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Comments, suggestions, lesson information, student artwork/writings submissions?
Email: temple@ladyishtar.org
Email: temple@ladyishtar.org
Ye Myths &
Legends
Legends
THE SLEEP OF ISHTAR
Ishtar, Daughter of Sin, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mistress of the Gods, set forth
upon a trip to the Abyss, in order to enter the gates of death and into the land of No
Return under the Dominion of her sister ERESHKIGAL. This land was referred to as
CUTHA in Ancient Sumeria. ISHTAR arrived at the cave which was the entrance to
the Underworld. She met the watcher, NINNGHIZHIDDA, Horned Serpent of the
Deep, who stood fast barring her entrance to CUTHA. ISHTAR demanded he open
the gates and let her pass in the name of the Lord ENKI, Master of Magicians. She
threatened to attack and tear down the barriers and cause the dead to rise if the
watcher of the gate did not let her pass. The great serpent coiled back on itself and
answered, "Lady ISHTAR, Queen among the Gods, I go before my Mistress
ERESHKIGAL, Queen of Death and announce thee." NINNGHIZHIDDA approached
Lady ERESHKIGAL and said, "Behold ISHTAR, Thy Sister, Queen among the Gods,
stands before the Gate! Daughter of Sin, Mistress of ENKI. She waits."
ERESHKIGAL was pale with fear. The Dark waters stirred. "Go, NINNGHIZHIDDA,
Watcher of the Gate. Open the door to ISHTAR. Treat Her as it is written in the
Ancient Covenant." The great serpent loosed the bolt from the hatch and darkness
fell upon ISHTAR. The Dark Waters rose and carried the Goddess of the Light to
the Realms of the Night. The serpent bade, "Enter Queen of Heaven that KUR may
rejoice... That CUTHA may give praise... That KUTU may smile. Enter that KUTULU
may be pleased at thy presence." ISHTAR entered the first gate to the underworld.
There are Seven Gates and Seven Decrees...
* At the first gate, she was bade to leave Her crown behind.
* At the second gate, Her wand of Lapis Lazuli was taken away
* At the third gate, The Great Serpent removed the jewels from around Her neck
* At the fourth gate, the Watcher of the Gate removed the jewels upon Her breast
* At the fifth gate, the belt of jewels from around Her waist was taken away
* At the sixth gate, the jewels from around Her wrists were removed
* At the seventh gate, the jeweled robes of ISHTAR were laid aside and the Lady
beheld the Netherworld
ISHTAR descended to the Land of KUR in the depths of CUTHA. Having lost the
source of Her powers in the seven talismans of the upperworlds, She was powerless
when she appeared before Her sister ERESHKIGAL, Mistress of Death.
ERESHKIGAL screamed at Her presence and summoned the magician NAMMATAR.
She bade him go and imprison Her sister; To bind Her in darkness; To chain Her in
the Sea below the seas; To release against ISHTAR the ANNUNNAKI and the hordes
of demons under the Dark Queen's command.
The ANNUNNAKI, Dread Judges, Seven Lords of the Underworld, drew around
ISHTAR, fixed Her with the Eye of Death, and killed her. Her corpse was hung from a
stake and the demons tore Her body to pieces. The Dread Gods and Goddesses of
the dark spaces and the Dread Lords of the Underworld, rejoiced and gave praise
to ERESHKIGAL, Queen of Death.
The Elder Gods above were rent with fear over the death of Lady ISHTAR. Father
ENKI, Lord of Magic, upon receiving word of ISHTAR'S sleep in the House of Death,
summoned forth clay and wind and fashioned two Elementals. To one, he gave the
Spirit of Earth and the Food of Life. To the other, he gave the Spirit of Seas and the
water of Life. With the power of the magic of ENKI, they were able to enter
undetected into the Underworld. Making haste in the Palace of Death, they came
upon the corpse of ISHTAR hanging, dismembered, and bleeding from a thousand
fatal wounds.
They gathered together the body and sprinkled upon it sixty times the food of life
and sixty times the water of life. ERESHKIGAL sensed their presence and cried out.
The Elementals, armed with fire and flame, fixed the rays of fire and flame upon the
Dark Queen of the Underworld and held her back. ISHTAR arose. The Dark Gods
and Goddesses screamed and ran in fear, gathering their forces around them for
protection. ISHTAR, with the winged Elementals, fled from the Palace of Death,
taking with her the talismans she was forced to leave behind as she returned to the
Upperworld. The demons rose and the Spirits of the Dead exited the Netherworld
with the Queen of Light.
Because of this, the scorned Queen of the Abyss pronounced a powerful curse
against ISHTAR. When her husband and consort, DUMUZI, enters the underworld,
mankind will suffer cold and hardships. The Dread Lords of Death shall rise and
walk the Earth.
upon a trip to the Abyss, in order to enter the gates of death and into the land of No
Return under the Dominion of her sister ERESHKIGAL. This land was referred to as
CUTHA in Ancient Sumeria. ISHTAR arrived at the cave which was the entrance to
the Underworld. She met the watcher, NINNGHIZHIDDA, Horned Serpent of the
Deep, who stood fast barring her entrance to CUTHA. ISHTAR demanded he open
the gates and let her pass in the name of the Lord ENKI, Master of Magicians. She
threatened to attack and tear down the barriers and cause the dead to rise if the
watcher of the gate did not let her pass. The great serpent coiled back on itself and
answered, "Lady ISHTAR, Queen among the Gods, I go before my Mistress
ERESHKIGAL, Queen of Death and announce thee." NINNGHIZHIDDA approached
Lady ERESHKIGAL and said, "Behold ISHTAR, Thy Sister, Queen among the Gods,
stands before the Gate! Daughter of Sin, Mistress of ENKI. She waits."
ERESHKIGAL was pale with fear. The Dark waters stirred. "Go, NINNGHIZHIDDA,
Watcher of the Gate. Open the door to ISHTAR. Treat Her as it is written in the
Ancient Covenant." The great serpent loosed the bolt from the hatch and darkness
fell upon ISHTAR. The Dark Waters rose and carried the Goddess of the Light to
the Realms of the Night. The serpent bade, "Enter Queen of Heaven that KUR may
rejoice... That CUTHA may give praise... That KUTU may smile. Enter that KUTULU
may be pleased at thy presence." ISHTAR entered the first gate to the underworld.
There are Seven Gates and Seven Decrees...
* At the first gate, she was bade to leave Her crown behind.
* At the second gate, Her wand of Lapis Lazuli was taken away
* At the third gate, The Great Serpent removed the jewels from around Her neck
* At the fourth gate, the Watcher of the Gate removed the jewels upon Her breast
* At the fifth gate, the belt of jewels from around Her waist was taken away
* At the sixth gate, the jewels from around Her wrists were removed
* At the seventh gate, the jeweled robes of ISHTAR were laid aside and the Lady
beheld the Netherworld
ISHTAR descended to the Land of KUR in the depths of CUTHA. Having lost the
source of Her powers in the seven talismans of the upperworlds, She was powerless
when she appeared before Her sister ERESHKIGAL, Mistress of Death.
ERESHKIGAL screamed at Her presence and summoned the magician NAMMATAR.
She bade him go and imprison Her sister; To bind Her in darkness; To chain Her in
the Sea below the seas; To release against ISHTAR the ANNUNNAKI and the hordes
of demons under the Dark Queen's command.
The ANNUNNAKI, Dread Judges, Seven Lords of the Underworld, drew around
ISHTAR, fixed Her with the Eye of Death, and killed her. Her corpse was hung from a
stake and the demons tore Her body to pieces. The Dread Gods and Goddesses of
the dark spaces and the Dread Lords of the Underworld, rejoiced and gave praise
to ERESHKIGAL, Queen of Death.
The Elder Gods above were rent with fear over the death of Lady ISHTAR. Father
ENKI, Lord of Magic, upon receiving word of ISHTAR'S sleep in the House of Death,
summoned forth clay and wind and fashioned two Elementals. To one, he gave the
Spirit of Earth and the Food of Life. To the other, he gave the Spirit of Seas and the
water of Life. With the power of the magic of ENKI, they were able to enter
undetected into the Underworld. Making haste in the Palace of Death, they came
upon the corpse of ISHTAR hanging, dismembered, and bleeding from a thousand
fatal wounds.
They gathered together the body and sprinkled upon it sixty times the food of life
and sixty times the water of life. ERESHKIGAL sensed their presence and cried out.
The Elementals, armed with fire and flame, fixed the rays of fire and flame upon the
Dark Queen of the Underworld and held her back. ISHTAR arose. The Dark Gods
and Goddesses screamed and ran in fear, gathering their forces around them for
protection. ISHTAR, with the winged Elementals, fled from the Palace of Death,
taking with her the talismans she was forced to leave behind as she returned to the
Upperworld. The demons rose and the Spirits of the Dead exited the Netherworld
with the Queen of Light.
Because of this, the scorned Queen of the Abyss pronounced a powerful curse
against ISHTAR. When her husband and consort, DUMUZI, enters the underworld,
mankind will suffer cold and hardships. The Dread Lords of Death shall rise and
walk the Earth.
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