Inana's descent to the nether world

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 440 sections

90
{d}ne-ti i3-du8 gal kur-ra-ke4
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: Stay here, Inana. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my mistress Ereškigala and tell her what you have said.
91
kug {d}inana-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
92
gub-ba-a {d}inana nin-ĝa2 ga-an-na-ab-dug4
93
nin-ĝu10 {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ra ga-an-na-dug4 [inim-zu] ga-an-na-ab-dug4
94
{d}ne-ti i3-du8 gal kur-ra-ke4
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, entered the house of his mistress Ereškigala and said: My mistress, there is a lone girl outside. It is Inana, your sister, and she has arrived at the palace Ganzer. She pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld. She has abandoned E-ana and has descended to the underworld.
95
nin-a-ni {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ra
96
e2-[a-ni-še3 ba]-ši-in-kur9 gu3 mu-na-de2
97
nin-ĝu10 ki-sikil 1(DIŠ)-am3
98
{d}⌈inana⌉ [nin9-zu e2-gal ganzer-še3 um-ma-te]
99
{ĝiš}ig [kur-ra-ka šu ḫul ba-an-us2]
100
[abula kur-ra-ka gu3 ḫul ba-an-de2]
101
e2-an-na [mu-un-šub kur-ra ba-e-a-ed3]
102
me 7-bi zag [mu-ni-in-keše2]
She has taken the seven divine powers. She has collected the divine powers and grasped them in her hand. She has come on her way with all the good divine powers. She has put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her head. She has taken a wig for her forehead. She has hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.
103
me mu-[un-ur4-ur4 šu-ni-še3 mu-un-la2]
104
me [dug3 ĝiri3 gub-ba i-im-ĝen]
105
tug2-šu-gur-ra [men edin-na saĝ-ĝa2-na mu-un-ĝal2]
106
ḫi-li saĝ-ki-na [šu ba-ni-in-ti]
107
[{na4}za]-gin3 ⌈di4⌉-[di4-la2 gu2-na i-im-la2]
108
na4-nunuz tab-ba [gaba-na i-im-si]
She has placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She has covered her body with the pala dress of ladyship. She has placed mascara which is called "Let a man come" on her eyes. She has pulled the pectoral which is called "Come, man, come" over her breast. She has placed a golden ring on her hand. She is holding the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand.
109
{tug2}pala3 nam-nin-a [bar-ra-na i-im-dul]
110
šembizid lu2 ḫe2-em-du igi-ni [i-im-ĝar]
111
tu-di-da lu2 ĝa2-nu ĝa2-nu [gaba-na i-im-gid2]
112
ḫar kug-sig17 šu-na i-⌈im⌉-[la2]
113
gi-diš-nindan eš2-gana2 za-gin3 šu-na i-⌈im⌉-[du8]
114
ud-ba {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ke4 ḫaš2 bar-bi bi2-in-ra
When she heard this, Ereškigala slapped the side of her thigh. She bit her lip and took the words to heart. She said to Neti, her chief doorman: Come Neti, my chief doorman of the underworld, don't neglect the instructions I will give you. Let the seven gates of the underworld be bolted. Then let each door of the palace Ganzer be opened separately. As for her, after she has entered, and crouched down and had her clothes removed, they will be carried away.
115
nundum zu2 bi2-in-gub inim šag4-še3 ba-ti
116
{d}ne-ti i3-du8 gal-ni-ir gu3 mu-na-de2-e
117
ĝa2-nu {d}ne-ti i3-du8 gal kur-ra-ĝu10
118
inim a-ra-dug4-ga-ĝu10 gu2-zu la-ba-an-šub-be2-⌈en⌉
119
abula kur-ra 7-bi {ĝiš}si-ĝar-bi ḫe2-eb-us2
120
e2-gal ganzer dili-bi {ĝiš}ig-bi šu ḫa-ba-an-us2
121
e-ne ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
122
gam-gam-ma-ni tug2 zil-zil-la-ni-ta lu2 ba-⌈an⌉-[de6]
123
{d}ne-ti i3-du8 gal kur-ra-[ke4]
Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, paid attention to the instructions of his mistress. He bolted the seven gates of the underworld. Then he opened each of the doors of the palace Ganzer separately. He said to holy Inana: Come on, Inana, and enter.
124
inim nin-a-na-še3 saĝ keše2 ba-ši-[in-ak]
125
abula kur-ra 7-bi {ĝiš}si-ĝar-bi [bi2-ib2-us2]
126
e2-gal ganzer dili-bi [{ĝiš}ig-bi šu ba-an-us2]
127
kug {d}inana-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-[e]
128
ĝa2-nu {d}inana kur9-um-[ma-ni]
129
{d}inana ku4-ku4-da-[ni-ta]
And when Inana entered, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand, when she entered the first gate, the turban, headgear for the open country, was removed from her head. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
129A
gi-diš-nindan eš2-gana2 za-gin3 [šu-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er]
129B
abula 1-kam-ma ku4-[ku4-da-ni-ta]
130
tug2-šu-gur-ra men edin-na saĝ-ĝa2-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
131
ta-am3 ne-e
132
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
133
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
134
abula 2-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-[ni-ta]
When she entered the second gate, the small lapis-lazuli beads were removed from her neck. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
135
{na4}za-gin3 di4-di4-la2 gu2-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
136
ta-am3 ne-e
137
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
138
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
139
abula 3-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she entered the third gate, the twin egg-shaped beads were removed from her breast. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
140
na4-nunuz tab-ba gaba-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
141
ta-am3 ne-e
142
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
143
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
144
abula 4-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she entered the fourth gate, the "Come, man, come" pectoral was removed from her breast. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
145
tu-di-da lu2 ĝa2-nu ĝa2-nu gaba-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
146
ta-am3 ne-e
147
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
148
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
149
abula 5-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was removed from her hand. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
150
ḫar kug-sig17 šu-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
151
ta-am3 ne-e
152
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
153
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
154
abula 6-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
155
gi-diš-nindan eš2-gana2 za-gin3 šu-[na] lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
156
ta-am3 ne-e
157
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
158
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
159
abula 7-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she entered the seventh gate, the pala dress, the garment of ladyship, was removed from her body. What is this? Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.
160
[{tug2}pala3] tug2 nam-nin-a bar-ra-na lu2 ba-da-an-ze2-er
161
ta-am3 ne-e
162
si-a {d}inana me kur-ra-ke4 šu al-du7-du7
163
{d}inana ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an-ba-e
164
gam-gam-ma-ni tug2 zil-zil-la-ni-ta lu2 ma-an-de6
After she had crouched down and had her clothes removed, they were carried away. Then she made her sister Ereškigala rise from her throne, and instead she sat on her throne. The Anuna, the seven judges, rendered their decision against her. They looked at her -- it was the look of death. They spoke to her -- it was the speech of anger. They shouted at her -- it was the shout of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook.
165
nin9-a-ni {ĝiš}gu-za-ni-ta im-ma-da-an-zig3
166
e-ne {ĝiš}gu-za-ni-ta dur2 im-mi-in-ĝar
167
{d}a-nun-na di-kud 7-bi igi-ni-še3 di mu-un-da-ku5-ru-ne
168
igi mu-ši-in-bar i-bi2 uš2-a-kam
169
inim i-ne-ne inim lipiš gig-ga-am3
170
gu3 i-ne-de2 gu3 nam-tag-tag-ga-am3
171
munus tur5-ra uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga-še3 ba-an-kur9
172
uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga {ĝiš}gag-ta lu2 ba-da-an-la2
173
[ud 3] ĝi6 3-am3 um-ta-zal-la-ta
After three days and three nights had passed, her minister Ninšubur , her minister who speaks fair words, her escort who speaks trustworthy words, carried out the instructions of her mistress did not forget her orders, she did not neglect her instructions .
174
sukkal-a-ni {d}nin-šubur-ra-ke4
174A
sukkal inim sag9-sag9-ga-ni
174B
ra-gaba inim ge-en-ge-en-na-ni
175
inim nin-a-na-še3 ĝeštug2 ba-ši-in-gub
175A
[na] de5-[ga]-ni šu nu-bar-re
175B
[inim] dug4-ga-ni gu2-ni la-ba-ši-šub
176
er2 du6-du6-dam mu-un-na-ĝa2-ĝa2
She made a lament for her in her ruined (houses). She beat the drum for her in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the houses of the gods for her. She lacerated her eyes for her, she lacerated her nose. In private she lacerated her buttocks for her. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment, and all alone she set her foot in the E-kur, the house of Enlil.
177
[šem3] gu2-en-na mu-un-du12-a
178
e2 diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4 mu-un-na-niĝin2-niĝin2
179
igi-ni mu-un-[na]-ḫur giri17-ni mu-un-ḫur
180
ki lu2-da nu-<u6>-di ḫaš4-gal-a-ni mu-un-na-ḫur
181
mu-lu nu-tuku-gin7 tug2 dili-a ⌈im⌉-[ma]-an-mur10
182
[e2-kur] e2 {d}en-lil2-la2-še3 ĝiri3-ni dili mu-un-gub
183
[e2-kur] e2 {d}en-lil2-la2-še3 ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta
When she had entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, she lamented before Enlil: Father Enlil, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.