09 What about the Underworld and Heaven and all that? (Assyro-Babylonian Mythology)
Description
This article is from the Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher B. Siren cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
09 What about the Underworld and Heaven and all that? (Assyro-Babylonian Mythology)
For a more general discussion of this, take a look at the
Underworld and Cosmology sections in the Sumerian FAQ, for the
particulars, see below.
The Igigi and the Anunaki met in heaven in Ubshu-ukkinakku, the
divine assembly hall. The Gilgamesh epic has the gods dwelling in the
cedar mountain. They had their parakku, throne-bases, there. It was an
enormous tree at the cedar forest and was guarded by Humbaba. There is
a stairway up to heaven from the underworld.
As for the underworld Kurnugi (Sumerian for 'land of no return').
It is presided over by Ereshkigal and Nergal. Within the house of
Irkalla (Nergal), the house of darkness, the house of Ashes, no one ever
exits. "They live on dust, their food is mud; their clothes are like
birds' clothes, a garment of wings, and they see no light, living in
blackness." It is full of dust and mighty kings serve others food. In
Ereshkigal's court, heroes and priests reside, as well as Sumuqan and
Belit-tseri. The scorpion-people guard the gates in the mountain to the
underworld which Shamash uses to enter and exit. There are seven gates,
through which one must pass. At each gate, an adornment or article of
clothing must be removed. The gates are named: Nedu, (En)kishar,
Endashurimma, (E)nuralla, Endukuga/Nerubanda, Endushuba/Eundukuga, and
Ennugigi. Beyond the gates are twelve double doors, wherein it is dark.
Siduri waits there by the waters of death, beyond which, is the Land of
the Living, where Utnapishtim and his wife dwell. Shamash and
Utnapishtim's boatman, Urshanbi, can cross the waters. Egalginga, the
everlasting palace, is a place where Ishtar was held.
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