INANNA Lectures 10 11 gamehunt Magna Mater agriculture

INANNA (Lectures 10 -11)

game/hunt Magna Mater agriculture animal sexuality marriage human childbirth

ANU ENLIL INANNA UTU EA (ENKI) ERESHKIGAL

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

“playgr 0 und of Inanna” installation of king War/Kingship theft of Enki’s me extension of power into Ereshkigal

hieros gamos animal/human sexuality Sexuality royal consort temple prostitution

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

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

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 (? )

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.

1. Absence of deity (Inanna) [2. Disruption of natural order] [3. Search for absent deity] 3 a. Search for help to restore deity 4. Restoration of deity (Inanna) 3 b. 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

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