journey of Inanna the Sumerian goddess

The "Descent of Inanna" stands as a

captivating and ancient Sumerian epic, originating from the period of approximately 1900-1600 BCE. This narrative unfolds the journey of Inanna, the Sumerian goddess revered for her multifaceted dominion over love, beauty, sexuality, fertility, warfare, justice, and political authority, as she ventures into the perilous realms of the Underworld.

The tale commences with Inanna's deliberate decision to descend into the Underworld, a domain governed by her sister Ereshkigal. While the precise impetus behind her descent remains enigmatic, it is conjectured that Inanna may have been driven by a desire to partake in the funeral rites of Ereshkigal's consort, Gugalanna, or perhaps she sought to attain greater power or wisdom through this journey.

Before embarking on her descent, Inanna tasks her devoted attendant, Ninshubur, with seeking aid from the gods should she fail to return within three days. Adorned in elaborate regalia symbolizing her authority, Inanna progresses through the seven gates of the Underworld. However, at each gate, she is compelled to divest herself of her garments and adornments, thereby relinquishing her power and rendering herself vulnerable.

Upon reaching the throne chamber, Inanna faces judgment and metes out her demise at the hands of Ereshkigal and her seven judges. Her lifeless form is then suspended upon a hook. Meanwhile, upon the surface, with Inanna's prolonged absence, Ninshubur dutifully beseeches the assistance of the gods Enki, Enlil, and Nanna. Enki, the deity associated with wisdom and water, fashions two androgynous entities, the gala-tura and the kur-jara, from the soil beneath his fingernails. He dispatches them to the Underworld bearing the sustenance of life, intending to restore Inanna to vitality.

Moved by empathy for Ereshkigal's anguish, the entities secure her gratitude and acquiescence to Inanna's revival. Nevertheless, an edict of the Underworld mandates that someone must assume Inanna's stead. As Inanna ascends, she is accompanied by infernal beings demanding a surrogate. Despite her reluctance to burden her faithful attendants, Inanna ultimately designates her spouse, Dumuzid, for he had not mourned her absence. However, the narrative also permits for Dumuzid's sister, Geshtinanna, to share his fate, thus enduring alternating periods in the Underworld, thereby accounting for the changing seasons.

Beyond its mere narrative fabric, the "Descent of Inanna" serves as a potent allegory delving into themes of authority, fidelity, self-sacrifice, and the cyclicality inherent within the tapestry of existence and demise. Moreover, it offers a glimpse into the ancient Sumerian conception of the Underworld, elucidating the religious and cultural underpinnings of their society.