Descent Legends: Sumeria
Ereshkigal, Queen Deposed
Background Info
In ancient Sumeria, Ereshkigal was the Dark Twin of Inanna, much as Nephthys was the Twin of Isis in Egypt. Ereshkigal suffered far more, and more quickly, at the hand of patriarchal priests than did Her Sister Inanna, however.
In the heavens ruled Inanna, Bright Queen of the Stars and Moon. Beneath ruled Ereshkigal, Dark Mistress of Irkalla. Bright Inanna ruled love and the seasons, storms and the flood of rivers. Dark Ereshkigal ruled death and disease and the wealth of the earth, gold and silver and oil, which She sent to the surface for the use of Her people. Bright Queen and Dark Queen, Sister Queens of Heaven and Irkalla.
The peoples of the Twin Rivers honored Them both, Bright and Dark. From Them the people received gifts of love and fruit and gold and coal. From Them the people received gifts of storms and droughts and old age and disease. It was a good life centered around fields of grain and herds of sheep and market cities and stepped ziggurats.
Then the Gods came.
There was a great clanging, a horrible banging in Irkalla. Nergal threw wide the Seven locked Doors of Irkalla. He threw them wide, scattering the Seven Guardians. The shades of the dead shuddered in fear at the noise, the clanging and banging which grew louder. Louder and louder, echoing through the abyssal silence of Irkalla.
Ereshkigal sat upon Her throne. She sat silent on Her throne of bone and obsidian, listening. Nergal's steps were loud. He threw open the last of the Seven Doors and stood before Her. He bellowed Her name, the name echoing through Irkalla.
She ordered Him to leave. This was Her realm. She was Queen of Irkalla. He laughed and grabbed Her hair and pulled Her from Her throne. She fell, stumbled, was dragged through the dust of Irkalla. Her hair tore and She fell forward. He hit Her face and punched Her in the belly and pulled Her hair. And when She cried for Him to stop, He pulled Her head back and asked, did She relinquish Her throne?
No!
And so He continued to hit Her until Her body ached and She could not think. She cried again for Him to stop and He pulled Her head back and asked again, did She relinquish Her throne? Was He now Ruler of Irkalla?
Yes, She said.
And He pulled Her close then, wrapped His arms around Her and hugged Her. He said He was very sorry. She had no reason to cry, He said. He was Her husband now. She would rule by His side as Mistress of Irkalla.
But Ereshkigal continued to weep.