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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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