Reading Qs 5

Important gods: Inanna/Ishtar, Ereshkigal/Allatu, Dumuzi(d)/Tammuz, Enki/Ea, Nergal

Anun(n)a gods = the underworld gods/beings

The Descent of Ishtar/Inanna (Old Babylonian period)

In this myth, the goddess Inanna/Ishtar travels to the underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, who rules as its queen.

1. What instructions does Inanna give to her attendant Ninshubur? Why tell her to do these things? (lines 28-72)
2. Why does Inanna say that she wants to enter the underworld?
3. What instructions does Ereskigal give her attendant Neti about Inanna?
4. How does the Mesopotamian underworld seem to be structured? How is this similar to or different from the Egyptian underworld?
5. How does Inanna make everyone in the underworld mad at her? What happens to her as a result?
6. How do the gods react when they are asked for help? Who finally helps Ninshubur, and what does he do?
7. Ereshkigala is described in lines 226-235. Why do you think she is described this way?
8. How is Inanna revived? Do the underworld gods let her go free?
9. The Anuna (underworld beings) are described in lines 295-305 and 359-367. Why do you think they are described this way?
10. Who ultimately gets dragged off as Inanna’s substitute? Why?

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld (Old Babylonian period)

This is one of many stories about the hero Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk. The historical Gilgamesh probably ruled Uruk in the mid 2000s BC[E]. According to legend, his parents were the goddess Ninsu(mu)n and king Lugalbanda. Ninsu(mu)n may also have been the mother of Dumuzi, but the stories are mixed on this point.

Please note: you only need to read the first version of the story (pages 1-5).

1. Why does Gilgamesh’s servant Enkidu end up going to the underworld?
2. What instructions does Gilgamesh give Enkidu about how to act there?
3. Who helps Gilgamesh to retrieve Enkidu? How?
4. What information about the underworld does Enkidu bring back from his adventure?

The Underworld Vision of an Assyrian Prince (Neo-Assyrian period)

This text is very broken. I summarize the first few pages for you – you will start reading at paragraph r1 on the fourth page.

Paragraphs 1-15 describe how an Assyrian prince, Kumma, gains a lot of wealth and power, but “in the carelessness of his heart he misbehaved.”

He is happy for a long time, but in paragraph 16 things take a turn. He is suddenly hit with distress and bad omens. He becomes terrified of dying.

In paragraph 27-34 he prays to Ereskigal/Allatu to let him learn about the underworld.

1. What kinds of things does Kumma see in his dream of the underworld? (paragraphs r1-r11)
2. Why is Nergal mad at him? What does he decide to do with Kumma? (paragraphs r20-r28)
3. How does Kumma react? How does the scribe who writes this down react?

Baadsgaard, Monge, and Zettler. “Bludgeoned, Burned, and Beautified.”

1. Where and when was the Royal Cemetery of Ur?
2. What kinds of structures have been excavated at Ur?
3. What kinds of grave goods were found in the royal tombs?
4. What was Sir Leonard Woolley’s first theory about how all the attendants died?
5. On p. 136, we see that several scholars have suggested less gruesome reasons for so many people to be buried in these tombs. What are these reasons? What do you think – are they plausible?
6. Several skulls show a potential cause of death in common. What is it? (142-143)
7. How were the bodies treated after death? Why might they do this? (144-146)
8. How and why might cinnabar be used?
9. Why did the attendants seem to be arranged as they were in the pit? (147-148)
10. It’s not entirely clear why the Ur kings did this. Why do you think burial practices might include human sacrifices like this?