Come now, muses and dryads
Come hither, oracles and naiads
To the twin peaked mountains, seen by those with sight
To the sacred gorges and springs lit by the light
Of holy Parnassus
Come rest and celebrate the Pythian lord
Who holds your love dearest
Who guards you with the golden sword
As you pluck olives, the sweat of Pallas
Hum the song of Apollo
Phoebus, son of Leto
You sure did know where to wear your dagger.
Shit happens sometimes, tis true
But we’re waist deep and starting to stagger
And all they say is, “t’aint right to feel blue.”
Gangster politicians chasing ambition
Propoganda factory, no longer a nation
Watching from a screen this world seems alien
Daggers ain’t a solution, and neither is Valium.
The man sells his soul to claim a piece of history
Transforming it into his own image
Ignoring within him the eternal mystery
Transfusing nonsense with any old adage
Caesar may not have had a heart
But he sure did have a soul
With your life, oh Cassius, would you part
If you were stuck in my little hole.
Or would you just stop giving a fuck… like I’m trying to do
And give up on mankind.
Let’s watch from the sidelines
As their leaders yell, “No refunds!”
Let’s shelter comfortably under the pines
And watch the fetid world of man sink.
Maybe the tears will come after we finish laughing at the punch line
A few centuries later.
-William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 11: Inana’s descent to the nether world: translation
Inanna set the galla demons on Dimuzi knowing that he was invulnerable to their touch. Let them plague him and his interfering sister for all eternity, she thought with a sniff as she left to E-anna. As days passed her rage turned to sorrow. She smiled as she gazed at the cow horned helmet that Dumu had given her as a gift. It was a clumsy looking thing compared to all the finery she possessed, but she treasured it above all her other possessions. Perhaps she had been too hard on him. Maybe she should’ve given him a chance to explain, she thought to herself, and prepared herself to pay him a visit.
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Dumu was downcast. The gallu constantly plagued him, but Inanna’s parting words had hurt him much more than those lowly demons ever could.
“Come,” said a few of his divine cousins who had come to cheer him up, “let’s go play.” They played their usual game of hurling spears and boulders at Dumu, and laughing in glee as the weapons bounced off him. Dumu tried to smile, but his heart wasn’t in it.
“Oh look, a giant boar,” said the blind god Hodr, his hearing sensing the creature’s stealthy approach much before any of the others. “Let’s see what happens when it charges Dumu.” He set the boar onto Dumu’s path. The animal took one look at the forlorn shepherd god and charged, mad with rage. It gored him, again and again, tearing his body into twelve pieces. Dumu’s companions were too shocked to react. His blood flowed in furrows, and the gallu sensing their opportunity at long last ushered his fade into the Underworld the second he took his last breath.
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“Oh, what have I done,” Inanna wept as she saw the mangled remains of her husband. The goddess of Life had tried to trick the goddess of Death and lost. “Ereshkigal, this is not a fair bargain. Give him back. I will give you another.”
“Let all the creatures of the world weep,” she heard Ereshkigal’s voice say, “And I will give back your husband.”
All the creatures of the world wept. They wept for hours… they wept for days… they wept for months… but Dumu didn’t return. Midu had not wept for his brother.
Inanna used all her powers, but could bring back only half of Dumu to life, for half his heart now belonged to the Goddess of the Underworld. His eyes saw nothing, his ears heard nothing, his hands felt nothing, and he sang only half the Song. And so, the world began to experience the four seasons. Inanna learnt the tune to his half song, hoping that perhaps if she learnt it all she could bring him back from the underworld, but he never sang a minim more than half.
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Enki, upset by the loss of his son, gave birth to Vali. Vali’s first king was an act of mercy. He gave his brother Dumu a peaceful death, and accompanied his shade to the ferry all the while feeling the scratches of Inanna on his back. When the ferryman made to go back to the Underworld, Inanna tried to get into the boat, but Vali held her back. “This world needs its goddess of Life.”
“I will go then,” Geshtianna said, stepping into the ferry. “I will make sure Ereshkigal treats Dumu well,” she reassured Inanna.
Vali then killed Hodr for slaying his brother.
Kingship passed to Midu, and he ruled the land well. However, once the mistletoe boar told Ninsun of his crimes, Vali was sent to slay him. Midu was strong, and healed too quickly for Vali to kill. So instead of slaying him, Vali bound him in the entrails of Dumu and imprisoned him under the Tree of Life where he will not be free until Ragnarok.
THE END
A/N: I know the ending is rushed, and I apologize. I really wanted to finish this story today, and in twelve parts.
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 10 : Dumuzi feasts as Inanna Descends
From: http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/b141.htm
1-5From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven the goddess set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven Inana set her mind on the great below. My mistress abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld. Inana abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld.
6-13She abandoned the office of en, abandoned the office of lagar, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-ana in Unug, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Giguna in Zabalam, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-cara in Adab, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Barag-dur-jara in Nibru, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Hursaj-kalama in Kic, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-Ulmac in Agade, and descended to the underworld. (1 ms. adds 8 lines: She abandoned the Ibgal in Umma, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-Dilmuna in Urim, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Amac-e-kug in Kisiga, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-ecdam-kug in Jirsu, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-sig-mece-du in Isin, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Anzagar in Akcak, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the Nijin-jar-kug in Curuppag, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-cag-hula in Kazallu, and descended to the underworld.)
14-19She took the seven divine powers. She collected the divine powers and grasped them in her hand. With the good divine powers, she went on her way. She put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her head. She took a wig for her forehead. She hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.
20-25She placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She covered her body with a pala dress, the garment of ladyship. She placed mascara which is called “Let a man come, let him come” on her eyes. She pulled the pectoral which is called “Come, man, come” over her breast. She placed a golden ring on her hand. She held the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand.
26-27Inana travelled towards the underworld. Her minister Nincubura travelled behind her.
28-31Holy Inana said to Nincubura: “Come my faithful minister of E-ana, my minister who speaks fair words, my escort who speaks trustworthy words (1 ms. has instead: I am going to give you instructions: my instructions must be followed; I am going to say something to you: it must be observed).
32-36“On this day I will descend to the underworld. When I have arrived in the underworld, make a lament for me on the ruin mounds. Beat the drum for me in the sanctuary. Make the rounds of the houses of the gods for me.
37-40“Lacerate your eyes for me, lacerate your nose for me. (1 ms. adds the line: Lacerate your ears for me, in public.) In private, lacerate your buttocks for me. Like a pauper, clothe yourself in a single garment and all alone set your foot in the E-kur, the house of Enlil.
41-47“When you have entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, lament before Enlil: “Father Enlil, don’t let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
48-56“If Enlil does not help you in this matter, go to Urim. In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when you have entered the E-kic-nu-jal, the house of Nanna, lament before Nanna: “Father Nanna, don’t let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
57-64“And if Nanna does not help you in this matter, go to Eridug. In Eridug, when you have entered the house of Enki, lament before Enki: “Father Enki, don’t let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
65-67“Father Enki, the lord of great wisdom, knows about the life-giving plant and the life-giving water. He is the one who will restore me to life.”
68-72When Inana travelled on towards the underworld, her minister Nincubura travelled on behind her. She said to her minister Nincubura: “Go now, my Nincubura, and pay attention. Don’t neglect the instructions I gave you.”
73-77When Inana arrived at the palace Ganzer, she pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld: “Open up, doorman, open up. Open up, Neti, open up. I am all alone and I want to come in.”
78-84Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: “Who are you?” “I am Inana going to the east.” “If you are Inana going to the east, why have you travelled to the land of no return? How did you set your heart on the road whose traveller never returns?”
85-89Holy Inana answered him: “Because lord Gud-gal-ana, the husband of my elder sister holy Erec-ki-gala, has died; in order to have his funeral rites observed, she offers generous libations at his wake — that is the reason.”
90-93Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: “Stay here, Inana. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my mistress Erec-ki-gala and tell her what you have said.”
94-101Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, entered the house of his mistress Erec-ki-gala and said: “My mistress, there is a lone girl outside. It is Inana, your sister, and she has arrived at the palace Ganzer. She pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld. She has abandoned E-ana and has descended to the underworld.
102-107“She has taken the seven divine powers. She has collected the divine powers and grasped them in her hand. She has come on her way with all the good divine powers. She has put a turban, headgear for the open country, on her head. She has taken a wig for her forehead. She has hung small lapis-lazuli beads around her neck.
108-113“She has placed twin egg-shaped beads on her breast. She has covered her body with the pala dress of ladyship. She has placed mascara which is called “Let a man come” on her eyes. She has pulled the pectoral which is called “Come, man, come” over her breast. She has placed a golden ring on her hand. She is holding the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand.”
114-122When she heard this, Erec-ki-gala slapped the side of her thigh. She bit her lip and took the words to heart. She said to Neti, her chief doorman: “Come Neti, my chief doorman of the underworld, don’t neglect the instructions I will give you. Let the seven gates of the underworld be bolted. Then let each door of the palace Ganzer be opened separately. As for her, after she has entered, and crouched down and had her clothes removed, they will be carried away.”
123-128Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, paid attention to the instructions of his mistress. He bolted the seven gates of the underworld. Then he opened each of the doors of the palace Ganzer separately. He said to holy Inana: “Come on, Inana, and enter.”
129-133And when Inana entered, (1 ms. adds 2 lines: the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand, when she entered the first gate,) the turban, headgear for the open country, was removed from her head. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
134-138When she entered the second gate, the small lapis-lazuli beads were removed from her neck. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
139-143When she entered the third gate, the twin egg-shaped beads were removed from her breast. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
144-148When she entered the fourth gate, the “Come, man, come” pectoral was removed from her breast. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
149-153When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was removed from her hand. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
154-158When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
159-163When she entered the seventh gate, the pala dress, the garment of ladyship, was removed from her body. “What is this?” “Be satisfied, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld.”
164-172After she had crouched down and had her clothes removed, they were carried away. Then she made her sister Erec-ki-gala rise from her throne, and instead she sat on her throne. The Anuna, the seven judges, rendered their decision against her. They looked at her — it was the look of death. They spoke to her — it was the speech of anger. They shouted at her — it was the shout of heavy guilt. The afflicted woman was turned into a corpse. And the corpse was hung on a hook.
173-175After three days and three nights had passed, her minister Nincubura (2 mss. add 2 lines: , her minister who speaks fair words, her escort who speaks trustworthy words,) carried out the instructions of her mistress (1 ms. has instead 2 lines: did not forget her orders, she did not neglect her instructions).
176-182She made a lament for her in her ruined (houses). She beat the drum for her in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the houses of the gods for her. She lacerated her eyes for her, she lacerated her nose. In private she lacerated her buttocks for her. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment, and all alone she set her foot in the E-kur, the house of Enlil.
183-189When she had entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, she lamented before Enlil: “Father Enlil, don’t let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
190-194In his rage father Enlil answered Nincubura: “My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?”
195-203Thus father Enlil did not help in this matter, so she went to Urim. In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when she had entered the E-kic-nu-jal, the house of Nanna, she lamented before Nanna: “Father Nanna, don’t let your daughter be killed in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
204-208In his rage father Nanna answered Nincubura: “My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?”
209-216Thus father Nanna did not help her in this matter, so she went to Eridug. In Eridug, when she had entered the house of Enki, she lamented before Enki: “Father Enki, don’t let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don’t let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don’t let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason’s stone. Don’t let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter’s wood. Don’t let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld.”
217-225Father Enki answered Nincubura: “What has my daughter done? She has me worried. What has Inana done? She has me worried. What has the mistress of all the lands done? She has me worried. What has the hierodule of An done? She has me worried.” (1 ms. adds 1 line: Thus father Enki helped her in this matter.) He removed some dirt from the tip of his fingernail and created the kur-jara. He removed some dirt from the tip of his other fingernail and created the gala-tura. To the kur-jara he gave the life-giving plant. To the gala-tura he gave the life-giving water.
226-235Then father Enki spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-jara: ” (1 ms. has instead the line: One of you sprinkle the life-giving plant over her, and the other the life-giving water.) Go and direct your steps to the underworld. Flit past the door like flies. Slip through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Erec-ki-gala, on account of her children, is lying there. Her holy shoulders are not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts are not full like a cagan vessel. Her nails are like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head is bunched up as if it were leeks.
236-245“When she says “Oh my heart”, you are to say “You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart”. When she says “Oh my liver”, you are to say “You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver”. (She will then ask:) “Who are you? Speaking to you from my heart to your heart, from my liver to your liver — if you are gods, let me talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you.” Make her swear this by heaven and earth.
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246-253“They will offer you a riverful of water — don’t accept it. They will offer you a field with its grain — don’t accept it. But say to her: “Give us the corpse hanging on the hook.” (She will answer:) “That is the corpse of your queen.” Say to her: “Whether it is that of our king, whether it is that of our queen, give it to us.” She will give you the corpse hanging on the hook. One of you sprinkle on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. Thus let Inana arise.”
254-262The gala-tura and the kur-jara paid attention to the instructions of Enki. They flitted through the door like flies. They slipped through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Erec-ki-gala, because of her children, was lying there. Her holy shoulders were not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts were not full like a cagan vessel. Her nails were like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head was bunched up as if it were leeks.
263-272When she said “Oh my heart”, they said to her “You are troubled, our mistress, oh your heart”. When she said “Oh my liver”, they said to her “You are troubled, our mistress, oh your liver”. (Then she asked:) “Who are you? I tell you from my heart to your heart, from my liver to your liver — if you are gods, I will talk with you; if you are mortals, may a destiny be decreed for you.” They made her swear this by heaven and earth. They …….
273-281They were offered a river with its water — they did not accept it. They were offered a field with its grain — they did not accept it. They said to her: “Give us the corpse hanging on the hook.” Holy Erec-ki-gala answered the gala-tura and the kur-jara: “The corpse is that of your queen.” They said to her: “Whether it is that of our king or that of our queen, give it to us.” They were given the corpse hanging on the hook. One of them sprinkled on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. And thus Inana arose.
282-289Erec-ki-gala said to the gala-tura and the kur-jara: “Bring your queen ……, your …… has been seized.” Inana, because of Enki’s instructions, was about to ascend from the underworld. But as Inana was about to ascend from the underworld, the Anuna seized her: “Who has ever ascended from the underworld, has ascended unscathed from the underworld? If Inana is to ascend from the underworld, let her provide a substitute for herself.”
290-294So when Inana left the underworld, the one in front of her, though not a minister, held a sceptre in his hand; the one behind her, though not an escort, carried a mace at his hip, while the small demons, like a reed enclosure, and the big demons, like the reeds of a fence, restrained her on all sides.
295-305Those who accompanied her, those who accompanied Inana, know no food, know no drink, eat no flour offering and drink no libation. They accept no pleasant gifts. They never enjoy the pleasures of the marital embrace, never have any sweet children to kiss. They tear away the wife from a man’s embrace. They snatch the son from a man’s knee. They make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law (instead of lines 300-305, 1 ms. has 2 lines: They take the wife away from a man’s embrace. They take away the child hanging on a wet-nurse’s breasts). (1 ms. adds 3 lines: They crush no bitter garlic. They eat no fish, they eat no leeks. They, it was, who accompanied Inana.)
306-310After Inana had ascended from the underworld, Nincubura threw herself at her feet at the door of the Ganzer. She had sat in the dust and clothed herself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: “Inana, proceed to your city, we will take her back.”
311-321Holy Inana answered the demons: “This is my minister of fair words, my escort of trustworthy words. She did not forget my instructions. She did not neglect the orders I gave her. She made a lament for me on the ruin mounds. She beat the drum for me in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the gods’ houses for me. She lacerated her eyes for me, lacerated her nose for me. (1 ms. adds 1 line: She lacerated her ears for me in public.) In private, she lacerated her buttocks for me. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment.
322-328“All alone she directed her steps to the E-kur, to the house of Enlil, and to Urim, to the house of Nanna, and to Eridug, to the house of Enki. (1 ms. adds 1 line: She wept before Enki.) She brought me back to life. How could I turn her over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the Sig-kur-caga in Umma.”
329-333At the Sig-kur-caga in Umma, Cara, in his own city, threw himself at her feet. He had sat in the dust and dressed himself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: “Inana, proceed to your city, we will take him back.”
334-338Holy Inana answered the demons: “Cara is my singer, my manicurist and my hairdresser. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira.”
339-343At the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, Lulal, in his own city, threw himself at her feet. He had sat in the dust and clothed himself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: “Inana, proceed to your city, we will take him back.”
344-347Holy Inana answered the demons: “Outstanding Lulal follows me at my right and my left. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba.”
348-353They followed her to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba. There was Dumuzid clothed in a magnificent garment and seated magnificently on a throne. The demons seized him there by his thighs. The seven of them poured the milk from his churns. The seven of them shook their heads like ……. They would not let the shepherd play the pipe and flute before her (?).
354-358She looked at him, it was the look of death. She spoke to him (?), it was the speech of anger. She shouted at him (?), it was the shout of heavy guilt: “How much longer? Take him away.” Holy Inana gave Dumuzid the shepherd into their hands.
359-367Those who had accompanied her, who had come for Dumuzid, know no food, know no drink, eat no flour offering, drink no libation. They never enjoy the pleasures of the marital embrace, never have any sweet children to kiss. They snatch the son from a man’s knee. They make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law.
368-375Dumuzid let out a wail and turned very pale. The lad raised his hands to heaven, to Utu: “Utu, you are my brother-in-law. I am your relation by marriage. I brought butter to your mother’s house. I brought milk to Ningal’s house. Turn my hands into snake’s hands and turn my feet into snake’s feet, so I can escape my demons, let them not keep hold of me.”
376-383Utu accepted his tears. (1 ms. adds 1 line: Dumuzid’s demons could not keep hold of him.) Utu turned Dumuzid’s hands into snake’s hands. He turned his feet into snake’s feet. Dumuzid escaped his demons. (1 ms. adds 1 line: Like a sajkal snake he …….) They seized …….
2 lines fragmentary
Holy Inana …… her heart.
384-393Holy Inana wept bitterly for her husband.
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She tore at her hair like esparto grass, she ripped it out like esparto grass. “You wives who lie in your men’s embrace, where is my precious husband? You children who lie in your men’s embrace, where is my precious child? Where is my man? Where ……? Where is my man? Where ……?”
394-398A fly spoke to holy Inana: “If I show you where your man is, what will be my reward?” Holy Inana answered the fly: “If you show me where my man is, I will give you this gift: I will cover …….”
399-403The fly helped (?) holy Inana. The young lady Inana decreed the destiny of the fly: “In the beer-house and the tavern (?), may there …… for you. You will live (?) like the sons of the wise.” Now Inana decreed this fate and thus it came to be.
404-410…… was weeping. She came up to the sister (?) and …… by the hand: “Now, alas, my ……. You for half the year and your sister for half the year: when you are demanded, on that day you will stay, when your sister is demanded, on that day you will be released.” Thus holy Inana gave Dumuzid as a substitute …….
411-412Holy Erec-ki-gala — sweet is your praise.
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 9: Invulnerable
“My brother,” Geshtianna said, running to his chamber, “I felt the touch of the cold winter wind this morning. Why can’t I hear your song?” She opened the door and found him dressed in ashes, flogging himself on the back. “What is the matter? Who do you mourn?”
“Inanna,” Dumu said, taking a break from his flagellation, “has gone to the Underworld to free me from Death’s curse. I fear Inanna may never return. What else can I do?”
“You are the king,” she chastised him. “Eat, drink, and be merry… or at least act like you’re merry. Play your song, or else Inanna will be lost forever. Is she not the goddess of Life? If your people feel the touch of that dreadful winter again they will die, and all will be lost. Show yourself in public so that they may reassure themselves. It is your responsibility as a king. You are no longer a young man, intoxicated by love and bereft of responsibility.”
Geshtianna’s words rang true, and so Dumu decreed a week of feasting in Inanna’s honour. The music was loud, and the dancing girls never ceased. Dumu laughed and smiled, though only Geshtianna knew that his smiles were weak, and his laughter forced.
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 11: Inana’s descent to the nether world: translation
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 8 : The Lowly Mistletoe
Midu ground his teeth as he made ready the convoy for the annual tribute to his useless brother, the useless king, the cow milking, sheep herding coward who didn’t deserve existence let alone suzerainty. People actually believed that Dumu had brought them the Eternal Spring and immortality. Even the citizens of Midu’s own cities praised Dumu. It was time to send his brother’s soul to the Underworld, and take what was rightfully his. He’d heard that the cowardly cow herd had refused kingship three times. If that wasn’t proof that he was unfit for the throne then what was?
Midu sharpened his spear, polished his armour and then set out to Bad-tibira. The black headed people were stagnating, Midu realised as he journeyed through the cities of man. Immortality and the absence of conflict had left them weak. Dumu’s song had robbed them of the creativity that Midu had so highly valued in them. Their new cities looked the same as their old ones and all progress had stalled. They were all happy, and utterly lacking in initiative. They had turned into cud chewing cattle. How could anyone think that Dumu’s rule was good? He would be doing this world a favour when he killed him.
On the outskirts he noticed a group of gods, with Dumu in their midst. Perhaps they were there to kill him, Midu thought hopefully. He disguised himself as a jackal and crept closer to get a better look.
“Let’s see what an iron hammer can do to the invulnerable Dumu,” he heard one of the gods say. A hammer struck Dumu’s head but it bounced off him like sponge, The gods laughed and whooped like this were some great joke. Midu the jackal wanted to howl with grief, but instead he kept quiet and crept closer. Every being had a weakness. Dumu had to have one too.
Utu threw meteors at Dumu which transformed into rainbow coloured haze on contact.
Nanna uprooted mountains to smash Dumu, but they refused to touch him.
Enlil threw spears of fire and wind that turned into gentle breezes and rain.
“You know,” a low hanging mistletoe said to Midu the Jackal, “he’s invulnerable to every single thing in the universe, except for me.”
“Why not you?” Midu asked.
“They forgot to ask,” the mistletoe answered.
“Oh, poor mistletoe,” Midu said with concern, though inside he was laughing with glee, “To be the only one forgotten. Don’t be sad, I’ll help you out.”
He took the mistletoe back to the workshop, infusing its essence into a pool of water from which he birthed a giant boar. “Go to Dumu’s city,” he ordered the boar, “and when the time is right, gore him to death.”
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Dumu woke up from troubled sleep.
“The nightmares again,” Inanna asked, and cursed when Dumu nodded. “In that case I have no choice but to conquer the Underworld. Ereshkigal will never have you.”
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 10 : Dumuzi feasts as Inanna Descends
Hail Apollo, ruler of the seat of Oracles, provider of Delphi. Hail Paean, radiant singer, Illuminator of lost truths. Hail Pride of Leto, giver of wisdom, who by the will of Zeus is supreme among the gods. Oh, Young bull who guards the fold… Come Paean, and let our melodies mix.
Hail Healer, the music of your lyre brings comfort to those who recognise its song, whether you sing of joy or sorrow. Let the Laurel twigs sway to your tune. The sacred course of Destiny that sweeps man in its current is awesome to behold. Gaia and Themis hold you dear to your heart. Athena and Artemis give you thanks, their gratitude eternal. Hera sings your praise.
All’ o Phoibe!
Welcome to my shop dear patron
I specialise in artefacts antediluvian
Though, I must confess to my chagrin
I hold a reluctant fondness for the Assyrian and Scythian
How much for Adam’s rib you ask?
Tsk tsk, your money means nothing here
Just complete one little task
And sign your name there and there
…
Oh, and don’t forget the disclaimer form
After Faust, that’s become the norm
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 7: The Queen of the Underworld Attends a Wedding
The world was in peace during the Eternal Spring. The entire world thrived and sang with life during the honeymoon of millennia.
Alulim (Ptah) ruled the lands with great wisdom and Dumu learnt from him. Kingship passed to Alalgar(Re) when the time was right and Dumu learnt from him. Then kingship was passed from the city of Eridu to Bad-tibira. Dumu refused his father a second time and Enmenluana(Shu) became king. Dumu learnt greatly from him. Then Dumu refused his father a third time and kingship passed to Enmengalana (Geb). Dumu learnt greatly from him. When Enmengalana had sensed it was time to vacate the throne, Enki approached his son determined not to take ‘no’
for an answer, and Dumu became king. He ruled the land with wisdom, with four of the seven sages (Apkallu) as his counsellors. His people loved him, and prospered under his rule… but something wasn’t right.
“Dear one,” Inanna said, with concern as they got out of bed, “ever since you sat on the throne your dreams have been troubled. What is wrong? You grow paler by the day, and your song is beginning to lose its power. I felt the cold bitter south wind on my cheeks this morning.”
“Ever since I sat on this throne,” Dumu said, “I have dreamt of my death.”
Inana was greatly troubled and talked to Ninsun, her mother-in-law.
“It is Ereshkigal,” Ninsun cried. She had never forgotten what the Lady of the Underworld had said on her son’s wedding night. “She seeks to kill him. We must talk to Enki and do something about this, or we will lose our sweet Dumu and the Eternal Spring.”
The two goddesses took audience with Enki, who was greatly troubled by their words. He summoned a council of the Anunaki, and obtained a mandate to make Dumu truly immortal. “Go to all the manifestations of creation,” he said to Ninsun and Inanna, “and obtain from them a promise never to harm Dumu.”
Ninsun and Inanna travelled across the Universe.
They obtained the promise from the stars.
They obtained the promise from the dust.
They obtained the promise from iron.
They obtained the promise from fire.
They obtained the promise from all things manifest…
Except for the mistletoe, who they forgot to ask.
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 9: Invulnerable
[Short Story] the Shepherd and the Goddess Part Six (V2) The Courting of Inanna and Dimuzi
[A/n: If you are looking for a happy ending then fair warning: this doesn’t end well. I had half a mind to end the story here on a note of jubilation, but thanks to the comment by Ragazza I decided to finish the entire tale… and now that I’m done planning it all out I’m glad I’m writing the whole thing. This story is viewed better as a whole, but unfortunately only fragments exist of the original tale in Sumerian, which is why I’m borrowing from Greek, Egyptian and Norse. What follows after this is tragedy, horror, vengeance, the rebirth of winter, and a descent into madness]
Geshtianna checked her reflection one last time before turning to Midu in the city of Lagash.
“Why won’t you accompany me to our brother’s wedding?” she asked him. “Why can’t you celebrate Dumu’s joy just this once?”
“Celebrate Dumu’s joy?” Midu laughed scornfully. “Look at what I have accomplished through merely a glance at the MES father holds so closely. Look at my cities and my canals. Look at how the black headed people progress. Look at the temples they build for us. What has Dumu done, apart from tending to some sheep?”
“Mother says he has slain the long winter with his song,” Geshtianna responded, looking a little disgusted by Midu’s tantrum.
“Bah,” Midu spat, “If NinSun really thinks that then her mind is growing old and feeble. Dumu deserves no celebration. He has earned nothing. He is an average warrior, and has the mind and artistry of a child. Who helped our father slay Abzu? Was it Dumu or me? Who helped leash Mummu and create the wonderful city of Eridu? Even Alulim, our low born brother, deserves far more honour than Dumu. I will hold feasts and games at his funeral… not before.”
“Alulim is far nobler than you will ever be, you poor tortured soul,” Geshtianna sighed, and left to Eridu for the wedding celebrations.
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Then, on this one special day that celebrated both the coming of the Eternal Spring, and the wedding of the shepherd and the Lady of the Skies, Fate had allowed Ereshkigal, ruler of the realm of the dead, to journey into the mortal realm for the festivities. She sighed with pleasure as she felt the warmth of the sun, moaned with delight as she tasted warm bread, sweet honey, cool beer and frothy milk. She laughed as she heard songs that weren’t dirges, and cried with joy as she smelt the scents of the forests and mountains. The beautiful goddess of the dead had become so used to the realm of Kur that she had forgotten what the realm of Ki was like. When she beheld the bridegroom she nearly lost her breath.
She approached Enki, “You allowed the dragon of Kur to take me away to his realm where my people eat nothing but dust, where only the galla demons entertain me, and all sounds are wails. Though you slew the dragon, you abandoned me in that realm. You owe me a debt, Enki.”
“Whatever is in my power,” Enki promised her.
“Stop this wedding, and let me have the shepherd. I will build him a palace in the Underworld. Let him slay the winter there, and let me feel Utu’s waking gaze. Let him play his music there and drown out the wails and the dirges. Let him create gardens so that the dust may produce sweet honey and tasty grain. Let him create life from my barren womb.”
“I cannot,” Enki said sadly. “He is already promised to Inanna. They love each other, and would have each other with or without my blessing. I prefer the latter.”
“Inanna,” Ereshkigal laughed sardonically. “That one is misnamed. We all know the truth of her birth,” she said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear. “We all know how Abzu castrated his father and threw the mutilated organ into Nammu’s waters, and the abomination that Nammu then birthed. Nanna and Ningal may call her ‘daughter’ but their words fool no one. I will have Dumu, Enki, one way or another.” Saying this, she sat back on her throne and travelled back to the underworld, her mind whirling with plans and strategies.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The rest of the wedding was filled only with joy. Ereshkigal’s dire threat was forgotten as wine flowed in ever greater quantities, and music grew louder and became imbued with divine virtuosity.
“My son,” Enki said to Dumu, who he had not seen since his birth, “look at this city of Eridu. Is it not beautiful?”
Dumu nodded, “Indeed,”
Eridu was a city of canals, its blue waters springing eternally from the earth and flowing into the distant sea. The moon had bathed the waters in its light that night, and the sun had imbued the city’s garden with his essence making them appear efflorescent.
“It is yours,” Enki said, “along with the rest of the cities of the earth. Become this land’s king. Take Eridu, where I have planted kingship. Take all the peoples of this world into your flock as we go into the Age of the Eternal Spring.”
Dumu shook his head, “I am not ready for such a task. I know only cows and sheep and goats.”
“You are still a wild young bull,” Enki nodded.
“Give Eridu and kingship to Alulim, who is far wiser than I am.”
“Very well,” Enki said, slightly irked by his son’s refusal, “but I hope you will give me a different answer the next time I ask. In the meantime, you will become the vizier of the MES and learn of kingship.”
[Short Story] The Shepherd and the Goddess Part 8 : The Lowly Mistletoe
Whispers of the Universe 