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CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar (composite) (P497322)

Literary, Neo-Assyrian, Assur · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationCDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar (composite)
IDP497322
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
GenreLiterary
Find spotAssur (mod. Qalat Sherqat)
Coordinates35.4557, 43.2611

English translation

Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)

LineEnglish
surface a 1To Kurnugi’a, domain of Ereškigal,
surface a 2did Ištar, daughter of Sîn, her ear direct;
surface a 3indeed did direct the daughter of Sîn her ear
surface a 4to the house of darkness, the dwelling of Irkalla,
surface a 5to the house where those who enter are not such who exit,
surface a 6to the route whose path is one of he who does not return,
surface a 7to the house where those who enter are deprived of light,
surface a 8Where dust (satisfies) their hunger, their food is clay,
surface a 9(where) light they do not see, in darkness they sit
surface a 10(where) they are clothed like birds, in garments of feathers,
surface a 11over the door and lock, dust was settled,
surface a 12Ištar, at the gate of Kurnugi’a arriving,
surface a 13to the gatekeeper speaks:
surface a 14“Gatekeeper, open your gate for me;
surface a 15open your gate for me, that I, indeed I, may enter;
surface a 16if you do not open the gate for me, so that I, indeed I, cannot enter,
surface a 17I will strike the door, the lock I will break;
surface a 18I will strike the posts, I will push the doors aside,
surface a 19I will raise up the dead; they will devour the living,
surface a 20that the dead will outnumber the living.”
surface a 21The gatekeeper worked his mouth, saying,
surface a 22speaking to great Ištar:
surface a 23“Stand, my lady, do not knock it down,
surface a 24let me go and your words repeat to queen Ereškigal.”
surface a 25He entered, and the gatekeeper speaks to Ereškigal:
surface a 26“Here now, your sister Ištar is standing at your gate,
surface a 27she who holds the great hunting loops, who roils up the Apsu before king Ea.”
surface a 28Ereškigal, hearing this,
surface a 29like cut tamarisk went yellow her face,
surface a 30like the edge of a drinking reed went black her lips.
surface a 31“What brought her heart to me? What caused her liver to light up for me?
surface a 32Here now, shall I, even I, with the Anunnaki water drink?
surface a 33As if bread, shall I eat clay? As if beer, shall I drink murky water?
surface a 34Let me weep for the young men who leave behind wives?
surface a 35Let me weep weep for the maidens who from the lap of their spouses are torn?
surface a 36For the weak young one let me weep, who before his days was lead away?
surface a 37Go, gatekeeper, open for her your gate,
surface a 38treat her according to the ancient rules!”
surface a 39Off went the gatekeeper, and opened for her his gate.
surface a 40“Enter, my lady, let Kuthâ rejoice over you.”
surface a 41May the palace of Kurnugi’a be happy at your presence!”
surface a 42The 1st gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the great crown of her head.
surface a 43“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away the great crown of my head?”
surface a 44“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 45The 2nd gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the earrings of her ears.
surface a 46“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away the earrings of my ears?”
surface a 47“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 48The 3rd gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the beads of her neck.
surface a 49“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away the beads of my neck?”
surface a 50“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 51The 4th gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the pectoral of her chest.
surface a 52“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away the pectoral of my chest?”
surface a 53“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 54The 5th gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the belt of birthstones of her hips
surface a 55“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away belt of birthstones of my hips?”
surface a 56“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 57The 6th gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the bracelets of her hand and her foot.
surface a 58“Why, gatekeeper, did you take away the bracelets of my hand and my foot?”
surface a 59“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 60The 7th gate he let her enter, and he spread out and took away the garment of modesty of her body.
surface a 61“Why, gatekeeper, did you carry off the garment of modesty of my body?
surface a 62“Enter, my lady, of the lady of the netherworld thus are her rules.”
surface a 63away from there, Ishtar to Kurnugi’a descended.
surface a 64Ereshkigal saw her and in her presence began to shake.
surface a 65Ishtar did not reflect; above her she rose.
surface a 66Ereshkigal her mouth worked, speaking,
surface a 67to Namtar, her high minister, the words speaking:
surface a 68“Go, Namtar, ... in my palace, and
surface a 69send out against her, the sixty diseases against Ishtar:
surface a 70the disease of the eyes against her eyes,
surface a 71the disease of the side against her side,
surface a 72the disease of the feet against her feet,
surface a 73the disease of the stomach against her stomach,
surface a 74the disease of the head against her head,
surface a 75against her, all of her, against her body!”
surface a 76After lady Ištar to Kurnugi’a descended,
surface a 77the cow the bull does not mount, the donkey the jenny does not impregnate;
surface a 78the young woman in the street does not impregnate the young man;
surface a 79lay the young man in his chamber,
surface a 80lay the young woman on her side.
surface a 81Papsukkal, minister of the great gods: bent low was his nose, his face;
surface a 82in rags clad, unkempt hair bearing, ...
surface a 83he went, tired, before Sîn, his father, weeping, ...
surface a 84before Ea, the king, he was going, his tears ...:
surface a 85“Ištar to the underworld descended, but did not ascend;
surface a 86since Ištar to Kurnugi’a descended,
surface a 87the cow the bull does not mount, the donkey the jenny does not impregnate;
surface a 88the young woman in the street is not impregnated by the young man;
surface a 89lay the young man in his chamber,
surface a 90lay the young woman on her side;
surface a 91Ea, in the wisdom of his stomach, has created a man,
surface a 92and he created Aṣûšu-namir, a she-man,
surface a 93come, Aṣûšu-namir, in the gate of Kurnugi’a set you face!
surface a 94may the 7 gates of Kurnugi’a be opened in your face!
surface a 95May Ereškigal see you and in your face rejoice!
surface a 96when her stomach is calmed, her liver happy,
surface a 97make her utter the oath of the great gods!
surface a 98Raise your head, to the waterskin ear give!
surface a 99“O Lady, the waterskin let them give me, that water therefrom I may drink!”
surface a 100Ereškigal, hearing this,
surface a 101struck her thigh, bit her finger:
surface a 102“You made a request of me that is not to be requested!
surface a 103Come, Aṣûšu-namir, let me lay a great curse on you!
surface a 104May the breads of the plows of the city be your bread!
surface a 105May the drainpipes of the city be your drink,
surface a 106the shadows of the wall your stations,
surface a 107the threshold your residence!
surface a 108May drunks and parched strike your cheek!”
surface a 109Ereškigal worked her mouth, saying,
surface a 110to Namtar, her minister, words speaking:
surface a 111“Go, Namtar, strike Egalgina!
surface a 112The thresholds adorn in coral stone!
surface a 113The Anunna bring out and on thrones of gold seat them!
surface a 114Ištar with water of life sprinkle and take her into(?) my presence!”
surface a 115Off went Namtar and knocked at Egalgina;
surface a 116the thresholds he decorated with coral stone;
surface a 117the Anunna he brought out and on thrones of gold sat them;
surface a 118Ištar with water of life he sprinkled and took her into(?) her presence;
surface a 119out of the first gate he brought her and returned to her the loincloth of her body;
surface a 120out of the second gate he brought her and returned to her her bracelets and anklets;
surface a 121out of the third gate he brought her and returned to her the girdle of birth-stones around her waist;
surface a 122out of the fourth gate he brought her and returned to her her breast pins;
surface a 123out of the fifth gate he brought her and returned to her the beads around her neck;
surface a 124out of the sixth gate he brought her and returned to her the earrings on her ears;
surface a 125out of the seventh gate he brought her and returned to her the great tiara on her head.

Transliteration (ATF)

From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
surface a
1a-na _kur-nu-gi4-a_ qaq-qa-ri {d}eresz-ki-gal
2{d}inanna _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un-sza2 isz-kun
3isz-kun-ma _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un-sza2
4a-na _e2_ e-t,e-e szu-bat {d}ir-kal-la
5a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 la a-s,u-u2
6a-na har-ra-ni sza a-lak-ta-sza2 la ta-a-a-rat
7a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 zu-um-mu-u2 nu-u2-ra
8a-szar _sahar-hi-a_ bu-bu-us-su-nu a-kal-szu-nu t,i-it,-t,u
9nu-u2-ru ul im-ma-ru i-na e-t,u-t,i asz2-bu
10lab-szu-ma _gin7_ is,-s,ur-ri s,u-bat kap-pi
11_ugu {gesz}ig_ u _{gesz}sag-kul_ sza2-bu-uh ep-ru
12{d}inanna a-na _ka2 kur-nu-gi4-a_ ina ka-sza2-di-sza2
13a-na _{lu2}i3-du8_ ba-a-bi a-ma-tu4 iz-zak-kar
14_{lu2}i3-du8_-me-e pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka
15pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka-ma lu-ru-ba a-na-ku
16szum-ma la ta-pat-ta-a ba-a-bu la er-ru-ba a-na-ku
17a-mah-ha-as, dal-tu4 sik-ku-ru a-szab-bir
18a-mah-ha-as, si-ip-pu-ma u3-sza2-bala-kat3 _{gesz}ig-mesz_
19u2-sze-el-la-a mi-tu-ti _gu7-mesz_ bal-t,u-ti
20_ugu_ bal-t,u-ti i-ma-i-du mi-tu-ti
21_{lu2}i3-du8_ pa-a-szu2 i-pu-usz-ma i-qab-bi
22iz-zak-ka-ra a-na _gal_-ti {d}isz-tar
23i-zi-zi be-el-ti la ta-na-da-asz2-szi
24lu-ul-lik _mu_-ki lu-sza2-an-ni a-na szar-ra-ti {d}eresz-ki-gal
25e-ru-um-ma _{lu2}i3-du8_ iz-zak-ka-ra a-na {d}eresz-ki-gal
26an-ni-tu me-e a-ha-ta-ki {d}isz-tar i-za-az i-na ba-bi-ka
27mu-kil-tu sza2 kep-pe-e _gal-mesz_ da-li-ha-at ap-si-i ma-har {d}e2-a _lugal_
28{d}eresz-ki-gal an-ni-ta i-na sze-mi-sza2
29ki-ma ni-kis {gesz}bi-ni e-ri-qu pa-nu-sza2
30ki-ma sza2-pat2 ku-ni-ni is,-li-ma sza-pa2-tu-sza2
31mi-na-a lib3-ba-sza2 ub-la-an-ni mi-na-a kab-ta-sa-ma usz-par2-da-an-ni-ma
32an-ni-tu-me-e a-na-ku it-ti {d}a-nun-na-ki _a-mesz_ a-szat-ti
33ki-ma _ninda-mesz_ a-kal _im_ ki-ma _kasz-mesz_ a-szat-ta-a _a-mesz_ dal-hu-te
34lu-ub-ki a-na _gurusz-mesz_ sza e-zi-bu {munus}hi-re-ti
35lu-ub-ki a-na _{munus}ki-sikil-mesz_ sza _ta ur2_ {lu2}ha-i-ri-szi-na szal-lu-pa-ni
36a-na _{lu2}tur_ la-ke-e lu-ub-ki sza ina la _u4-mesz_-szu3 t,ar-du
37a-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ pi-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-ka
38up-pi-is-si-ma ki-ma _garza-mesz_ la-bi-ru-ti
39il-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ ip-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-szu
40er-bi be-el-ti gu2-du8-a{ki} li-risz-ki
41_e2-gal kur-nu-gi-a_ li-ih-du ina pa-ni-ki
421(disz)-en _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-sza2
43am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-ia
44er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
452(disz)-a _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-sza2
46am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-ia
47er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
483(disz)-szu _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-sza2
49am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-ia
50er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
514(disz)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-sza2
52am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-ia
53er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
545(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-sza2
55am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-ia
56er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
576(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _har-mesz szu_-sza2 u _giri3_-sza2
58am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _har-mesz szu_-ia u _giri3_-ia
59er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
607(disz)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal s,u-bat bal-ti sza2 zu-um-ri-sza2
61am-mi3-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal s,u-bat bal-ti sza2 zu-um-ri2-ia
62er-bi be-el-ti sza {d}nin-ki-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
63isz-tu ul-la-nu-um-ma {d}isz-tar a-na kur-nu-gi4-a u2-ri-du
64{d}nin-ki-gal i-mur-szi-ma ina pa-ni-sza2 ir-'-ub
65{d}inanna ul im-ma-lik e-le-nu-usz-sza2 it-bi
66{d}nin-ki-gal pa-a-sza i-pu-usz-ma i-qab-bi
67a-na {d}nam-tar _sukkal_-sza2 a-ma-tu4 iz-zak-kar
68a-lik {d}nam-tar [...]-ru4 ina _e2-kal_-li-ia-ma
69szu-s,a-asz2-szi 1(disz) szu-szi _gig_ a-na {d}inanna
70_gig igi-min_ a-na _igi-min_-sza2
71_gig_ a-hi a-na a-hi-sza2
72_gig giri3-min_ a-na _giri3-min_-sza2
73_gig sza3_-bi a-na _sza3_-bi-sza
74_gig sag-du_ a-na _sag-du_-sza
75a-na sza2-a-sza gab-bi-sza-ma a-na zu-um-ri2-sza
76ar-ki {d}isz-tar be-el-ti a-na kur-nu-gi4-a u2-ri-du
77a-na bur-ti _gu4_ ul i-szah-hi-it, _ansze eme3_ ul u2-sza2-ra
78ar-da-tu4 ina _sila_ ul u2-sza2-ra et,-lu
79it-til et-lu i-na kum3-mi-szu2
80it-til ar-da-tum i-na a-hi-sza2
81{d}pap-sukkal _sukkal dingir-mesz gal-mesz_ qu3-ud-du-ud ap-pa-szu2 pa-nu-szu2
82kar-ru la-bisz ma-le-e na-asz2? [...]
83il-lik an-hisz i-na pa-an {d}sin _ad_-szu2 i-bak-ki [...]
84i-na pa-an {d}e2-a _lugal_ il-la-ka di-ma-a-szu2 [...]
85{d}isz-tar a-na _ki_-tim u-rid ul i-la-a
86ul-tu ul-la-nu-um-ma {d}isz-tar a-na kur-nu-gi4-a u2-ri-du
87a-na bur-ti _gu4_ ul i-szah-hi-it, _ansze eme3_ ul u2-sza2-ra
88ar-da-tu4 ina _sila_ ul u2-sza2-ra et,-lu
89it-til et,-lu i-na kum3-mi-szu2
90it-til ar-da-tu4 i-na a-hi-sza2
91{d}e2-a ina em-qi lib3-bi-szu2 ib-ta-ni zik-ru
92ib-ni-ma {disz}e3-szu-na-mir {lu2}as-sin-nu
93al-ka {disz}e3-szu-na-mir i-na _ka2_ kur-nu-gi4-a szu-kun pa-ni-ka
94_7(disz) ka2_ kur-nu-gi4-a lip-pe-tu-u i-na pa-ni-ka
95{d}eresz-ki-gal li-mur-ka-ma i-na pa-ni-ka li-ih-du
96ul-tu lib3-bi-sza2 i-nu-uh-hu kat-ta-as-sa ip-pe2-red-du-u
97tum3-me-szi-ma _mu dingir-mesz gal-mesz_
98szu-qi _sag-mesz_-ka a-na {kusz}hal-zi-qi uz-na szu-kun
99e be-el-ti {kusz}hal-zi-qi lid-nu-ni _a-mes_ i-na lib3-bi lu-ul-ta-ti
100{d}eresz-ki-gal an-ni-ta ina sze-mi-sza2
101tam-ha-as, _ur2_-sza2 tasz-szu-ka u-ba-an-sza2
102te-tir-sza-an-ni e-resz-tu4 la e-re-szi
103al-ka {disz}e3-szu-na-mir lu-zir-ka iz-ra _gal_-a
104_ninda-mesz {gesz}apin-mesz iri_ lu a-kal-ka
105{dug}ha-ba-na-at _iri_ lu ma-al-ti-it-ka
106_gissu bad3_ lu-u2 man-za-zu-ka
107as-kup-pa-tu lu mu-sza-bu-u2-ka
108szak-ru u3 s,a-mu-u2 lim-ha-s,u le-et-ka
109{d}eresz-ki-gal pa-a-sza i-pu-usz-ma i-qab-bi
110a-na {d}nam-tar _sukkal_-sza2 a-ma-ta iz-zak-kar
111a-lik {d}nam-tar ma-ha-as, e2-gal-gi-na
112_{na4}i-dab-mesz_ za-'-i-na sza _{na4}pa-mesz_
113{d}a-nun-na-ki szu-s,a-a i-na _{gesz}gu-za ku3-sig17_ szu-szib
114{d}inanna _a-mesz ti-la_ su-luh-szi-ma le-qa-asz2-szi ina mah-ri-ia
115il-lik {d}nam-tar im-ha-as, _e2-gal-gi-na_
116_{na4}i-dab-mesz_ u2-za-'-i-na sza _{na4}pa-mesz_
117{d}a-nun-na-ki u2-sze-s,a-a ina _{gesz}gu-za ku3-sig17_ u2-sze-szib
118{d}isz-tar _a-mesz ti-la_ is,-luh-szi-ma il-qa-asz2-szi a-na mah-ri-sza2
1191(disz)-en _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi s,u-bat bal-ti-sza2 zu-um-ri-sza2
1202(disz)-a _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi sze-mer _szu-min_ u _giri3_-sza2
1213(disz)-sza2 _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi szib-bu _na4 tu_ sza2 _murub4-mesz_-sza2
1224(disz)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-sza2
1235(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza2 _gu2_-sza2
1246(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi in-s,a-ba-te sza2 _gesztu-min_-sza2
1257(disz@v)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-s,i-szi-ma ut-te-er-szi a-gu-u ra-ba-a sza2 _sag-du_-sza2

Sources & licences

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.