Inanna's Journey To The Underworld Research Paper

The Descent of Inanna histories the great goddess and Queen of Heaven Inanna’s journey from heaven, to earth, to the underworld to visit her recently widowed sister Ereshkigal, Queen of the Dead. Inanna is dressed in her finest attire and wears the crown of heaven on her head, beads around her neck, her breastplate, golden ring and carries her scepter, the rod of power. Just before she enters the underworld, she gives Ninsubur instructions on how to come to her aid if she fail to return when expected. The reason she gives to the gatekeeper of the underworld is that she wants to attend the funeral rites of Ereshkigal's husband, named Gud-gal-ana.
When Neti the gatekeeper delivers the news to Ereshkigal that Inanna is at the gates, She does not seem pleased to hear the news that her sister is at the gate.
Inanna is stripped of her crown, beads, ring, sceptre, even her clothing and, when she asks the meaning of this indignity is told by Neti, “it is just the ways of the underworld.” When she arrives in front of her sister, she is naked. Then she made her sister Erec-ki-gala rise from her throne, and instead she sat on her throne.
The Annuna, the judges of the underworld, surround her and pass judgment against her,. Ereshkigal strikes her. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse and was hung on a hook. After three days and three nights waiting for her mistress, Ninshubur follows the commands Inanna gave her, goes to Inanna’s father-god Enki for help, and receives two `galla’, two androgynous demons, to aid her in returning Inanna to the