(Drumbeats. Inanna sits on her throne, on the opposite side of the area from where Ereshkigal's throne lies behind a dark-colored curtain. As the first lines are read, she stands as if listening to something, and then wanders back and forth looking more and more dissatisfied. She slowly comes down into the front area, where a table is set up with her ritual garb on it.)

From the Great Above she opened her ear to the Great Below.
Inanna, the Queen of Heaven, had everything.
From the Great Above the goddess opened her ear to the Great Below.
She was powerful. She was beautiful. She ruled over love, war, and fertility.
From the Great Above Inanna opened her ear to the Great Below.
All men and women bowed before her...and yet something was missing from her life.
The Lady abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld.
All was light in her life. There was no darkness...and no depth.
Inanna abandoned heaven and earth to descend to the underworld.
Inanna heard the call of the dark places.
In Uruk she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark called her, seductively, compellingly.
In Badtibira she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark called her like the voice of a lover.
In Zabalam she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark called her in a terrifying voice.
In Adab she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark whispered to her in her dreams.
In Nippur she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark touched her with hands as light as a ghost.
In Kish she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the dark sang to her in the wind through her hair.
In Akkad she abandoned her temple to descend to the underworld.
For the Call of the Darkness will not be denied.
To the Land of No Return she was determined to go.
For when the Darkness calls, finally, you come.
To the dark house, dwelling of Irkalla's goddess,
You go down to the dark place, one way or another.
To the house which those who enter cannot leave,
Perhaps you go unwillingly, like a rape, like a violation.
On the road where travelling is one-way only,
Perhaps you go with screams and weeping.
To the house where those who enter are deprived of light,
Would it not be better to go willingly, as if to your wedding day?
Where dust is their food, clay their bread.
Who lives in the darkness that you fear?
They see no light, they dwell in darkness,
Yet the dark does not stop their vision.
They are clothed like birds, with feathers.
For they have lightened themselves of the pain they carry.
Over the door and the bolt, dust has settled.
For few are brave enough to take this path.

Inanna gathers the seven me

(Inanna stands before the table, and removes her garment. She is naked beneath it, with her back to the audience. As the next lines are read, she methodically dresses herself in the following garments: a silver crown with a large many-pointed star on it, a long strand of blue beads that goes around her neck twice, a lightweight cloak of blue studded with stars that ties around her neck, a belt of links set with stones, eye makeup - have her already made up and just mime putting a little more on - and a gold lame strapless bra or corset, and a large gold bracelet. A blue rod, like a sceptre, should be there for her to pick up and take with her. As soon as she walks away, the table is removed.)

She gathered together the seven me.
She gathered together all the worldly powers she had won.
She took them into her hands.
With the me in her possession, she prepared herself:
She placed the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, on her her head.
For she would go down to the Underworld as the queen that she was.
She arranged the locks of hair across her forehead.
For she would have none see her as less than perfect.
She tied the lapis beads around her neck.
Let the double strand of beads fall to her breast,
For all the wealth of Heaven was hers.
And wrapped the royal robe around her body.
For she held the mysteries of womanhood within her.
She hung the girdle of birthstones about her hips.
For she was proud to be the Jewel of the Sky.
She daubed her eyes with ointment called 'Let him come, let him come.'
For her beauty had gained her entrance to many a narrow place.
Bound the breast plate called 'Come, man, come!' around her chest,
For she was justly proud of the loveliness of her body.
Slipped the gold ring over her wrist,
For she would be reminded of her husband and her marriage.
And took the lapis measuring rod and line in her hand.
For she was used to measuring and judging all she saw.
And Inanna set out for the underworld.

Inanna warns her maidservant

(Inanna walks toward the first Gate of the Underworld, which can be an archway, or just a space where Neti, the Gatekeeper, stands. During the next lines, she takes Ninshubur by the shoulders and mimes speaking to her earnestly.)

Ninshubur, her faithful servant, went with her.
Inanna spoke to her, saying: 'Ninshubur, my constant support,
My sukkal who gives me wise advice,
My warrior who fights by my side,
I am descending to the Kur, to the underworld.
If I do not return,
Set up a lament for me by the ruins.
If I do not return in three days, get help.
Get help any way that you can.
Beat the drum for me in the assembly places.
Circle the houses of the gods.
Do not let them forget me.
Tear at your eyes, at your mouth, at your thighs.
Dress yourself in a single garment like a beggar.
My life may depend on your aid.
Go to Nippur, to the temple of Enlil.
When you enter his holy shrine, cry out:
"Oh, Father Enlil, do not let your daughter
Be put to death in the underworld."
If Enlil will not help you,
Go to Ur, to the temple of Nanna.
Weep before Father Nanna.
If Nanna will not help you,
Go to Eridu, to the temple of Enki.
Weep before Father Enki.
Father Enki, the God Of Wisdom, knows the food of life,
He knows the water of life;
Knows the secret of life.
Surely he will not let me die.'
(Inanna turns and walks toward the First Gate. Ninshubur stands straight, but is clearly afraid for her.)
Surely someone can save me.
Surely someone can save me.
Surely someone can save me.
Inanna continued on her way to the underworld.
(Inanna stops and looks back one more time, and gestures to Ninshubur.)
Then she stopped and said: 'Go now Ninshubur-
Do not forget the words I have commanded you.'
For my life rests on the turn of a blade
For my life rests on the touch of a feather
For my life is no longer my own.

Inanna arrives at the Gate

(Inanna approaches the First Gate, and mimes knocking. Drumbeats sound for her knocks. She gestures with her arms as she makes the threats to Neti.)

When Inanna arrived at the outer gates of the underworld,
She knocked loudly.
For who among us can resist a show of courage at the door of Death?
She cried out in a fierce voice: 'Open the door, gatekeeper!
Open the door, Neti! I alone would enter!
If you do not open the gate for me to come in,
I shall smash the door and shatter the bolt,
I shall smash the doorpost and overturn the doors,
I shall raise up the dead and they shall eat the living:
The dead shall outnumber the living!"
The Dead already outnumber the living, Inanna,
And they cannot be moved by your words.
(Neti stands forward with his spear and thumps it into the ground, looking forbidding. He and Inanna gesture at each other during this conversation.)
Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the kur, asked: 'Who are you?'
She answered: 'I am Inanna, Queen of Heaven,
On my way to the East.'
Neti said: 'If you are truly Inanna, Queen of Heaven,
On your way to the East,
Why has your heart led you on the road
From which no traveller returns?'
If you are the Queen of Heaven,
Then you are truly in the wrong place.
Why are you really here?
(Inanna turns her head as if in thought, and wraps her mantle closer about her. For the first time, she seems unsure of herself.)
Inanna answered: 'Because... of my older sister Erishkigal,
Her husband, Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven, has died.
I have come to witness the funeral rites.
Let the beer of his funeral rites be poured into the cup.
Let it be done.'
(Inanna bows her head.)
I have come to witness a funeral,
Although I fear it will be my own.
Let it be done.
Let it be done.
Let it be done.
Neti spoke: 'Stay here Inanna, I will speak to my queen.
I will give her your message.'
I will tell her of your pride,
And of your hubris.

Neti consults his Queen

(Neti turns and goes toward the curtain, which opens. Ereshkigal is seated on her throne. He bows before her.)

Neti, the chief gatekeeper of the Kur,
Entered the palace of Erishkigal, the Queen of the Underworld, and said:
'My Queen, a maiden
As tall as heaven, as wide as the earth,
As strong as the foundations of the city wall,
Waits outside the palace gates.
The smell of Life is upon her
Like a summer breeze over the warm fields.
She has gathered together the seven me.
She has taken them in her hands.
With the me in her possession, she has prepared herself:
She wears her power like a glimmering mantle.
On her head she wears the shurgarra, the crown of the steppe.
She speaks as if she is used to being obeyed.
Across her forehead her dark locks of hair are carefully arranged.
She looks as if many hands toiled for her loveliness.
Around her neck she wears the double strand of lapis beads.
She glitters with the wealth of the Land Above.
Around her hips hangs the girdle of birthstones.
She glitters with the stars of the night sky.
Her body is wrapped in the royal robe.
All who look upon her know that she is a queen.
Her eyes are daubed with the ointment "Let him come, let him come."
She carries herself as if she knows her own beauty.
Around her chest she wears the breast plate called "Come, man, come!"
She carries herself as if her beauty is her greatest power.
On her wrist she wears the gold ring.
You can be sure that she does not sleep alone.
In her hand she carries the lapis measuring rod and line.'
She looks upon our dusty gate and judges us with her eyes.
(During the next lines, Ereshkigal mimes her anger, from resentment to outright rage. She stands up and stalks back and forth across the area, slapping various things with her sceptre, which cna be a riding crop or something like it. She shakes her fist and gestures to the words.)
When Erishkigal heard this,
She slapped her thigh and bit her lip.
She took the matter into her heart and dwelt on it.
Inanna appeared like a vision of all that she was not.
Her face grew livid as cut tamarisk,
She has beauty and grace.
Her lips grew dark as the rim of a kuninu-vessel.
She has the morning and evening sky.
"What brings her to me? What has incited her against me?
She has the wealth of the storehouse.
Surely not because I drink water with the Anunnaki,
She wears a golden crown on her head.
I eat clay for bread, I drink river-mud for beer!
She has the love and reverence of all people.
I have to weep for young men forced to abandon their sweethearts.
She has a living husband.
I have to weep for girls wrenched from their lover's laps.
No one weeps when Death weeps.
For the infant child I have to weep, expelled before its time."
If she wants the Great Below, I will give it to her.

(Ereshkigal turns and points imperiously at Neti.)
Then she spoke: 'Come, Neti, my chief gatekeeper of the Kur,
Heed my words:
Bolt the seven gates of the underworld.
Then, one by one, open each gate a crack.
Let Inanna enter.
As she enters, remove her royal garments.
Let the holy priestess of heaven enter bowed low.'
Let her learn what secrets the darkness truly holds.
Neti heeded the words of his queen.
(Neti turns and goes back to the gate, where Inanna has stood motionless.)
He bolted the seven gates of the underworld.

The Seven Gates

(The six other Annunaki come forth and stand beyond Neti, each a good distance away from each other. One at a time, they hold out staffs or wands horizontally as if to bar the way, in time to loud single drumbeats, symbolizing the locking of the gates.)

Then he opened the outer gate.
He said to the maiden: 'Come, Inanna, enter.'
(Neti puts his spear aside and bows, gesturing her to come through. She starts forward.)
When she entered the first gate,
From her head, the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, was removed.
(Neti reaches out and snatches the crown from her head. He tosses it to the side.)
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
(Neti seizes her by her hair and slams her up against the gate, slaps her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and does some terribly painful thing to her for about two minutes.)
For your power in the upper world means nothing here.
Your crown is dust and your legions are nothing.
And without them, who are you?

(The second Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. Neti goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna attempts to enter the gate again. The second Annunaki grabs her by the necklace and yanks it off her throat. Then the second Annunaki takes her by the throat, slaps her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and does something painful to her for about two minutes.)
When she entered the second gate,
From her neck the double strand of lapis beads were removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
For your precious possessions mean nothing here.
The things you love to touch are dust and your hands are empty.
And without them, who are you?

(The third Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. The second Annunaki goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna passes through the gate a third time. The third Annunaki tears the girdle from her hips, strikes her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and beats her ass for about two minutes.)
When she entered the third gate,
From her hips the girdle of birthstones was removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect,
They may not be questioned.'
For your wealth means nothing here.
Your money is dust and you cannot buy your way out.
And without that, who are you?

(The fourth Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. The third Annunaki goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna passes through the gate a fourth time. The fourth Annunaki removes the bra/corset from her torso, strikes her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and does something painful to her breasts for about two minutes.)
When she entered the fourth gate,
From her chest the breast plate called 'Come, man, come!' was removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told, 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
For your beauty means nothing here.
Your sexual power is useless and no one will look on you with desire.
And without that, who are you?

(The fifth Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. The fourth Annunaki goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna passes through the gate a fifth time. The fifth Annunaki takes the bracelet from her wrist, strikes her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, buckles cuffs onto her wrists, and does something painful to her for about two minutes.)
When she entered the fifth gate,
From her wrist the gold ring was removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
For your relationships with others mean nothing here.
You are alone without any other soul to come at your call.
And without them, who are you?

(The sixth Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. The fifth Annunaki goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna passes through the gate a sixth time, clearly stumbling, still clutching the rod. The sixth Annunaki takes it away from her, strikes her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and does something painful to her for about two minutes, probably with the rod.)
When she entered the sixth gate,
From her hand the lapis measuring rod and line was removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
For your mind and your intellect mean nothing here.
The ways in which you judge things, your values and your scales,
They are all useless in this place,
And without them, who are you?

(The seventh Annunaki steps forward next to the gate. The sixth Annunaki goes to stand beside Ereshkigal's throne. Inanna crawls through the gate and is seized by the seventh Annunaki, who rips off her mantle, leaving her naked, strikes her on the "Quiet, Inanna" line, and then throws her down and roughly penetrates her (or mimes penetrating her) with a large strap-on dildo.)
When she entered the seventh gate,
From her body the royal robe was removed.
Inanna asked: 'What is this?'
She was told: 'Quiet, Inanna, the ways of the underworld are perfect.
They may not be questioned.'
For your womanhood means nothing here.
The rules you live by are dust, the role you lived is nothing,
For gender and roles mean nothing to the Dead.
And without that, who are you?

(The seventh Annunaki drags her by her hair before the throne of Ereshkigal. The others converge on her, and she is strung up facing the audience. All seven strike her to pass judgment.)
Naked and bowed low, Inanna entered the throne room.
Erishkigal rose from her throne.
Inanna started toward the throne.
The Annunaki, the judges of the underworld, surrounded her.
They passed judgement against her.

(Ereshkigal steps down from her throne. She takes up an implement and beats Inanna for about two minutes. Inanna sinks down in her bonds as if beaten down in spirit.)
Then Erishkigal fastened on Inanna the eye of death.
She spoke against her the word of wrath.
She uttered against her the cry of guilt.
She struck her.
Inanna was turned into a corpse,
A piece of rotting meat,
And was hung from a hook on the wall.
(The Annunaki hoist her up behind the throne.)

Ninshubur seeks aid

When, after three days and three nights, Inanna had not returned,
Ninshubur set up a lament for her by the ruins.
(Ninshubur runs about frantically. She goes from person to person in the audience, shakes them, gestures wildly, bangs on walls as if they are doors, generally mimes making a ruckus.)
She beat the drum for her in the assembled places.
She circled the houses of the gods.
She tore at her eyes; she tore at her mouth; she tore at her thighs.
She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar.
Alone, she set out for Nippur and the temple of Enlil.

(Ninshubur falls to her knees before Enlil's corner.)
When she entered the holy shrine,
She cried out: 'O Enlil, do not let your daughter
Be put to death in the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your bright silver
Be covered with dust of the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your precious lapis
Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your fragrant boxwood
Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
Be put to death in the underworld.'
Yet it must be done.

(Enlil gestures imperiously and finally turns his back on her.)
Enlil answered angrily: 'My daughter had the Great Above.
But Inanna craved the Great Below.
She who receives the me of the underworld does not return.
She who goes to the Dark City stays there.'
Enlil would not help.

(Ninshubur runs to the other side of the area and flings herself on her knees in Nanna's corner.)
Ninshubur went to Ur and the temple of Nanna.
When she entered the holy shrine,
She cried out:
'Oh Nanna, do not let your daughter
Be put to death in the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your bright silver
Be covered with dust of the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your precious lapis
Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your fragrant boxwood
Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
Be put to death in the underworld.'
Yet it must be done.

(Nanna gestures imperiously at her and then finally turns his back on her.)
Nanna answered angrily: 'My daughter had the Great Above.
But Inanna craved the Great Below.
She who receives the me of the underworld does not return.
She who goes to the Dark City stays there.'
Nanna would not help.

(Ninshubur runs to Enki's corner. Enki is just coming forward, reading a scroll, oblivious to her. Ninshubur throws herself at his feet and wraps her arms around his knees, pleading.)
Ninshubur went to Eridu and the temple of Enki.
When she entered the holy shrine,
She cried out: 'O Father Enki, do not let your daughter
Be put to death in the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your bright silver
Be covered with dust of the underworld.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your precious lapis
Be broken into stone for the stoneworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let your fragrant boxwood
Be cut into wood for the woodworker.
Yet it must be done.
Do not let the holy priestess of heaven
Be put to death in the underworld.'
Yet it must be done.

(Enki acts surprised, then gently disengages Ninshubur.)
Father Enki said;
'What has happened?
What has my daughter done?
Inanna, Queen of All the Lands! Holy Priestess of Heaven!
What has happened? I am troubled, I am grieved.'
For no man nor woman can enter the Underworld and live,
No man nor woman, and not even I, Enki, the great god of Invention,
But I know who can!

Enki's plan

(Enki makes magical gestures, waving first one hand and then the other. From where they have been crouched under rough brown blankets, being part of the earth, the Kurgarra and Galatur arise. They wear only simple white tunics.)
From under his fingernail Father Enki brought forth dirt.
He fashioned the dirt into a Kurgarra, a creature neither male nor female.
From under the fingernail of his other hand he brought forth dirt.
He fashioned the dirt into a Galatur, a creature neither male nor female.

(Enki hands the water of life to one and the food of life to the other. During these lines, he mimes instructing them, and meanwhile Ereshkigal can be seen pacing back and forth in front of her throne, moaning, holding her belly, weeping, beating on things, and generally acting anguished.)
He gave the food of life to the Kurgarra.
He gave the water of life to the Galatur, saying:
'Go to the underworld,
Enter the doors like flies,
Erishkigal, the Queen of the Underworld, is moaning
With the cries of a woman about to give birth.
No linen is spread on her body.
Her breasts are uncovered.
Her hair swirls about her head like leeks.
For no one knows how terrible it is to be Death.
All curse Death, and no one loves Her,
And no one shows her compassion.
She takes all the Dead into her womb,
And rebirths them again,
With no mate, no midwife, no aid,
No loving hands to see her through,
And all we do is curse Her yet again.
Weep for her.
The queen will be pleased. She will offer you a gift.
Ask her only for the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall.
One of you will sprinkle the food of life on it.
The other will sprinkle the water of life.
Inanna will arise.'
And remember this mystery, ye who stand before us:
Remember it well:
That when you are trapped in the land of Death,
That the food of life and the water of life
Lie in the hands of those who lie between man and woman.
(The Kurgarra and Galatur walk toward the Underworld gates. Their way is block by the seven Annunaki, holding their rods horizontally. As they approach, the Annunaki step out of the way one by one.)

Inanna's rescue

The Kurgarra and the Galatur heeded Enki's words.
They set out for the underworld.
Like flies, they slipped through the cracks of the gates.
(They come into Ereshkigal's presence, where she has taken to her throne and is rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around herself, miming weeping. She has torn half of her clothing off and is disheveled.)
They entered the throne room of the Queen of the Underworld.
No linen was spread on her body.
Her breasts were uncovered.
Her hair swirled around her head like leeks.
Will no one ever have compassion for Death?
Shame on you all, who stand here now!
Can you not reach beyond your own small lives?

(The Kurgarra and Galatur kneel before her throne. As she moans and rocks, they mime compassionate gestures and weep for her.)
Erishkigal was moaning: 'Oh! Oh! My inside!'
They moaned. 'Oh! Oh! Your inside!'
She moaned: 'Oh! Oh! My outside!'
They moaned: 'Oh! Oh! Your outside!'
She groaned: 'Oh! Oh! My belly!'
They groaned: 'Oh! Oh! Your belly!'
She groaned: 'Oh! Oh! My back!'
They groaned: 'Oh! Oh! Your back!'
She sighed: 'Ah! Ah! My heart!'
They sighed: 'Ah! Ah! Your heart!'
She sighed: 'Ah! Ahhhh! My liver!'
They sighed: 'Ah! Ahhhh! Your liver!'
And they wept for her, with the first tears that had ever been shed at her throne out of compassion and not fear. They wept, and for once Death was astonished.

(Ereshkigal stops, rises, and walks over to them. She offers them a chalice of water; they refuse. She offers them a sheaf of grain; they refuse.)
Erishkigal stopped. She looked at them.
She asked: 'Who are you,
Moaning - groaning - sighing with me?'
If you are gods, I will bless you.
If you are mortals, I will give you a gift.
I will give you the water-gift, the river in its fullness.'
The Kurgarra and Galatur answered: 'We do not wish it.'
For we carry the water of life in our hands, the source of all waters.
Erishkigal said: 'I will give you the grain gift, the fields in harvest.'
The Kurgarra and Galatur said: 'We do not wish it.'
For we carry the food of life in our hands, the source of all nourishment.
Erishkigal said: 'Speak then! What do you wish?'
(They point to where Inanna hangs limply.)
They answered: 'We wish only for the corpse that hangs from the hook on the wall.'
(Ereshkigal turns and walks over to where Inanna hangs. She appears to be studying the situation.)
Erishkigal said: 'That corpse belongs to Inanna.'
They said: 'Whether it belongs to our queen,
Whether it belongs to our king,
That is what we wish.'
(Ereshkigal gestures and the Annunaki take Inanna down. She is motionless and limp, and they arrange her naked on the floor.)
And so the Queen of Heaven was ransomed from Death by the gift of tears,
Given to one who most think does not deserve them.
Remember this, ye who stand here before us,
Remember this when you are someday trapped in the Underworld.
Remember the gift of tears, and ask who is undeserving?
The corpse was given to them.

(The Kurgarra and Galatur sprinkle the food and water of life on Inanna. She slowly comes to life and rises, with accompanying fast drumbeats. They clothe her in a simple white robe, of the same fabric as their own simple white tunics.)
The kurgarra sprinkled the food of life on the corpse.
The galatur sprinkled the water of life on the corpse.
Inanna rose......
But there is always a price. No one walks away from Death for free.
(The Annunaki seize Inanna's arms and do not let her follow the Kurgarra and Galatur.)
Inanna was about to ascend from the underworld
When the Annunaki, the judges of the underworld, seized her.
They said: 'No one ascends from the underworld unmarked.
If Inanna wishes to return from the underworld,
She must provide someone in her place.'

Inanna returns

(They let go of Inanna, but remain surrounding her. At this point, the participants shift from being the Annunaki to being the galla, the demons of the Underworld. They may don horrible masks at this point, and/or large artificial phalli.)
As Inanna ascended from the underworld,
The galla, the demons of the underworld, clung to her side.
(Inanna walks forth in triumphal procession, flanked by the Kurgarra and the Galatur, and followed by the horde of demons.)
The galla were demons who know no food, who know no drink,
Who eat no offerings, who drink no libations,
Who accept no gifts.
They enjoy no lovemaking.
They have no sweet children to kiss.
For is it not so that this is what we find when we enter the Underworld?
We carry these demons with us,
They cling to our sides, and we cannot defeat them
Except with sacrifice.
They tear the wife from the husband's arms,
They tear the child from the father's knees,
They steal the bride from her marriage home.
They come between us and everything we love.
(The procession circles the room three times.)
The demons clung to Inanna.
The small galla who accompanied Inanna
Were like reeds the size of low picket fences.
The large galla who accompanied Inanna
Were like reeds the size of large picket fences.
The one who walked in front of Inanna was not a minister,
Yet he carried a sceptre.
The one who walked behind her was not a warrior,
Yet he carried a mace.


(Ninshubur comes forth as Inanna and her procession reach the center of the area again. She throws herself at Inanna's feet. The demons make as if to take her, but Inanna holds onto Ninshubur and protects her, standing proundly against the demons.)
Ninshubur waited outside the palace gates.
When she saw Inanna
Surrounded by the galla
She threw herself in the dust at Inanna's feet.
The galla said: 'Walk on, Inanna,
We shall take Ninshubur in your place.'


Inanna cried:
'No! Ninshubur is my constant support.
She is my sukkal who gives me wise advice.
She is my warrior who fights by my side.
She did not forget my words.
She set up a lament for my by the ruins.
She beat the drum for me at the assembly places.
She circled the houses of the gods.
She tore at her eyes, at her mouth, at her thighs.
She dressed herself in a single garment like a beggar.
Alone she set out for Nippur and the temple of Enlil.
She went to Ur and the temple of Nanna.
She went to Eridu and the temple of Enki.
Because of her, my life was saved.
I will never give Ninshubur to you.'


(They walk on. Ninshubur runs ahead through the audience, crying out, "Welcome the Queen of Heaven! Welcome the Queen of Heaven!" She encourages people to bow to Inanna as she walks by. Dumuzi ascends Inanna's throne, which has been empty up until now. He places a crown on his head. When she approaches the throne, he acts surprised.)
The galla said: 'Walk on to your city, Inanna.
We will go with you to the big apple tree in Uruk.'
In Uruk, by the big apple tree,
Dumuzi, the husband of Inanna, was dressed in his shining garments.
He sat on his magnificent throne.
And when he looked upon her, she whom he had been told was dead,
Whom he had been told was lost to the Underworld,
Whose throne he had taken for himself
And was beginning to like that very much,
All he could think of to say was:
"You! What are you doing here?"


(Inanna sees Dumuzi's reaction and becomes enraged.)
Inanna fastened on Dumuzi the eye of death.
I come back from death, and you do not greet me with joy and love?
She spoke against him the word of wrath.
I crawl back from torment in the Underworld, and you do not care?
She uttered against him the cry of guilt.
'Take him away! Take Dumuzi away!'
My love, how could you do this to me!

Dumuzi's capture

(The demons rush over and seize Dumuzi. They drag him off the throne and throw him down, and slap him around. The bind his wrists and pull his tunic up over his head. They whip him, and torture his genitals.)
Inanna handed over Dumuzi to them in exchange for herself.
For the wrath of a lover scorned will shake the world.
They cried, "We will put his feet in foot stocks!
We will put his hands in hand stocks,
We will put his neck in neck stocks!"
For his lack of compassion, he was bound.
The galla, who know no food, who know no drink,
Who eat no offerings, who drink no libations,
Who accept no gifts, seized Dumuzi.
They sharpened their large copper axes.
They gashed him with axes.
Copper pins, nails and pokers were raised to his face.
For his lack of love, he was the meat of demons.
They made him stand up, they made him sit down.
They bound his arms, they did evil to him.
They covered his face with his own garment.
They seized him by the thighs.
They beat the husband of Inanna.
They poured milk out of his seven churns.
They broke the reed pipe which the shepherd was playing.
For his numbness to the pain of others, he suffered.


Dumuzi let out a wail.
He raised his hands to heaven to Utu, the God of Justice, and beseeched him:
'O Utu, you are my brother-in-law,
I am the husband of your sister.
I brought cream to your mother's house,
I brought milk to Ningal's house.
I am the one who carried food to the holy shrine.
I am the one who brought wedding gifts to Uruk
I am the one who danced on the holy knees, the knees of Inanna.
Utu, you who are a just god, a merciful god,
Change my hands into the hands of a snake.
Change my feet into the feet of a snake.
Let me escape from my demons;
Do not let them hold me
Like a sajkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains,
Let me escape alive to the dwelling of my sister Geshtinanna!"
Geshtinanna will protect me.
More than anyone, she has always protected me.
She will suffer for me
So that I will not have to suffer for Inanna.


(Dumuzi slips out of the bonds and away from the demons, and runs through the audience. The demons run after him, but cannot find him. Geshtinanna comes forward while the demons are busy in the audience, and they meet in the center and embrace.)
The merciful Utu accepted Dumuzi's tears.
He changed the hands of Dumuzi into snake hands.
He changed the feet of Dumuzi into snake feet.
Dumuzi escaped from his demons.
Hunt him! Hunt him!
Then like a sajkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains,
Hunt him! Hunt him!
Like a soaring falcon that can swoop down on a bird,
Hunt him! Hunt him!
Dumuzi escaped alive to the dwelling of his sister Geshtinanna.
Geshtinanna looked at her brother and wept for him.
Oh my brother, what have you done?
Oh, my foolish brother, you have all the demons of the Dead behind you.
Oh my foolish brother, I will save you anyway,
Even though you do not deserve it.


(The demons mime searching for Dumuzi, then one steps forth and gestures, and they clap their hands and go toward Geshtinanna. She motions for Dumuzi to run away, and he hides in the audience.)
The demons went hither and thither searching for Dumuzi.
The small demons said to the big demons:
"Who has ever seen a man, without a family,
All alone, escape with his life?
Let us go to the dwelling of Geshtinanna, his sister."
The demons clapped their hands and began to seek him out.
He will never escape us.
He will never escape us.
He will never escape us.

The torture of Geshtinanna

Geshtinanna had barely finished her lament
When the demons arrived at her dwelling.
"Show us where your brother is," they said to her.
(The demons rush in and seize Geshtinanna, flinging her to the ground on her hands and knees. They slap her around a bit.)
He can never escape us.
But she spoke not a word to them.
They afflicted her loins with a disease,
(The demons mime raping her.)
He can never escape us.
But she spoke not a word to them.
They scratched her face with their nails,
(The demons scratch at her and slap her around some more.)
He can never escape us.
But she spoke not a word to them.
They whipped the skin of her buttocks,
(The demons whip her ass.)
He can never escape us.
But she spoke not a word to them.
They poured tar in her lap,
(The demons pour candle wax over her.)
He can never escape us.
But she spoke not a word to them.
So they could not find Dumuzi at the house of Geshtinanna.
(The demons throw her down in disgust and walk away.)
He can never escape us.


The small demons said to the big demons:
"Come, let's go to the holy sheepfold!"
(The demons rush around through the audience, hunting. Dumuzi hides behind audience members.)
He can never escape us.
There at the holy sheepfold they caught Dumuzi.
(One of the demons points at him, and waves to the others.)
He can never escape us.
They went hither and thither until they caught him.
(The demons surround him with weapons held high.)
He can never escape us.
They searched for him until he was seen.
He can never escape us.
The axe was wielded against the lad who had no longer any family.
He can never escape us.
(The demons close in, slowly, about to smash him.)
They sharpened their daggers, they smashed his hut.
His doom is upon him.
His doom is upon him.
His doom is upon him.
(Geshtinanna runs toward the place where the demons have converged on Dumuzi.)
His sister wandered about the city like a bird because of her brother:
"My brother, let me take the great misfortune, come, let me take this on for you!"
(Geshtinanna flings herself in front of him.)
Wait!
One offers her life for his!
(The demons freeze, spears and axes lifted. Dumuzi falls to the ground. Inanna comes forward, and both she and Geshtinanna kneel beside him.)

Inanna and Geshtinanna went to the edges of the steppe.
They found Dumuzi weeping.
Inanna took Dumuzi by the hand and said:
"You will go to the underworld half the year.
Your sister, since she has asked, will go the other half.
On the day you are called,
That day you will be taken.
On that day Geshtinanna is called,
That day you will be set free.
Half a life for half a life.
Half a life lived in the light,
Half a life lived in the darkness.
(Inanna raises Dumuzi to his feet.)
Inanna placed Dumuzi in the hands of the eternal.
(Inanna leads him to the demons and hands him over. He obeys limply, as if exhausted.)
And Death comes for him.
(The demons leap upon him and he falls. They mime killing him with various blows. During the next lines, they slowly lift his body up and carry it off into the darkness as if to a funeral pyre. Geshtinanna drops to her knees and touches her forehead to the earth. Inanna stands, looking after him until he is gone, then turns and leads the procession out. All fall in behind her except for the narrators, who continue reading until the end. Everyone who walks out hums a note, like a wordless chant.)


On the day when Dumuzi arises again,
And the lapis pipe and the carnelian ring come up with him,
When all the mourners weep for him,
The dead shall come up and smell the smoke offering.
For all of us, in our own time,
Must descend to the Underworld and arise.
Perhaps we go willing, perhaps unwilling,
But in the end it is the same place.
Hail the Queen of Heaven, for she has arisen from the dark!
Hail the Queen of Heaven!
And hail also those who take her place,
Hail all who descend to the darkness!
Hail all who descend to the darkness!
Hail all who descend to the darkness!
Hail all who descend to the darkness!
(Silence descends., except for the booming of the drum.)

© Raven Kaldera. Do not post or reprint without permission. cauldronfarm@hotmail.com

Background artwork © 2008 Michael Manning http://www.thespidergarden.net