Inscribed on clay tablet around 400BC
Location: Uruk
Main characters:
Inanna: Queen of heaven, goddess of Uruk and goddess of morning star. She is also associated with symbols of love and authority. Also known as Ishtar and associated with Isis.
Dumuzi: Shepherd of Uruk, Wild Bull and doorkeeper of Anu (Sky, Heaven). A worshipped figure in Sumerian annual tribute and celebration; titled Eaklimulu ~ ritual of lying in state.
(Shepherd is an ancient term for tribal leader of king of city-state)
Uruk was on of the oldest Sumerian City state, where “Gilgamesh Epic” and ’courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi’, originated.
The first clay tables, which retell the poetic epic, were found in 1856 from the ruin site around South East of Iraq known as Warka.
This fascinating ancient text has over the years being translated and discovery of other clay tablets which relate to the original story.
First part is titled ‘Sacred Marriage’, followed by “The descent of Inanna to the netherworld” and it concludes with ‘Dumuzi Dream’.
This month post I will be musing with part one of the ancient text.
The Sacred Marriage (also known as Marriage Rite)
A young at heart Inanna & Dumuzi who fall in love and their courtship leads to their union as husband and wife. Which becomes an annual event through out the region. The story invokes the natural harmony of a female and male in coitus state due to sexual attraction.
This evolutionary human interaction generally result to a birth of a child, an offspring of copulation. Fulfilling the Sumerian theological
Concept in the trinity of male, female and child. The ancient text also give the modern audience an insight of ancient sexuality, which seem more liberating, devoid of modern theological sins and morals.
The story begins with Geshtinanna, Dumuzi sister, after meeting Inanna and being invited to her house. She tells him of Inanna’s delight of his appearance and desire to meet him. Dumuzi meet her at the courtyard and attempted to lure Inanna away from her dwelling and family so he can seduce her.
Inanna desire to be at home and weary of being late home.
So he tell her to tell fibs by spending time with a female friend playing music and singing, which was so sweet that time went by.
So Dumuzi can spread a clean and sweet couch and pass time with her in joy and plenty.
After their first encounter, Inanna is in love with Dumuzi as the man of her heart. Thus the process of their union commences.
The young lady stood waiting
Dumuzi pushed the door
And like a moonbeam she come forth to him out of the house
He looked at her rejoice and took her in his arms and kissed her.
On the day of going to bed
The rites be performed to perfection
Milady bathes in water the holy Ioins
Holy Inanna rubs herself with soap
Sprinkles the floor with cedar perfume
After he on the bed in the holy Ioins
Has made holy Inanna rejoice
She in return sooths the heart for him there on the bed.
The marriage rite of Inanna and Dumuzi is completed and the end of part one of the original text.
Yearly rite of the sacred marriage
The one come forth on high
I will hail
The holy one come forth on high
I will hail
The great queen of heaven
Inanna
I will hail
The pure torch lit in the sky
The heavenly light lighting like day
The great queen of heaven
Inanna
I will hail
The holy one queen awe-laden
Of the Anunnaki
Noblest one in heaven and earth
Crowned with great horns
Oldest child of the moon
Inanna
I will hail
Of her grandeur of her greatness
Of her exceeding nobility
Of her brilliant coming forth
In the evening sky
Of her lighting up the sky
A pure torch
Of her stepping up onto the sky
Like moon and sun
Noted by all lands from south to north
Of the greatness of the holy of heaven
To the young lady I will sing
Ancient images of courtship and love
Dumuzi water jug
Inanna water jug
Wild Bull vase
Inanna
