My lady abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld. Feb 27, 2020 in the ancient mesopotamian kingdom of sumer, inanna was known as a powerful goddess of war, sex, and the dispensation of justice. Inasmuch as inannas light, glory, and movement had been, to some extent, achieved at ereshkigals expense, the queen on the underworld is enraged at inannas appearance. This is a poetic interpretation of an ancient mesopotamian and sumerian myth detailing the descent of inanna, the goddess of love, war, and fertility, into the underworld as the only being ever to have entered this realm and emerged alive. Based on their behavior they could be afforded better treatment or positions in the underworld.
The beings that the gods had created would all be extinct. He was the bull killed by gilgamesh and enkidu in the epic of gilgamesh. And today, we tell this tale once more our story begins with inanna, one of the most popular mesopotamian. Inanna abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld. Lxrian descent of ishtar inannas counterpart is a much shorter uersion of the same. Inanna ishtars most famous myth is the story of her descent into and return from kur, the ancient sumerian underworld, a myth in which she attempts to conquer the domain of her older sister ereshkigal, the queen of the underworld, but is instead deemed guilty of hubris by the seven judges of the underworld and struck dead. The poem begins famously with the lines, from the great above she opened her ear to the great below. Naked and bowed low, inanna entered the throne room. This is where this become heated to the core inanna suddenly feels her rage. From the great heaven the goddess set her mind on the great below. Inannas sister erishkegal grieved for her husband inanna, went through seven gates leaving behind everything until she stood naked erishkagel looked upon her sister with the eye of death. In this myth, ninshubur plays a similar role to isimud, who acts as enkis messenger to inanna. Interpretation of inannas descent myth from the great above inanna opened her ear to the great below. They begin by healing the pain and anger of the dark sister, erishkigal.
Day six of inannas descent into the underworld at this gate she removes her hip girdle symbolic of any restrictions to her sacral chakra. He knew this was because of ishtars descent into the underworld, but he also knew that his power was not great enough to overcome irkalla. Although the descent of inanna is a short work it runs to little over 400 lines, making it a little shorter than a poem like the waste land, it contains many of the elements we associate with epic poetry such as the descent into the. Aug 17, 20 inanna learns that her sister, ereshkigal queen of the underworld, is mourning the death of her husband, gudgalana. Download inanna s way ruth krall 2016 inannas wayruthkrall2016. When it doescatastrophicallythe rescue plan has dire consequences for the natural world. Who would have thought that in the earliest recorded story of a descent to death in underworld, followed. Inanna, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld. By the time written narrative developed in mesopotamia around 3000 b. The descent of inanna from the great above she opened her ear to the great below.
Inanna s way bears testimony to the life force th at flows in and through each one of us and that will continue to flow when any one of us has returned our bodies to the dust from which we were created. This is the story of inanna, the ancient myth that predates the male gods, such as zeus. The first time this story was ever told, it was written in poetry, on terracotta tablets, thousands of years ago. Ancient sumerian origins of the easter story huffpost. Dec 28, 2015 the rising and setting of venus correspond with the movements of inanna, especially in the myth of inannas descent to the underworld.
The creativity post inanna and the creative descent. Inannas descent to the nether world mesopotamian gods. Inanna s ascent provides a new insight into the sumerian goddess inanna and her ultimate ascent back from the underworld. Dont let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. So when inanna left the underworld, the one in front of her, though not a minister, held a sceptre in his hand. Doc inannas descent to the underworld deanne quarrie. Inanna mesopotamian mythology ancient semitic religions scribd. Meanwhile, inannas servant, ninshubar, knows that something has gone wrong, so he sends two emissaries to rescue inanna from the underworld. Before her journey to the underworld, she outfits herself in all her jewels and raiment, seven pieces including crown, jewels, scepter and robes. From the great above inanna opened her ear to the great below. She leaves her minister nincubura with instructions to guard the mortal world in her absence, and seek help from other priests and priestesses to ensure inanna comes to no harm in the underworld. Nov 14, 2006 the goddess inanna desired to visit the realm of death ruled over by her sister ereshkigal, the queen of the underworld.
He could not get his gifts back when he regretted the giving of them. The descent of inanna a poem by raven madd all poetry. However, the stalled world and its mythology, inspired by the ancient sumerian myth of inannas descent to the underworld, are fascinating but. Meeting the shadow of oneself inanna queen of heaven. Inannas descent into the underworld is a particularly profound myth, taking her far beyond the symbolism of the mythological genesis of the world, explaining the seasons dumuzi and geshtianna alternating in their halfyear sojourns in the underworld, or the establishment of kingship. Inannas descent into the underworld back up the moons. Inanna seems to be very close to her twin brother utu, she seem to ask his help on many occasions. Ishtars descent into the underworld full text youtube. Then erishkigal fastened on inanna the eye of death. Most curious is perhaps the story of inannas descent to the underworld. Perera writes powerfully and with authority, and draws from a wide range of sources. The annuna, the judges of the underworld, surrounded her. If inanna is to ascend from the underworld, let her provide a substitute for herself.
According to the myth, inanna passes through 7 gates in her descent, removing at each one a piece of clothing or jewellery she had been wearing. Inanna s descent come neti, my chief gatekeeper of the kur, heed my words. Quiet, inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect. Sherpa descent of inanna to the underworld by sulatron. Associated with political power and the underworld, the goddess inanna evolved over time, spreading throughout the ancient world and blending with both ishtar and astarte. Ereshkigals creatures, the gala the messengers of ereshkigal in the first poem here, attach themselves to inanna to ensure fulfillment of this bond. Pdf inannas descent to the underworld by johanna stuckey. Inanna anticipates problems, and instructs her priestess exactly what to do. The descent of inanna myth is the story of the prideful inannas journey to the underworld to ostensibly pay homage to her sister, ere. In the sumerian myth of inanna s descent into the netherworld, ninshubur is described as the one who pleads with all the gods in an effort to persuade them to rescue inanna from the netherworld. The rising and setting of venus correspond with the movements of inanna, especially in the myth of inannas descent to the underworld. Inannas descent to the underworld by johanna stuckey 20150802, 3.
The descent of inanna myth is the story of the prideful inannas journey to the underworld to ostensibly pay homage to her sister, ereshkigal, queen of the kur underworld. From the great above she opened her ear to the great below. The following is the translation of the ancient babylonian story of the descent of the queen of heaven, inanna, into the underworld, the great below, the realm of ereshkigal, as found in the descent of inanna by diane wolkstein and samuel kramer. Both inannas descent and gilgamesh, enkidu and the netherworld show that the. This story isnt about gilgamesh however, it instead follows inanna. Be satisfied, inanna, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. The story is about the goddess inanna later known as ishtar going to visit her sister or possibly alterego ereshkigal. Download the myth of the descent to the underworld in postmodern literature. As inanna ascended from dark depths, so too have the more than forty contributors to this anthology of essays, art, and poetry. An important piece of mesopotamian mythology, and one of the oldest written stories. In sumerian, the word for ear and wisdom are the same. Jan 02, 2017 the descent of inanna known also as inannas descent to the netherworld underworld is a piece of work in the literary corpus of ancient mesopotamia. Listen to ishtars descent into the underworld here. I bowed to inannas wisdom and ereshkigals necessity knowing that death and destruction fuel a new cycle of life.
The following is the translation of the ancient babylonian story of the descent of the queen of heaven, inanna, into the underworld, the great below, the realm of ereshkigal, as found in the descent of inanna by diane wolkstein and samuel kramer from the great above she opened her ear to the great below. Inanna s descent to the underworld by johanna stuckey 20150802, 3. Dec 21, 2012 the sumerian poem, the descent of inanna c. Before leaving her domain above, she gives her prime minister, ninshubur, instructions on what to do if anything goes wrong. She releases inanna to be reborn, but by the laws of the underworld, another must return to take inannas place. Inannas descent into the underworld the first time this story was ever told, it was written in poetry, on terracotta tablets, thousands of years ago. The myth begins with ishtar descending into the underworld for some uncertain reason to visit her sister ereshkigal. Mar 17, 2017 i dont want my daughter to grow up pure.
The above motif foreshadows a journey that she has yet to know. Users who like sherpa descent of inanna to the underworld. There are many myths about the descent of the goddess. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Healing with myth this essay analyses the use of ancient myths in modernday western therapy. Download inannas way ruth krall 2016 inannaswayruthkrall2016. She abandoned the eanna in uruk, and descended to the underworld. Jan 10, 2017 after receiving these keys she was crowned goddess inanna, queen of heaven and earth, the highest and most noble goddess in sumerian culture. Commentary on ishtars descent into the underworld youtube.
Much of the book resonated deeply with my experience. Its timeless wisdom and unending heartbreak have thrived over centuries of retellings. In this myth, sumers important deity, the goddess inanna journeys into the underworld of death and suffering. Istanbul contained the first five sections of inanna s descent incomplete and obscureand were published in 1914. Inanna and her descent into the land of no return, to meet erishkigal, the goddess of death and queen of the underworld. We descend, not because we want to, but because we must. In 1937 samuel noah kramer reconstructed the first half of the story and revealed its coherence, and in 1942 he added fragments that brought the story to the point at which inanna emerges from the underworld.
Inannas reason for visiting the underworld is unclear. When inanna returns to her life, she comes to her sons and to ninshubah, who are. In many ancient myths, descent is an integral part of the great feminine round of life and death. The most famous myth about inanna is that of her descent to the underworld ruled by her sister, ereshkigal. More tracks like sherpa descent of inanna to the underworld. Inanna and her descent are symbolic of the travels that many women go through. In preparation, inanna clothed herself in regalia and precious jewels, and gave certain instructions to her handmaid ninshubur, that if she should fail to return, she must present herself before the gods, enlil, nanna. Inanna, goddess war, sex, and justice learn religions. These women from diverse cultures and different countries bravely share personal. Ishtars journey into the underworld fairy tales of the.
Enki gave inanna descent into the underworld and ascent from the underworld. Playlists containing sherpa descent of inanna to the underworld. Users who reposted sherpa descent of inanna to the underworld. But the descent myth is not the only menstrual story in inanna s female lineage. Some musings and commentary on the content of ishtars descent into the underworld. In the seven stages of inannas descent, we find a reference to the phases of the moon. Primary publication, cdli literary 000343 inannas descent composite. They begin by healing the pain and anger of the dark sister, erishkigal integrating venus shadow self, and they revive inanna by giving her the water and food of life.
This story, which was originally written in cuneiform and inscribed on clay tablets, is in the form of a poem. In my search for a pathway back to sense of personal wellness, i turned to the mythology of ancient sumer. The myth of the descent to the underworld in postmodern. My mistress abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld.
This is when the goddess ruled the heavens, the earth and the underworld. The first myth featuring ereshkigal is described in the ancient sumerian epic poem of inannas descent to the underworld. The descent of inanna known also as inannas descent to the netherworld underworld is a piece of work in the literary corpus of ancient mesopotamia. About the descent of inanna myth the descent of inanna myth is the story of the prideful inannas journey to the underworld to ostensibly pay homage to her sister, ereshkigal, queen of the kur underworld.
Inanna, the queen of heaven in ancient mesopotamia new. I want her to grow up whole mourns the mother of a rape victim in the film split commonly heralded as a quintessential feminist myth, the sumerian tale of inannas descent into the underworld reflects the complex wounds experienced by young women as they reconcile sexual autonomy with experiences of trauma and abuse. Part 1 my descent into the underworldfollowing the footsteps of inanna on modernity and the meaning of life in anna karenina lilly barnes reads from her. From the great above the goddess opened her ear to the great below. This sumerian myth was written on clay tablets in the. Father nanna nannar sin, dont let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Inanna and ereshkigal represent opposites, heaven and underworld. In the descent of inanna, the titular goddess descends into the underworld, in order to observe the funeral rites of gugalanna, the bull of heaven and to visit her sister ereshkigal, queen of the dead. Inanna s descent into the underworld a tale of sibling love and betrayal. The queen of the underworld can be thought of as the neglected side of inanna, that part of inanna that was unloving, unloved, abandoned, instinctual, and full of rage. Inanna consort or husband is dumuzid, he is the god associated with the. In the famous myth of inanna s descent to the underworld inanna travels to the underworld, maybe to gain more powers and steal ereshkigal throne. Without procreation, without regeneration, there would be no life left on earth once the people and animals who were there now died off.
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