All alone she directed her steps to the E-kur, to the house of
Enlil, and to Urim, to the house of Nanna, and to Eridug, to the
house of Enki. (1 ms. adds 1 line: She wept before Enki.) She
brought me back to life. How could I turn her over to you? Let us go
on. Let us go on to the Sig-kur-caga in Umma."
At the Sig-kur-caga in Umma, Cara, in his own city, threw himself at
her feet. He had sat in the dust and dressed himself in a filthy
garment. The demons said to holy Inana: " Inana, proceed to your
city, we will take him back."
Holy Inana answered the demons: " Cara is my singer, my manicurist
and my hairdresser. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on.
Let us go on to the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira."
At the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, Lulal, in his own city, threw
himself at her feet. He had sat in the dust and clothed himself in a
filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: " Inana, proceed to
your city, we will take him back."
Holy Inana answered the demons: "Outstanding Lulal follows me at my
right and my left. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on.
Let us go on to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba."
They followed her to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba.
There was Dumuzid clothed in a magnificent garment and seated
magnificently on a throne. The demons seized him there by his
thighs. The seven of them poured the milk from his churns. The seven
of them shook their heads like ....... They would not let the
shepherd play the pipe and flute before her (?).
She looked at him, it was the look of death. She spoke to him (?),
it was the speech of anger. She shouted at him (?), it was the shout
of heavy guilt: "How much longer? Take him away." Holy Inana gave
Dumuzid the shepherd into their hands.
Those who had accompanied her, who had come for Dumuzid, know no
food, know no drink, eat no flour offering, drink no libation. They
never enjoy the pleasures of the marital embrace, never have any
sweet children to kiss. They snatch the son from a man's knee. They
make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law.
Dumuzid let out a wail and turned very pale. The lad raised his
hands to heaven, to Utu: " Utu, you are my brother-in-law. I am your
relation by marriage. I brought butter to your mother's house. I
brought milk to Ningal's house. Turn my hands into snake's hands and
turn my feet into snake's feet, so I can escape my demons, let them
not keep hold of me."
Utu accepted his tears. (1 ms. adds 1 line: Dumuzid's demons could
not keep hold of him.) Utu turned Dumuzid's hands into snake's
hands. He turned his feet into snake's feet. Dumuzid escaped his
demons. (1 ms. adds 1 line: Like a sajkal snake he .......) They
seized .......
2 lines fragmentary
Holy Inana ...... her heart.
Holy Inana wept bitterly for her husband.
4 lines fragmentary
She tore at her hair like esparto grass, she ripped it out like
esparto grass. "You wives who lie in your men's embrace, where is my
precious husband? You children who lie in your men's embrace, where
is my precious child? Where is my man? Where ......? Where is my
man? Where ......?"
A fly spoke to holy Inana: "If I show you where your man is, what
will be my reward?" Holy Inana answered the fly: "If you show me
where my man is, I will give you this gift: I will cover ......."
The fly helped (?) holy Inana. The young lady Inana decreed the
destiny of the fly: "In the beer-house and the tavern (?), may there
...... for you. You will live (?) like the sons of the wise." Now
Inana decreed this fate and thus it came to be.
...... was weeping. She came up to the sister (?) and ...... by the
hand: "Now, alas, my ....... You for half the year and your sister
for half the year: when you are demanded, on that day you will stay,
when your sister is demanded, on that day you will be released."
Thus holy Inana gave Dumuzid as a substitute .......