← All works

Inana's descent to the nether world

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

1. 184

   [igi] [{d}en-lil2-la2]-še3 er2 im-ma-še8-še8

2. 185

   [a-a] [{d}mu-ul-lil2] du5-mu-zu mu-lu kur-ra nam-ba-da-an-gam-e

3. 186

   [kug] sag9-ga-zu [saḫar kur]-⌈ra⌉-ka nam-ba-[da-ab-šar2]-e

4. 187

   [{na4}za-gin3] sag9-ga-zu za zadim-ka nam-[ba-da-an]-si-il-si-il

5. 188

   [{ĝiš}taškarin-zu] ĝiš nagar-ra-ka nam-ba-[dar]-⌈dar⌉-re

6. 189

   [ki-sikil] ⌈{d}⌉ga-ša-an-na kur-ra nam-ba-da-[an]-gam-e

7. 190

   [a-a] [{d}]en-lil2 lipiš bal-a-ni {d}nin-šubur-ra-ke4 mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4

   In his rage Father Enlil answered Ninšubur: My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?

8. 191

   [dumu-ĝu10] an gal al bi2-in-dug4 ki gal al bi2-in-dug4

9. 192

   [{d}inana] an gal al bi2-in-dug4 ki gal al bi2-in-dug4

10. 193

    me kur-ra me al nu-di-da sa2 bi2-in-dug4-[ga-bi kur]-⌈re⌉ ḫe2-eb-us2

11. 194

    a-ba-am3 ki-bi sa2 in-na-an-dug4 [ed3-de3] al mu-ni-in-dug4

12. 195

    a-a {d}en-lil2 inim-bi nu-mu-na-gub urim2{ki}-[še3] ba-ĝen

    Thus Father Enlil did not help in this matter, so she went to Urim. In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when she had entered the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, the house of Nanna, she lamented before Nanna: Father Nanna, don't let your daughter be killed 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.

13. 196

    urim2{ki} [e2-mud]-kur-ra-ka

14. 197

    e2-kiš-nu-ĝal2 [e2 {d}nanna-še3 ku4-ku4-da-ni]-ta

15. 198

    igi {d}nanna-še3 er2 [im-ma]-še8-še8

16. 199

    a-a {d}nanna du5-mu-zu mu-lu kur-ra nam-[ba]-da-an-gam-e

17. 200

    kug sag9-ga-zu saḫar kur-ra-ka nam-ba-[da-ab]-šar2-re

18. 201

    {na4}za-gin3 sag9-ga-zu za zadim-ka nam-ba-[da-an]-si-il-si-il-i

19. 202

    {ĝiš}taškarin-zu ĝiš nagar-ra-ka [nam-ba]-da-[an-dar-dar]-re

20. 203

    ki-sikil {d}ga-ša-an-na kur-ra nam-ba-da-[an]-gam-e

21. 204

    a-a {d}nanna lipiš bal-a-ni [{d}nin-šubur-ra-ke4 mu-na-ni]-ib-gi4-gi4

    In his rage Father Nanna answered Ninšubur: My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?

22. 205

    dumu-ĝu10 an gal al bi2-in-dug4 [ki gal] al bi2-in-dug4

23. 206

    {d}inana an gal al bi2-in-dug4 [ki gal] al [bi2]-in-dug4

24. 207

    me kur-ra me al nu-di-da ⌈sa2⌉ [bi2-in-dug4-ga-bi kur]-⌈re⌉ ḫe2-eb-us2

25. 208

    a-ba-am3 ki-bi [sa2 in-na-an-dug4 ed3-de3 al mu-ni-ib-dug4]

26. 209

    a-a {d}nanna inim-bi nu-⌈mu⌉-[na-gub uru2-ze2-eb{ki}-še3] ⌈ba⌉-ĝen

    Thus Father Nanna did not help her in this matter, so she went to Eridug. In Eridug, when she had entered the house of Enki, she lamented before Enki: Father Enki, 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.

27. 210

    uru2-ze2-eb{ki} e2 {d}en-ki-ka3-še3 [ku4-ku4]-da-ni-ta

28. 211

    igi {d}en-ki-ka3-še3 [er2 im]-⌈ma⌉-še8-še8

29. 212

    a-a {d}en-ki du5-mu-zu mu-lu [kur-ra nam-ba]-⌈da⌉-an-gam-e

30. 213

    kug sag9-ga-zu saḫar kur-ra-ka nam-[ba-da-ab-šar2]-re

31. 214

    {na4}za-gin3 sag9-ga-zu za zadim-ka nam-ba-da-an-[si-il-si]-il-i

32. 215

    {ĝiš}taškarin-zu ĝiš nagar-ra-ka nam-ba-an-dar-dar-re

33. 216

    ki-sikil {d}ga-ša-an-na kur-ra nam-ba-da-an-gam-e

34. 217

    a-a {d}en-ki {d}nin-šubur-ra-ke4 mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4

    Father Enki answered Ninšubur: What has my daughter done? She has me worried. What has Inana done? She has me worried. What has the mistress of all the lands done? She has me worried. What has the mistress of heaven done? She has me worried. Thus Father Enki helped her in this matter. He removed some dirt from the tip of his fingernail and created the kur-ĝara. He removed some dirt from the tip of his other fingernail and created the gala-tura. To the kur-ĝara he gave the life-giving plant. To the gala-tura he gave the life-giving water.

35. 218

    dumu-ĝu10 a-na bi2-in-ak ĝe26-e mu-un-kuš2-u

36. 219

    {d}inana [a-na] bi2-in-ak ĝe26-e mu-un-kuš2-u

37. 220

    nin kur-kur-⌈ra⌉-[ke4] a-na bi2-in-ak ĝe26-e mu-un-kuš2-u

38. 221

    nu-u8-⌈gig⌉ ⌈an⌉-na-ke4 a-na bi2-in-ak ĝe26-e mu-un-kuš2-u

39. 221A

    a-a {d}en-ki inim-bi ba-e-de3-gub

40. 222

    umbin-si-ni mu-dur7 ba-ra-an-de6 kur-ĝar-ra-aš ba-an-dim2

41. 223

    umbin-si 2-kam-ma mu-dur7 ba-ra-an-de6 gala-tur-ra-aš ba-an-dim2

42. 224

    kur-ĝar-ra u2 nam-til3-la ba-an-šum2

43. 225

    gala-tur-ra a nam-til3-la ba-an-šum2

44. 226

    [a-a] {d}en-ki gala-tur-ra kur-ĝar-ra gu3 mu-na-[de2-e]

    Then Father Enki spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara: One of you sprinkle the life-giving plant over her, and the other the life-giving water. Go and direct your steps to the underworld. Flit past the door like flies. Slip through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Ereškigala, on account of her children, is lying there. Her holy shoulders are not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts are not full like a šagan vessel. Her nails are like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head is bunched up as if it were leeks.

45. 226A

    1-am3 u2 nam-til3-la 1-am3 a nam-til3-la ugu-ni-a šub-ba-ab-ze2-en

46. 227

    ĝen-na-an-ze2-en ĝiri3 kur-še3 nu2-ba-an-ze2-en

47. 228

    {ĝiš}ig nim-gin7 dal-dal-e-de3-en-ze2-en

48. 229

    za-ra lil2-gin7 gur-gur-re-de3-en-ze2-en

49. 230

    ama gan-e nam dumu-ne-ne-še3

50. 231

    {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ke4 i-nu2-nu2-ra-am3

51. 232

    mur kug-ga-na gada nu-um-bur2

52. 233

    gaba-ni bur šaĝan-gin7 nu-um-gid2

53. 234

    ⌈?⌉-si-ni {urud}lub-bi-gin7 am3-da-ĝal2

54. 235

    siki-ni ga-raš{sar}-gin7 saĝ-ĝa2-na mu-un-ur4-ur4-re

55. 236

    u-u8-a šag4-ĝu10 dug4-ga-ni

    When she says Oh my heart, you are to say You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart. When she says Oh my body, you are to say You are troubled, our mistress, oh your body. (She will then ask:) Who are you? Speaking to you from my heart to your heart, from my body to your body -- if you are gods, let me talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you. Make her swear this by heaven and earth. (1 line fragmentary)

56. 237

    kuš2-u3-me-en nin-me a šag4-zu [dug4]-ga-<zu>-ne-[ne]

57. 238

    [u-u8]-a bar-ĝu10 dug4-ga-ni

58. 239

    kuš2-u3-me-en nin-me a bar-zu [dug4]-ga-<zu>-ne-[ne]

59. 240

    a-ba-am3 za-e-me-en-ze2-en

60. 241

    šag4-ĝu10-[ta] šag4-zu-še3 bar-ĝu10-ta bar-<zu>-še3 dug4-ga-na-ab-ze2-en

61. 242

    diĝir ḫe2-me-en-ze2-en inim ga-mu-ra-an-dug4

62. 243

    lu2-ulu3 ḫe2-me-en-ze2-en nam-zu-ne ḫe2-eb-tar-re

63. 244

    zi an-na zi ki-a pad3-de3-ne-ze2-na-am3

64. 245

    ?-[…]-ab-ze2-en

65. 246

    a id2-bi ma-ra-ba-e-ne šu nam-[ba]-gid2-i-en-ze2-en

    They will offer you a riverful of water -- don't accept it. They will offer you a field with its grain -- don't accept it. But say to her: Give us the corpse hanging on the hook. (She will answer:) That is the corpse of your queen. Say to her: Whether it is that of our king, whether it is that of our queen, give it to us. She will give you the corpse hanging on the hook. One of you sprinkle on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. Thus let Inana arise.

66. 247

    a-šag4 še-ba ma-ra-ba-e-ne šu nam-ba-gid2-i-en-ze2-en

67. 248

    uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga {ĝiš}gag-ta la2 šum2-me-ab dug4-ga-na-ab-ze2-en dug4-ga-ma-ab-ĝen-ze2-en

68. 249

    uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga ga-ša-an-<zu>-ne-ne

69. 250

    niĝ2 lugal-me <en> ḫe2-a niĝ2 nin-me!(bi) ḫe2-a šum2-ma-ze2-en dug4-ga-na-ab-ze2-en!(dug4-ga-ma-ab-ĝen-ze2-en)

70. 251

    uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga {ĝiš}gag-ta la2-a im-ma-da-ab-šum2-mu-ze2-en

71. 252

    1-am3 u2 nam-til3-la 1-am3 a nam-til3-la ugu-na šub-bu-de3-en-ze2-en

72. 253

    {d}inana ḫa-ba-gub

73. 254

    gala-tur kur-ĝar-ra inim {d}en-ki-ka3-še3 saĝ keše2 ba-[ši-in]-ak-eš

    The gala-tura and the kur-ĝara paid attention to the instructions of Enki. They flitted through the door like flies. They slipped through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Ereškigala, because of her children, was lying there. Her holy shoulders were not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts were not full like a šagan vessel. Her nails were like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head was bunched up as if it were leeks.

74. 255

    {ĝiš}ig nim-gin7 mu-un-dal-dal

75. 256

    za-ra lil2-gin7 mu-un-gur-gur

76. 257

    [ama gan-e] nam dumu-ne-ne-še3

77. 258

    [{d}ereš-ki]-gal-la-ke4 i-nu2-nu2-ra-am3

78. 259

    [mur] kug-[ga]-na gada nu-un-bur2

79. 260

    [gaba-ni] bur šaĝan-na nu-un-gid2

80. 261

    [šu-si]-ni {urud}lub-bi-gin7 ⌈an⌉-[da-ĝal2]

81. 262

    [siki]-ni ga-raš{sar}-gin7 saĝ-[ĝa2-na mu-un-ur4-ur4]

82. 263

    [u3-u8-a] ⌈šag4⌉-ĝu10 dug4-ga-ni

    When she said Oh my heart, they said to her You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart. When she said Oh my body, they said to her You are troubled, our mistress, oh your body. (Then she asked:) Who are you? I tell you from my heart to your heart, from my body to your body -- if you are gods, I will talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you. They made her swear this by heaven and earth. They …….

83. 264

    [kuš2-u3-me]-en nin-me a šag4-zu in-na-[ne]-eš

84. 265

    [u3-u8-a] bar-ĝu10 dug4-ga-ni

85. 266

    [kuš2-u3-me]-en nin-me a bar-zu in-na-ne-eš

86. 267

    [a-ba-am3] za-e-me-en-ze2-en

87. 268

    [šag4-ĝu10-ta] šag4-zu-še3 bar-ĝu10-ta bar-zu-še3 ba-e-de3-en-ze2-en

88. 269

    [diĝir ḫe2-me-en]-ze2-en inim ga-mu-ra-an-dug4

89. 270

    [lu2-ulu3 ḫe2-me]-⌈en⌉-ze2-en nam-zu-ne ga-mu-ri-ib-tar

90. 271

    [zi an-na zi ki-a] mu-ni-in-pad3-de3-eš

91. 272

    […]-⌈ed3⌉-de3-de3-eš

92. 273

    id2 a-ba mu-ne-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid2-de3

    They were offered a river with its water -- they did not accept it. They were offered a field with its grain -- they did not accept it. They said to her: Give us the corpse hanging on the hook. Holy Ereškigala answered the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara: The corpse is that of your queen. They said to her: Whether it is that of our king or that of our queen, give it to us. They were given the corpse hanging on the hook. One of them sprinkled on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. And thus Inana arose.

93. 274

    a-šag4 še-ba mu-ne-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid2-de3

94. 275

    uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga {ĝiš}gag-ta la2 šum2-me-eb in-na-an-ne-eš

95. 276

    kug {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-ke4 ⌈gala⌉-[tur kur-ĝar-ra] mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4

96. 277

    uzu niĝ2 aĝ2 sag3-ga niĝ2 aĝ2 ga-ša-an-zu-ne-ne-kam

97. 278

    [niĝ2] ⌈lugal⌉-me niĝ2 aĝ2 nin-me ḫe2-a šum2-me-eb in-na-an-ne-eš

98. 279

    uzu niĝ2 sag3-ga {ĝiš}gag-ta la2 im-me-ne-šum2-uš

99. 280

    1-am3 u2 nam-til3-la 1-am3 a nam-til3-la ugu-a bi2-in-šub-bu-uš

100. 281

     {d}inana ba-gub

← Previous · Next → — showing 201–300 of 440

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.