Sumerian Stories of Inanna and Dumuzi c. 1765 BC: Inanna’s Descent to the Netherworld Dumuzi’s Dream

Inanna’s Descent to the Netherworld: Summary Inanna decides to go to the Underworld. Tells vizier Ninshubur to seek help from Enlil, Nanna (moon god) and Enki if she does not return Goes to Underworld and demands entry. Ereshkigal (queen of Underworld) tells gatekeeper to let her in but make her comply with rules. Passes through seven gates and is stripped of robes and jewelry

Inanna’s Descent to the Netherworld: Summary The judges of the Underworld fix Inanna with the eye of death. She dies, and her body is hung on a stake Ninshubur seeks help. Enki creates two sexless creatures and gives them “food of life” and “water of life” with which to revive her by sprinkling corpse 60 times with each. She is revived and returns to earth with host of demons

Inanna’s Descent to the Netherworld: Summary Inanna and demons find Ninshubur and several kings in mourning, so let them live. When come to Kullab (district in Uruk), find Dumuzi, king of Uruk, not in mourning, nor does he show any respect for Inanna Inanna unleashes demons on Dumuzi, and he appeals to Utu (sun god) for help. Tablet breaks off at this point

Dream of Dumuzi: Summary Dumuzi is mid-flight. Receives help from sister Geshtin-anna and unnamed friend. Then turns to Utu, reminding him that Dumuzi was lover and husband of Inanna, Utu’s sister Utu gives Dumuzi gazelle’s feet, enabling him to outrun demons, but they corner him in Geshtin-anna’s sheepfold and kill him

Dream of Dumuzi: Summary Geshtin-anna pleads for periodic release of brother, which is granted provided that she takes his place during this time

Inanna is responsible for Dumuzi’s fate Inanna and Dumuzi as lovers (see also Gilgamesh, p. 78) Inanna as fertility goddess - link to periodic sacrifice of king?

c. 2500 BC myth as basis for Sacred Marriage Theological assumptions: 1. Ruler responsible for fertility 2. All sexual reproduction dependent on goddess’ sexual act 3. Humans may ritually re-enact divine coupling Symbolic or real sexual union? Ninlil

1st millennium BC, Syria, Palestine, Mediterranean coast: Dumuzi (as Tammuz) moves into primary position as fertility deity, also becomes dying/resurrecting god, reflecting natural cycle

In Mesopotamia, myth retains broadly original form Our text written at end of 2nd millennium BC

Ishtar as patroness of sexual activity (p. 158) The fate of Dumuzi (p. 160) Belili (= Geshtin-anna) Instructions for taklimtu in Dumuzi/Tammuz Kutha Nergal Depiction of the Underworld

} Literary techniques: Repetition (p. 158) (mix p. 156) Repetition with changes (p. 157) Use of numbers (7, 60, 3) }