Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Sept 30, 2007 14:19:42 GMT -5
Inana & Ebih
One hymn praises Innana for her destructive capabilities as she prepares and then defeats the mountain, Ebih, who refused to honor her. When she seeks instruction from An, the king of the deities, he warns her not to continue in her quest. Innana, however, ignores his advice & wages a huge battle against Ebih, summoning a great storm and then seizing Ebih & drives a dagger into him, thus emerging the victor.
"Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made complete by the strength of the holy ankar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shield resting on the ground (?), covered in storm and flood, great lady Inana, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with arrow and strength and overpower lands.
In heaven and on earth you roar like a lion and devastate the people. Like a huge wild bull you triumph over lands which are hostile. Like a fearsome lion you pacify the insubordinate and unsubmissive with your gall." - Inana and Ebih: translation 1-9
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Inana's Rape
In another myth, after Innana had gone into the mountains to learn the source of falsehood and justice and had travelled through many lands, she became tired and fell asleep underneath a tree. Noticing her, Cu-kale-tuda went over to her and had intercourse with her as she slept. When she awoke & realized what had happened:
"Then the woman was considering what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She filled the wells of the Land with blood, so it was blood that the irrigated orchards of the Land yielded, it was blood that the slave who went to collect firewood drank, it was blood that the slavegirl who went out to draw water drew, and it was blood that the black-headed people drank. No one knew when this would end. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere in all the lands could she find the man who had had intercourse with her. - Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail?" - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 129-138
Her search was in vain, for she couldn't find Cu-kale-tuda. Again she pondered what she should do:
Then the woman was considering a second time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She mounted on a cloud, took (?) her seat there and ....... The south wind and a fearsome storm flood went before her. The pilipili (one of the cultic personnel in Inana's entourage) and a dust storm followed her. Abba-cucu, Inim-kur-dugdug, ...... adviser ....... Seven times seven helpers (?) stood beside her in the high desert. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 185-193
Still, Innana was not able to find Cu-kale-tuda. Next:
Then the woman was considering a third time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She took a single ...... in her hand. She blocked the highways of the Land with it. Because of her, the black-headed people ....... She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation214-220
Finally, she entered her father, Enki's shrine and with his help, found Cu-kale-tuda and confessed. When Innana heard this, she sentenced him to death.
When he had spoken thus to her, ...... hit ....... ...... added (?) ....... ...... changed (?) him ....... She (?) determined his destiny ......, holy Inana spoke to Cu-kale-tuda: "So! You shall die! What is that to me? Your name, however, shall not be forgotten. Your name shall exist in songs and make the songs sweet. A young singer shall perform them most pleasingly in the king's palace. A shepherd shall sing them sweetly as he tumbles his butter-churn. A young shepherd shall carry your name to where he grazes the sheep. The palace of the desert shall be your home. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 290-310
One hymn praises Innana for her destructive capabilities as she prepares and then defeats the mountain, Ebih, who refused to honor her. When she seeks instruction from An, the king of the deities, he warns her not to continue in her quest. Innana, however, ignores his advice & wages a huge battle against Ebih, summoning a great storm and then seizing Ebih & drives a dagger into him, thus emerging the victor.
"Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made complete by the strength of the holy ankar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shield resting on the ground (?), covered in storm and flood, great lady Inana, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with arrow and strength and overpower lands.
In heaven and on earth you roar like a lion and devastate the people. Like a huge wild bull you triumph over lands which are hostile. Like a fearsome lion you pacify the insubordinate and unsubmissive with your gall." - Inana and Ebih: translation 1-9
[back to top]
Inana's Rape
In another myth, after Innana had gone into the mountains to learn the source of falsehood and justice and had travelled through many lands, she became tired and fell asleep underneath a tree. Noticing her, Cu-kale-tuda went over to her and had intercourse with her as she slept. When she awoke & realized what had happened:
"Then the woman was considering what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She filled the wells of the Land with blood, so it was blood that the irrigated orchards of the Land yielded, it was blood that the slave who went to collect firewood drank, it was blood that the slavegirl who went out to draw water drew, and it was blood that the black-headed people drank. No one knew when this would end. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere in all the lands could she find the man who had had intercourse with her. - Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail?" - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 129-138
Her search was in vain, for she couldn't find Cu-kale-tuda. Again she pondered what she should do:
Then the woman was considering a second time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She mounted on a cloud, took (?) her seat there and ....... The south wind and a fearsome storm flood went before her. The pilipili (one of the cultic personnel in Inana's entourage) and a dust storm followed her. Abba-cucu, Inim-kur-dugdug, ...... adviser ....... Seven times seven helpers (?) stood beside her in the high desert. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 185-193
Still, Innana was not able to find Cu-kale-tuda. Next:
Then the woman was considering a third time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She took a single ...... in her hand. She blocked the highways of the Land with it. Because of her, the black-headed people ....... She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me". But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation214-220
Finally, she entered her father, Enki's shrine and with his help, found Cu-kale-tuda and confessed. When Innana heard this, she sentenced him to death.
When he had spoken thus to her, ...... hit ....... ...... added (?) ....... ...... changed (?) him ....... She (?) determined his destiny ......, holy Inana spoke to Cu-kale-tuda: "So! You shall die! What is that to me? Your name, however, shall not be forgotten. Your name shall exist in songs and make the songs sweet. A young singer shall perform them most pleasingly in the king's palace. A shepherd shall sing them sweetly as he tumbles his butter-churn. A young shepherd shall carry your name to where he grazes the sheep. The palace of the desert shall be your home. - Inana and Shu-kale-tuda: translation 290-310