Descent of Inanna to the Underworld

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and goddess of love and war, decides to descend to the Great Below — the underworld ruled by her sister Ereshkigal. Before departing, she instructs her vizier Ninshubur to appeal to the gods on her behalf if she does not return in three days. At each of the seven gates of the underworld Inanna is stripped of one garment or ornament of power: her crown, her lapis lazuli measuring rod, her lapis necklace, her breastplate, her gold ring, her lapis pectoral, and finally her royal robe. She arrives before Ereshkigal naked and bowed low. The Annuna judges pronounce the judgment of death upon her; her corpse is hung on a hook. Three days pass. Ninshubur appeals to the gods; only Enki helps. He creates two beings from the dirt beneath his fingernail and sends them to the underworld with the food and water of life. They revive Inanna, but the laws of the underworld demand a substitute: she may not leave without sending someone in her place. Inanna returns to the upper world accompanied by demons. She finds her husband Dumuzi on his throne, not mourning her absence. She gives him to the demons. Dumuzi flees with divine help but is ultimately captured. His sister Geshtinanna volunteers to share his fate: henceforth Dumuzi spends half the year in the underworld while Geshtinanna takes his place the other half, explaining the cycle of seasons.