1. INANNA (Lectures 10-11)

2. game/hunt Magna Mater agriculture animal sexuality marriage human childbirth

3. ANU
ENLIL EA (ENKI)
INANNA UTU ERESHKIGAL

4. Inanna < * Nin-anna (Lady of Heaven) Morning/Evening Star War/Kingship Sexuality

5. extension of power into Ereshkigal
“playgr0und of Inanna”
installation of king
War/Kingship
theft of Enki’s me
extension of power into Ereshkigal

6. hieros gamos animal/human sexuality Sexuality royal consort temple prostitution

7. cosmic (hieros gamos) consummation political (installation) ritual/social (marriage)

8. Language of Sex
• affirmation/celebration • renewal activities : plowing, planting, watering, harvesting • agrarian metaphors products : seed, grain, milk, honey, wine field • contextualization political state family

9. Regeneration Myth
(Myths of Hittite Telepinus, Canaanite Baal, Greek Persephone) • God disappears • Search conducted • Disorder (drought, famine) ensue • Rituals performed • Recovery of lost god • Restoration of order (?)

10. Descent of Inanna
• Inanna descends to Underworld to extend her powers. • At each of nine gates, she must remove one article of clothing. • Inanna reaches the Underworld naked. • Inanna’s arrive coincides with Ereshkigal’s giving birth. • Inanna is turned into a piece of green meat, hung on a hook. • Enki/Ea sends two creatures (galaturra, kurgarra) to revive Inanna with water and life-giving plant and bring her back. • Inanna must find a substitute to die in her place. • Inanna chooses Dumuzi. • Dumuzi is seized by demons and taken to the Underworld. • Dumuzi lives as Ereshikgal’s mate for half the year. • Dumuzi returns to the Upperworld as Inanna’s mate for half the year.

11. 1. Absence of deity (Inanna)
[2. Disruption of natural order]
[3. Search for absent deity]
3a. Search for help to restore deity
4. Restoration of deity (Inanna)
3b. Search for substitute deity (Dumuzi)
1. Absence of deity (Dumuzi)
2. Disruption of natural order
3. Search for absent deity (Dumuzi)
4. Restoration of deity (Dumuzi)
5. Limitation
6. Cycle

12. Descent of Inanna INANNA ERESHKIGAL Inanna = Queen of Upperworld
Ereshkigal = Queen of Underworld
Inanna + Dumuzi (LIFE)
Ereshkigal + Nergal (DEATH)
Upperworld fertile, wet, living
Underworld sterile, dry, lifeless
Inanna descends to Underworld (DEATH)
 Upperworld sterile, dry, lifeless
Ereshkigal gives birth (LIFE)
 Underworld fertile, wet, living
Inanna ascends (LIFE)
Ereshkigal remains (DEATH)
Dumuzi substitute for Inanna
Dumuzi substitute for Nergal
Inanna + Dumuzi (LIFE) half year
 earth blossoms
Ereshkigal + Dumuzi (DEATH) half year
 earth fallow