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Ereshkigal (Sumerian: EREΕ .KI.GAL β€” "Lady of the Great Earth")

Sumerian name: EREΕ .KI.GAL

Ereshkigal (Sumerian: Ereshkigal, "Lady of the Great Earth" β€” i.e., the underworld) was the queen of the underworld (Irkalla), the elder sister of Inanna, and a central figure in one of the most dramatic stories of the Anunnaki β€” the Descent of Inanna.

Role in the Anunnaki Hierarchy

Attribute Detail
Father Anu (or possibly Enlil)
Mother Unknown
Domain The underworld (Irkalla/Kur)
Consort Nergal (by some accounts, forced upon her)
Title Queen of the Great Below, Lady of Death

The Descent of Inanna

Ereshkigal is most famous for her role in the myth of Inanna's descent to the underworld. The story describes: 1. Inanna abandons her earthly temples and descends to the underworld 2. At each of the seven gates, she is forced to remove an article of clothing or jewelry 3. She arrives before Ereshkigal "naked and bowed low" 4. Ereshkigal condemns Inanna to death and hangs her corpse on a hook 5. Enki creates two genderless beings who sympathize with Ereshkigal and revive Inanna 6. Inanna must find a replacement β€” ultimately choosing her consort Dumuzi

Sitchin's Interpretation

Sitchin read the Descent of Inanna as a political narrative:

  1. Territorial Dispute β€” Ereshkigal was the elder daughter of Anu who was given dominion over the underworld (possibly the African continent or the southern hemisphere) while Inanna received Uruk
  2. The Usurper β€” Inanna attempted to seize Ereshkigal's domain
  3. The Judgment β€” Ereshkigal defended her territory and humiliated Inanna
  4. The Compromise β€” Through the intervention of Enki, a compromise was reached β€” Inanna was freed but had to provide a substitute for her crimes
  5. Nergal's Alliance β€” Ereshkigal eventually married Nergal, uniting the underworld with the forces of war and plague

Ereshkigal and Nergal

The story of Ereshkigal's marriage to Nergal is told in the epic Nergal and Ereshkigal. Nergal was sent to the underworld as an envoy or to pay homage, but he disrespected Ereshkigal and was sentenced to death. He eventually conquered the underworld and became her consort.

Cuneiform Evidence

The name EREΕ .KI.GAL (π’€­π’Š©π’† π’ƒ², "Lady of the Great Earth") is attested in Sumerian literary texts and god lists. Ereshkigal is best known from the myth of Inanna's descent and the Nergal and Ereshkigal epic.

  • CDLI Corpus: EREΕ .KI.GAL β€” Browse tablets mentioning Ereshkigal
  • Key tablet: The Descent of Inanna (CDLI P343434) β€” This Sumerian poem features Ereshkigal as the queen of the underworld who confronts her sister Inanna. The Nergal and Ereshkigal epic (found at Tell el-Amarna) further develops her role.
  • Descent of Inanna tablet Tablet of the Descent of Inanna, in which Ereshkigal plays the central antagonist role. (CDLI P343434)

See Also

  • Inanna β€” Ereshkigal's sister and rival
  • Nergal β€” Ereshkigal's consort
  • Dumuzi β€” The substitute chosen by Inanna
  • Enki β€” The mediator
  • Sumer β€” Sumerian underworld beliefs

Sources

  • Sitchin, Z. (1985). The Wars of Gods and Men.
  • Wolkstein, D. & Kramer, S. N. (1983). Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth.
  • Dalley, S. (1989). Myths from Mesopotamia. Oxford University Press.
  • Jacobsen, T. (1976). The Treasures of Darkness.