As we continue to explore Sumerian Mythology we come across a myth of Inanna and the Huluppu Tree. This fascinating tale begins with the creation of the world and cosmic order. As gods triumphed over chaos, it was not fully defeated. The story then continues to describe how Enki god of wisdom traveled through the sea of chaos to battle the dragon of chaos, Kur, in order to subdue it. Finally, the myth continues into the story of Inanna and the Huluppu tree, where the children of chaos were subdued.
Establishment of Heavens and Earth
In the misty dawn of time, the world was a vast, unformed realm. Chaos ruled the cosmos. The gods, in their infinite wisdom, shaped the cosmos, giving birth to the heavens and the earth. Thus, establishing order within the chaos. Divine hands wove the very fabric of reality during this time of magic and mystery.
Allocation of Realms
In those ancient days, the realms were then divided among the gods, each taking their rightful place.
An, the supreme god, claimed the heavens. He ascended to the heavens, where he watched over the stars and the night sky. His gaze was ever watchful, his presence a guiding light. His domain was the sky, vast and endless, filled with stars that whispered ancient secrets. An’s rule was absolute, and his power echoed across the cosmos.
Enlil, the mighty god of air and storms, took the earth. He breathed life into the land, making it fertile and green. He nurtured the land, making it a place of abundance and life. Enlil’s presence was felt in every gust of wind and every rumble of thunder. His strength was the foundation of the world, solid and unwavering.
Ereshkigal, the queen of the nether world, was given the dark, mysterious underworld. Her realm was a place of shadows and secrets, where the spirits of the dead found their final rest. Ereshkigal ruled with a calm, steady hand, ensuring the balance between life and death. She governed the spirits, maintaining the delicate balance between the worlds above and below. Her touch was gentle yet firm, a reminder of the inevitable passage of time.
A Story Within a Story
Our tale is now interrupted with another tale woven right into it. In Sumerian myths it was common to repeat parts of different stories and put them within a story. This is believed to be done for continuity and remembrance. This next part is a partial story of Enki’s travels towards the battle with the Dragon Kur. The dragon of chaos who ruled the underworld.
Enki’s Perilous Journey to Kur
But the harmony of the realms was not without its challenges. Dragon Kur, the master of the underworld and a creature of chaos was threatening the new world order and balance. Enki, the wise god of water and wisdom, embarked on a perilous journey to the nether world. He set sail on his small boat, navigating the treacherous waters that separated the realms.
A fierce storm arose, with hailstones falling like fiery sparks. The storm raged against Enki; its fury unmatched. The small hailstones were like tiny hammers, while the large ones were like stones from catapults, battering his boat from all sides.
The waves rose like hungry wolves, their teeth bared, ready to devour the brave god. The boat’s keel trembled, as if struck by the horns of fierce turtles. The storm roared and the waves howled, but Enki, undeterred, pressed on.
Enki’s journey was a testament to his courage and determination. He faced the storm with resolve, navigating through the chaos. His wisdom guided him, his strength sustained him. Through the storm, Enki reached the nether world, a hero among gods.
The retelling of this story now ends. We are not told what happened during the meeting of Enki and the Dragon Kur, once he reached the underworld. This was because every citizen of Sumer knew the ending. This interlude was placed in so the listener would know what time in the universal ages the current story of Inanna and The Huluppu Tree took place.
We have now arrived at the story itself, Inanna and the Huluppu Tree. It was set after the worlds were created and the realms were allocated among gods. It was set after the confrontation between Enki and the dragon Kur.
The Huluppu Tree’s Journey
In the early days of the world, when the gods had just shaped the earth, a single Huluppu tree began to grow by the banks of the Euphrates. This tree, possibly a willow, was nourished by the life-giving waters of the river. Its roots reached deep into the soil, drawing strength from the earth, while its branches stretched towards the sky, touched by the gentle breezes.
But the peace of the tree’s growth did not last. A fierce south wind swept across the land, its power undeniable. The wind howled and roared, lashing at the Huluppu tree with relentless force. The mighty gusts uprooted the tree, lifting it from the bank and sending it tumbling into the rushing waters of the Euphrates. The tree was carried away, its fate now at the mercy of the river.
Inanna: The Goddess of Love and War
Let us now leave the tree to float in the water as we take a look at another character integral to this tale. Inanna, a goddess of love, beauty, and war. She was a divine figure whose presence could inspire both passion and fear. Her eyes sparkled with the mysteries of the cosmos, and her heart pulsed with the rhythms of life and battle. She was a powerful deity, goddess of love and a fearless warrior.
Her power was not limited to the physical realm. Inanna could traverse the boundaries between worlds, her influence felt in the heavens and the nether world. She was a bridge between the realms, her presence a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. Her divine energy flowed through the earth, the sky, and the waters, a testament to her unparalleled power.
Huluppu Tree and Its New Home
As the tree floated down the river, it was not the end but a new beginning. A goddess was destined to touch this tree, and its story would be told for millennia to come.
Inanna was walking along the riverbank. She saw the tree, battered but still full of potential. With a heart full of reverence and vision, she decided to save it. She dreamed of making a luxurious chair and a magnificent bed from its wood.
Inanna brought the Huluppu tree to her garden in Uruk, a place of beauty and sacredness. She planted it there, giving it a new home. Under her care, the tree began to thrive once more, its branches growing strong and its roots anchoring deeply into the soil of the sacred garden. Years passed, and the Huluppu tree grew tall and strong. Its branches spread wide, reaching for the sky.
The Unwelcome Occupants
As the tree grew, it attracted mysterious and powerful beings. A snake immune to magic coiled itself around the roots, its presence a dark guardian against any who would dare to approach. In the branches, the Anzu bird, a creature of legend and storm, built its nest, its fierce eyes watching over the tree. Inside the trunk, Lilith, the phantom maid and Sumerian demon of the night, made her home, her laughter echoing eerily through the garden.
The Snake Immune to Magic
In the base of the Huluppu tree, a snake unlike any other made its home. This was no ordinary serpent. As a child of chaos, it was a creature of profound mystery, immune to the very magic that permeated the ancient world. This snake, coiled tightly at the roots of the tree, embodied the unknown and the untouchable. Its scales glinted with an otherworldly sheen, and its eyes held a depth of ancient wisdom and untold stories.
Magic in the ancient world was a force of immense power. Incantations could heal, protect, and transform. They could summon spirits and banish demons. Yet, this snake defied all such spells. No charm could bind it, no curse could harm it. It was as if the creature existed in a realm beyond the reach of divine and mortal hands alike.
The snake’s presence at the base of the Huluppu tree was both a blessing and a curse. As a guardian, it protected the tree from harm, ensuring its growth and strength. But it also prevented Inanna from using the tree as she had intended.
The snake represented resistance and resilience. It stood as a symbol of nature’s untamed power, a reminder that some forces cannot be controlled or subdued, even by the gods. Its immunity to magic challenged the very fabric of the divine order, introducing an element of unpredictability and awe.
The snake’s presence was palpable. Those who approached the Huluppu tree could sense the creature’s watchful gaze. It was a silent sentinel, its movements fluid and deliberate. The air around it seemed charged with a subtle energy, a testament to its unique nature.
The Anzu Bird
High in the branches of the Huluppu tree, the Anzu bird made its nest. This bird was not of ordinary origins. The Anzu bird was a mythical creature, steeped in the legends of ancient Sumer. With its majestic presence and powerful aura, it brought both wonder and trepidation to those who encountered it.
Anzu was a colossal bird, its size dwarfing any mortal creature. Its form was awe-inspiring and fearsome, a blend of strength and grace. Feathers covered the bird’s body, shimmering with an ethereal glow and reflecting the myriad colors of the sky and the deep hues of the earth.
Anzu’s head was that of a lion, symbolizing its fierce and indomitable spirit. Its golden mane flowed like liquid fire, framing a face of regal ferocity. The lion’s eyes were sharp and piercing, filled with the wisdom of ages and the power to see through illusions. Its teeth were long and razor-sharp, capable of tearing through the strongest defenses.
The wings of Anzu were those of a mighty eagle, broad and powerful. Each wingbeat could stir the winds and summon storms. Gold and silver tipped the feathers, catching the light in a dazzling display. These wings allowed Anzu to soar to great heights and cover vast distances, embodying the freedom and dominance of the skies.
Anzu possessed the extraordinary ability to breathe both fire and water. It could unleash torrents of water as pure as the Abzu’s depths or streams of fire hotter than the sun. This dual power symbolized the bird’s dominion over both creation and destruction, life and death.
The Anzu bird chose the Huluppu tree for its nest, creating a sanctuary amidst its branches. Here, it raised its young, teaching them to spread their wings and soar through the skies.
Lilith: The Phantom Maid and Sumerian Demon of the Night
Known as Kisbil-Lilla, Lilith the Phantom Maid, was a figure shrouded in mystery and intrigue. She was a creature of the night, moving silently and unseen through the shadows. Her presence was both enchanting and terrifying, a blend of ethereal beauty and dark power. Lilith’s form was delicate and ghostly, her features sharp and haunting. Her eyes, deep and knowing, seemed to pierce through the veil of reality, seeing into the hearts and minds of those who encountered her.
Lilith’s origins were ancient, tracing back to the earliest myths of Sumer. She was believed to be born from primal chaos. A being of the night who embodied the fears and desires of the human soul. As the Sumerian demon of the night, Lilith was both a protector and a tormentor, navigating the delicate balance between light and dark.
As the demon of the night, Lilith held dominion over the dark hours. She roamed the shadows, her influence felt in the quiet moments between dusk and dawn. Lilith visited sleepers, bringing both dreams and nightmares. Her power was immense, drawing from the deepest fears and hidden desires of those who slumbered.
The tree, rescued and nurtured by Inanna, became a sanctuary for Lilith. She lived in the hollow trunk. Her presence added an air of mystique and danger to the ancient tree. Her laughter, soft and eerie, echoed through the branches, a haunting melody that could chill the heart and stir the imagination.
Inanna’s Sorrow at Her Inability to Use the Tree
Inanna watched helplessly as these creatures claimed her beloved tree. Her heart filled with sorrow and frustration. The tree she had so carefully nurtured was now beyond her control. She had poured her hopes and dreams into it, imagining it as a testament to her power and beauty. But now, it was occupied by forces of chaos that she could not tame or expel.
Each time Inanna looked at the tree, she saw her dreams slipping away. She had imagined herself seated on a splendid chair crafted from its wood, a throne that would signify her strength and grace. She had envisioned a bed, woven from its branches, where she could rest and dream of future conquests and glories. But these dreams were now out of reach, overshadowed by the snake, the Anzu bird, and Lilith.
Inanna wept bitter tears, her sorrow a poignant reminder of the limitations even a goddess could face. Her tears fell like rain, mingling with the soil at the tree’s base, a silent testament to her thwarted ambitions. The presence of these unwelcome occupants now marred her once bright and hopeful vision for the tree.
Inanna’s Plea to Utu
Inanna, heartbroken and desperate, sought help from her brother Utu, the sun god. She found him at dawn, as he rose from his chamber to bring light to the world. With tears in her eyes, she told him about the Huluppu tree. She explained how she had nurtured it, dreaming of making a beautiful chair and bed. She spoke of the snake that coiled around its roots, the Anzu bird nesting in its branches, and Lilith, the phantom maid, dwelling in its trunk.
Utu listened to his sister’s plea. His face remained calm and distant. Despite her heartfelt words, he did not offer his help. He had other duties, other realms to illuminate. The sun god’s light was needed elsewhere. Inanna’s sorrow deepened, but she did not lose hope. She knew there was one more hero she could turn to.
Inanna’s Plea to Gilgamesh
Determined, Inanna approached Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, was a figure of immense power and legend. Born of a goddess and a mortal king, his strength was unmatched. He was a warrior, a leader, and a hero whose tales were sung throughout the land. Gilgamesh had built the walls of Uruk to protect his people. And he had ventured far and wide, seeking to understand the mysteries of life and death. His heart was as large as his deeds, filled with both the burden and the pride of his heritage.
Inanna found Gilgamesh in his palace, surrounded by the warriors of Uruk. She recounted her troubles, her voice filled with the weight of her dreams and the creatures that now barred her way. She told him of the Huluppu tree and the formidable beings that had taken residence within it.
Gilgamesh listened intently. His heart was moved by the goddess’s plight. He could see the pain in her eyes, the longing to realize her vision. Without hesitation, Gilgamesh agreed to help her. He promised to drive out the creatures and make the tree hers once more.
Gilgamesh’s Heroic Deed
Gilgamesh, the mighty king of Uruk, knew what he had to do. He prepared himself for the challenge ahead. First, he strapped on his heavy belt, a symbol of his strength and readiness. Then, he took up his bronze axe, a weapon that had seen many battles. Its blade gleamed with the promise of victory. He was ready to face the creatures that had taken over the Huluppu tree.
With determination in his heart, Gilgamesh approached the Huluppu tree. At its base, the snake, immune to magic, coiled menacingly. Its eyes glinted with a dark, ancient wisdom. Gilgamesh raised his bronze axe and, with a mighty swing, struck the snake. The creature writhed and hissed, but Gilgamesh’s strength was unparalleled. He delivered a final, powerful blow, and the snake lay still.
High above, in the branches, the Anzu bird watched. This mythical creature, with the head of a lion and the wings of an eagle, sensed the hero’s power. As Gilgamesh vanquished the snake, the Anzu bird’s courage faltered. It spread its majestic wings and took flight, disappearing into the sky, its cries echoing into the distance.
Inside the trunk of the tree, Lilith, the phantom maid and demon of the night, trembled. She had witnessed the fall of her companions. Her eerie laughter turned to a whisper of fear. Seeing Gilgamesh’s relentless strength, Lilith fled from her dark dwelling. She ran into the wilderness, her form fading into the shadows from which she had come.
The Triumph of Gilgamesh
After driving away the snake, the Anzu bird, and Lilith, Gilgamesh turned his attention to the Huluppu tree. His muscles tensed as he grasped the tree’s trunk. With a mighty heave, he uprooted the tree from the ground. The roots, once firmly anchored, now dangled in the air. Gilgamesh then stripped the branches, preparing the wood for a new purpose.
Gilgamesh carried the Huluppu tree’s wood to Inanna. She watched in awe as he transformed the wood into beautiful pieces of furniture. With skilled hands, Gilgamesh crafted a splendid chair, fit for a goddess. He also made a luxurious bed, where Inanna could rest and dream. These items were not just furniture; they were symbols of Inanna’s power and beauty, created from the tree she had nurtured with so much love. For ages to come the throne and bed of Inanna would be used in ceremonies and rituals to establish kings and kingdoms.
But Gilgamesh did not use all the wood for Inanna. He kept the roots and branches for himself. From these, he crafted a ball, known as a pukku, and a mallet, known as a mikku. These were not ordinary toys. They were crafted with the same care and strength that Gilgamesh had shown in his heroic deeds. The ball and mallet were symbols of his own strength and resourcefulness, a reminder of the challenges he had overcome.
Conclusion: The Triumph of Order
In the ancient world, where gods and heroes shaped destiny, the story of the Inanna and the Huluppu tree marks a profound moment. This tale reflects the ongoing struggle to establish order from chaos, a battle fought by the divine since the dawn of time.
It reminds us of how the gods had divided the cosmos. An took the heavens, Enlil the earth, and Ereshkigal the nether world. Each realm was carefully balanced, a testament to divine wisdom and power. But maintaining this order was no simple task. The gods faced many challenges, and their journey was fraught with battles against the forces of chaos.
Enki contended with the mighty dragon of chaos Kur, a primordial force that threatened their new world. This dragon, an embodiment of disorder and destruction, was a fearsome opponent.
Creatures like Lilith, the phantom maid, and the magic-immune snake, represented the lingering chaos. These beings were children of the primordial disorder. Their presence a constant reminder of the struggle to maintain harmony. They occupied sacred spaces like the Huluppu tree, challenging the gods’ authority and persistence.
This tale reveals that even the gods, with their immense power, faced limitations. Inanna, despite her divinity, could not reclaim her beloved tree alone. Her plea to Utu went unanswered, showing that even deities have boundaries. This humbling truth reveals the complex nature of divine power, where cooperation and support are essential.
Gilgamesh’s heroic actions symbolize the triumph of the new over the old. His strength and courage drove away the remnants of chaos, reclaiming the tree for Inanna. This act marked a new era, where the divine order was reaffirmed, and the past’s shadows were banished.
References
Faculty of Oriental Studies, Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world (The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, 2006-12-19) https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.1.8.1.4&display=Crit&charenc=gcirc&lineid=t1814.p9
J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
Matt Clayton, Sumerian Mythology: Captivating Myths Of Gods, Goddesses, And Legendary Creatures of Ancient Sumer and Their Importance To The Sumerians (Captivating History, 2019) Page 55
Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology: A Study of Spiritual And Literary Achievement in the Third Millenium B.C. (General Press, 2021) L1087
