This is the final part from an ancient epic story, written centuries ago.
Dumuzi reign has come to an end and is pursued by the rangers of the netherworld.
The seventh deputy entering the fold
Roused the chief shepherd who lay asleep
Roused Dumuzi the chief shepherd who lay asleep
Roused holy Inanna’s husband the chief shepherd who lay asleep
My master has sent us for you
Get up come along
Has sent us for you Dumuzi
Get up come along
Husband of Inanna son of Duttur
Get up come along
Ululu brother of mistress Geshtinanna
Get up come along
Your ewes are taken your lambs driven off
Get up come along
Your goats are taken your kids driven off
Get up come along
Take the holy crown off your head
Get up bareheaded
Take the holy royal robe off your body
Get up naked
Lay aside the holly staff in your hand
Get up empty handed
Take the holy sandals off your feet
Get up barefooted
Like Inanna, Dumuzi is ordered to strip naked and taken captive. But he had a plan to escape the hunters.
The lad lifted his hands heavenward to Utu
Utu you are my brother in law
your sister’s husband
The one who carries firewood to Eanna
The one who takes wedding gifts to Uruk
The one kissed by the holy lips
The one dallying twixt the holy knees
The knees of Inanna
Once you have made my hands unto the front hooves
Of a gazelle
And have made my feet unto the hind hooves of as gazelle
Let me slip away from my rangers
And flee for my life to Durbidalla
Utu accepted his tearful plea and as a man of mercy
He showed him mercy
Once he had made his hands like unto the front hooves
Of a gazelle
And had made his feet like unto the hind hooves
Of a gazelle
He slipped away from all the rangers
And ran for his life to Durbidalla.
(UTU – SUN)
Wandering in the wilderness, seeking shelter and a place to hide. After several attempts to evade the rangers and seeking help from his former subjects.
A loyal subject betrays Dumuzi. Leading the hunters to Dumuzi hide out.
The rangers were searching for him
Come let us go to Durbidalla
On the way to Durbidalla they were catching Dumuzi
The men surrounded him
Opened up for the stagnant waters therein
Were twining cords for him
Knotting nets for him
Twining varicolored cords for him
Scoring cornel sticks for him
The man in front of him threw things at him
The man in back of him was racing him to within a single ell
Was clapping manacles on his hands
Was pinioning his arms in a shackle
Thus Dumuzi is killed and his body abandoned in the wilderness. The news of his death invoked a lament from Inanna.
The wild bull who has lain down lives no more
Dumuzi the wild bull who has lain down lives no more
The chief shepherd lives no more
O you wild bull how fast you sleep
I will ask the hills and the valleys
I will ask the hills of the Bison
Where is the young man my husband I will say
He whom I no longer serve food I will say
He whom I longer give drink I will say
The Bison has taken thy husband away
Up into the mountains
Bison of the mountains with the mottled eyes
Bison of the mountains with the crushing teeth
May you not make an end to his lovely look
May you not have him open with quavers his lovely mouth
On his couch you have made the jackals lie down
In my husband fold you have made the raven dwell
His reed pipe the wind will have to play it
My husband songs the north wind will have to sing them
As the tragedy unfold of the demise of Shepherd of Uruk. His sister and mother roam the steppe in search for Dumuzi. Geshtinanna find her brother slain body.
She bemoan her brother’s departure
A reed pipe of dirges
My heart plays a reed pipe
I the mistress of Eanna who lay waste the mountains
I Ninsuna mother of the young shepherd
I Geshtinanna daughter in law of heaven
My heart plays a reed pipe of dirges for him in the desert
Plays where the lad dwelt
Plays where Dumuzi dwelt
In Aralli on the shepherd’s hill
My heart plays a reed pipe of dirges for him in the desert
Where the lad dwelt he who is captive
Where Dumuzi dwelt he who is bound
She looks at her slain bull
Looks at his face
The mother in the desert O what loss has she suffered
How she shudders
His mother joins the lament for her lost young son
My child who lay down to sleep till now
The wild bull who lay down
To sleep the treacherous sleep till now
Damu who lay down
To sleep the treacherous sleep till now
That child they have released into the high desert
Released him into the high desert and low desert
The desert kept watch over him at the place
Like a cowherd over the place of his numerous cows
It kept watch over him
Like a shepherd over the place of his numerous sheep
It kept watch over him
Over him who sail the high waters the flood
End of ancient text
Dumuzi tragic death has historical significant and influence on annual lament for a young god. A ritual of the,’ wild bull lives no more.’
“He said also unto me turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house, which was towards the north; and behold there sat women weeping for Tammuz.”
Ezekiel (IX,X)
Serena Williams
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