Ereşkigal

A small demon opened his mouth and said to the big demon, "Come on, let's go to the lap of holy Inana ." The demons entered Unug and seized holy Inana . "Come on, Inana , go on that journey which is yours alone -- descend to the underworld. Go to the place which you have coveted -- descend to the nether world. Go to the dwelling of Ereškigala -- descend to the underworld. Don't put on your holy ba garment, the pala dress of ladyship -- descend to the underworld. Remove the holy headdress, that splendid ornament, from your head -- descend to the underworld. Don't enhance your appearance with a wig -- descend to the underworld. Don't adorn your feet with …… -- descend to the underworld. When you descend, ……."

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·6 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Then the lady is exultant; the powerful goddess, holy Nungal , praises herself: " An has determined a fate for me, the lady; I am the daughter of An . Enlil too has provided me with an eminent fate, for I am his daughter-in-law. The gods have given the divine powers of heaven and earth into my hands. My own mother, Ereškigala , has allotted to me her divine powers. I have set up my august dais in the nether world, the mountain where Utu rises. I am the goddess of the great house, the holy royal residence. I speak with grandeur to Inana , I am her heart's joy. I assist Nintur at the place of child-delivery (?); I know how to cut the umbilical cord and know the favourable words when determining fates. I am the lady, the true stewardess of Enlil ; he has heaped up possessions for me. The storehouse which never becomes empty is mine; ……."

A hymn to Nungal (Nungal A) (c.4.28.1) ·c.4.28.1 ·67 ·machine translation (etcsl)

To Gilgameš , the king of the nether world, in his palace, the shepherd Ur- Namma offered a spear, a leather bag for a saddle-hook, a heavenly lion-headed imitum mace, a shield resting on the ground, a heroic weapon, and a battle-axe, an implement beloved of Ereškigala .

The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A) (c.2.4.1.1) ·c.2.4.1.1 ·94 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Great holy one, Ereškigala , praising you is sweet.

Ninĝišzida's journey to the nether world (c.1.7.3) ·c.1.7.3 ·90 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Holy Inana answered him: "Because Lord Gud-gal-ana , the husband of my elder sister holy Ereškigala , has died; in order to have his funeral rites observed, she offers generous libations at his wake -- that is the reason."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·86 ·machine translation (etcsl)

When dawn was breaking, when the horizon became bright, when the little birds, at the break of dawn, began to clamour, when Utu had left his bedchamber, his sister holy Inana said to the warrior Gilgameš : "My brother, in those days when destiny was determined, when abundance overflowed in the Land, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the lord a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the lord like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion."

Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world (c.1.8.1.4) ·c.1.8.1.4 ·100 ·machine translation (etcsl)

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."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·93 ·machine translation (etcsl)

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."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·95 ·machine translation (etcsl)

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."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·114 ·machine translation (etcsl)

After the king had presented properly the offerings of the nether world, after Ur- Namma had presented properly the offerings of the nether world, the …… of the underworld, the ……, seated Ur- Namma on a great dais of the nether world and set up a dwelling place for him in the nether world. At the command of Ereškigala all the soldiers who had been killed by weapons and all the men who had been found guilty were given into the king's hands. Ur- Namma was ……, so with Gilgameš , his beloved brother, he will issue the judgments of the nether world and render the decisions of the nether world.

The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A) (c.2.4.1.1) ·c.2.4.1.1 ·138 ·machine translation (etcsl)

O Enegir , great libation pipe, libation pipe to the underworld of Ereškigala , Gudua ( Entrance to the nether world ) of Sumer where mankind is gathered, E-gida (Long house), in the land your shadow has stretched over the princes of the land. Your prince, the seed of the great lord, the sacred one of the great underworld, given birth by Ereškigala , playing loudly on the zanaru instrument, sweet as the voice of a calf, Ninazu of the words of prayer, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Enegir , and taken his seat upon your dais.

The temple hymns (c.4.80.1) ·c.4.80.1 ·179 ·machine translation (etcsl)

O Enegir , great libation pipe, libation pipe to the underworld of Ereškigala , Gudua ( Entrance to the nether world ) of Sumer where mankind is gathered, E-gida (Long house), in the land your shadow has stretched over the princes of the land. Your prince, the seed of the great lord, the sacred one of the great underworld, given birth by Ereškigala , playing loudly on the zanaru instrument, sweet as the voice of a calf, Ninazu of the words of prayer, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Enegir , and taken his seat upon your dais.

The temple hymns (c.4.80.1) ·c.4.80.1 ·182 ·machine translation (etcsl)

{Then Father Enki spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara :} " {( 1 ms. has instead the line: ) 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."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·231 ·machine translation (etcsl)

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.

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·258 ·machine translation (etcsl)

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.

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·276 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Ereškigala said to the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara : "Bring your queen ……, your …… has been seized." Inana , because of Enki's instructions, was about to ascend from the underworld. But as Inana was about to ascend from the underworld, the Anuna seized her: "Who has ever ascended from the underworld, has ascended unscathed from the underworld? If Inana is to ascend from the underworld, let her provide a substitute for herself."

Inana's descent to the nether world (c.1.4.1) ·c.1.4.1 ·282 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The wise shepherd …… does not give orders any more. …… in battle and combat. The king, the advocate of Sumer , the ornament of the assembly, Ur- Namma , the advocate of Sumer , the ornament of the assembly, the leader of Sumer , …… lies sick. His hands which used to grasp cannot grasp any more, he lies sick. His feet …… cannot step any more, he lies sick. 1 line fragmentary The trustworthy shepherd, king, the sword of Sumer , Ur- Namma , the king of the Land, was taken to the …… house. He was taken to Urim ; the king of the Land was brought into the …… house. The proud one lay in his palace. Ur- Namma , he who was beloved by the troops, could not raise his neck any more. The wise one …… lay down; silence descended. As he, who was the vigour of the Land, had fallen, the Land became demolished like a mountain; like a cypress forest it was stripped, its appearance changed. As if he were a boxwood tree, they put axes against him in his joyous dwelling place. As if he were a sappy cedar tree, he was uprooted in the palace where he used to sleep (?). His spouse …… resting place; …… was covered by a storm; it embraced it like a wife her sweetheart (?). His appointed time had arrived, and he passed away in his prime.

The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A) (c.2.4.1.1) ·c.2.4.1.1 ·31 ·machine translation (etcsl)

His (?) pleasing sacrifices were no longer accepted; they were treated as dirty (?). The Anuna gods refused his gifts. An did not stand by an "It is enough", and he could not complete his (?) days. Because of what Enlil ordered, there was no more rising up; his beloved men lost their wise one. Strangers turned into (?) ……. How iniquitously Ur- Namma was abandoned, like a broken jar! His …… with grandeur like (?) thick clouds (?). He does not …… any more, and he does not reach out for ……. "…… Ur- Namma , alas, what is it to me?" Ur- Namma , the son of Ninsumun , was brought to Arali , the pre-eminent place of the Land, in his prime. The soldiers accompanying the king shed tears: their boat ( i.e. Ur- Namma ) was sunk in a land as foreign to them as Dilmun . …… was cut. It was stripped of the oars, punting poles and rudder which it had. ……; its bolt was broken off. …… was put aside; it stood (?) in saltpetre. His donkeys were to be found with the king; they were buried with him. His donkeys were to be found with Ur- Namma ; they were buried with him. As he crossed over the …… of the Land, the Land was deprived of its ornament. The journey to the nether world is a desolate route. Because of the king, the chariots were covered over, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them. Because of Ur- Namma , the chariots were covered over, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them.

The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A) (c.2.4.1.1) ·c.2.4.1.1 ·68 ·machine translation (etcsl)

…… hero …… has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He of well-proportioned limbs …… has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He who …… wickedness has lain down and is never to rise again. The young man …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He who was perfect in …… and feats of strength has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. The lord of Kulaba has lain down and is never to rise again. He who spoke most wisely has lain down and is never to rise again. The plunderer (?) of many countries has lain down and is never to rise again. He who climbed the mountains has lain down and is never to rise again. He has lain down on his death-bed and is never to rise again. He has lain down on a couch of sighs and is never to rise again.

The death of Gilgameš (c.1.8.1.3) ·c.1.8.1.3 ·9 ·machine translation (etcsl)

…… hero …… has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He of well-proportioned limbs …… has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He who …… wickedness has lain down and is never to rise again. The young man …… has lain down and is never to rise again. He who was perfect in …… and feats of strength has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again. The lord of Kulaba has lain down and is never to rise again. He who spoke most wisely has lain down and is never to rise again. The plunderer (?) of many countries has lain down and is never to rise again. He who climbed the mountains has lain down and is never to rise again. He has lain down on his death-bed and is never to rise again. He has lain down on a couch of sighs and is never to rise again.

The death of Gilgameš (c.1.8.1.3) ·c.1.8.1.3 ·12 ·machine translation (etcsl)