Summary page for Ereshkigal, the Sumerian queen of the dead, the ruler of the underworld.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Queen of the Dead, Ruler of the Underworld
Archetype:
Underworld Ruler: Queen of the dead and ruler of Irkalla.
Protector: Guardian who ensured the dead stayed in the underworld.
Justice Goddess: Enforcer of justice for lawbreakers in the afterlife.
Group:
The Anunnaki: A group of deities in Sumerian mythology who served as judges in the underworld.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Allatu, Ereshkigal, Ereskigal, Erishkigal, Ereckigala, Irkalla, Ninmug
Other Pantheons:
Syncretized with the Hurrian goddess Allani.
Paralleled with the Greek goddess Hecate.
Referred to as Allatum in Semitic cultures and Allatu in Carthaginian mythology.
Revered as the goddess of the underworld and ruler of the dead.
Ensured souls remained in the underworld, preventing their return to the living.
Maintained strict order and punished lawbreakers in the afterlife.
Played a key role in “Inanna’s Descent to the Underworld,” enforcing underworld laws.
Executed judgment on Inanna, ordering her death and hanging her corpse.
Central figure in the myth of her marriage to Nergal, sharing power with him.
Feared and respected for her immense authority over life and death.
Invoked in magical texts for protection against punishment in the afterlife.
Consorts:
Nergal – god of War, Pestilence, Fire, Battle, Desert, Death, Underworld
Gugulanna – god of underworld
Children:
Manungal – goddess of Underworld Prisons
Namtar – god of Fate, Underworld, Plague
Few images of Ereshkigal exist due to cultural fear of death.
Ancient people avoided depicting her to prevent attracting her attention.
The Burney Relief depicted her, showing a winged woman on lions.
The relief includes owls and mountains, symbolizing underworld power.
Her image linked her to death, darkness, and life after death.
However, no universally agreed-upon iconography for Ereshkigal has been established.
Weapons:
Ereshkigal was not associated with specific weapons.
Her power came from ruling the underworld, not through physical force.
Sacred Animals:
Owls were sacred to Ereshkigal, linked to death and the underworld. They were depicted on the Burney Relief.
Lions also symbolized her power, as depicted in the same relief.
Symbolism:
The Number Seven: Connected to the seven gates, emphasizing mystical and spiritual control.
Seven Gates: Represented her control over the underworld’s entry and exit.
Eye of Death: Used to assert her power over life and death in myth. Symbolized her ultimate authority to kill and control fate in the underworld.
Owls and Lions: Symbolized death, power, and rulership in possible depictions.
Celestial Associations:
Ereshkigal had no direct connection to celestial bodies like stars or planets.
Her domain was strictly the underworld, separate from the heavens or celestial realms.
Realms:
Irkalla/Kurnugia: Ereshkigal ruled the “Land of No Return,” a gloomy underworld for the dead.
Kur: Another name for the underworld, emphasizing her dominion over death and darkness.
Ganzir: Her palace at the entrance of the underworld, where she controlled the dead.
Worship Places:
Kutha (Cuthah): The primary temple dedicated to Ereshkigal, closely associated with Nergal.
Ur (Shulgi’s Reign): Offerings were made to her under the name Allatum during Shulgi’s reign.
Wider Influence: Her worship extended to Asia Minor, Egypt, and southern Arabia, though specific temples were not detailed.
Rituals & Divinations:
Healing and Exorcism Rituals: Invoked to free the sick and those possessed by evil spirits.
Rituals for the Dead: Her worship was tied to funerary rituals and offerings for the dead. Offerings of food and water were placed on tombs to nourish the dead and keep them in the underworld.
Mythology Themes:
Descent to the Underworld: Central to her role, especially in Inanna’s Descent myth.
Marriage to Nergal: Explored themes of power, conflict, and union in the underworld.
Death and Rebirth: Symbolized death’s finality and the possibility of rebirth, as seen in Inanna’s revival.
Mythology Stories With Mentions of Ereshkigal:
Inanna’s Descent to the Underworld: Ereshkigal judged and executed Inanna, symbolizing her dominion over death.
Marriage to Nergal: Nergal confronted Ereshkigal, eventually marrying her and sharing power.
Ningishzida’s Journey: Ereshkigal hosted the vegetation god’s yearly descent, linking her to seasonal cycles.
The Death of Ur-Nammu: She appeared as the ruler of the underworld, reinforcing her authority over death.
Visit All Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Joshua J. Mark, Ereshkigal (World History Encyclopedia, January 11, 2017)
- Matt Clayton, Sumerian Mythology: Captivating Myths Of Gods, Goddesses, And Legendary Creatures of Ancient Sumer and Their Importance To The Sumerians (Captivating History, 2019)
- Multiple Authors, Ereshkigal (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, December 22, 2023)
- Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology: A Study of Spiritual And Literary Achievement in the Third Millenium B.C. (General Press, 2021)
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Ereshkigal Mesopotamian goddess (Britannica Encyclopedia, August 13, 2019)
- The Faculty of Oriental Studies, The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A) (The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, 2001)