12 Demigods, mortal Heroes, and Monsters p1 (Sumerian Mythology)
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This article is from the Sumerian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher Siren cbsiren@cisunix.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
12 Demigods, mortal Heroes, and Monsters p1 (Sumerian Mythology)
Dumuzi (demigod) (Tammuz)
A shepherd, he is the son of Enki and Sirtur. (Wolkstein & Kramer
p. 34) He is given charge of stables and sheepfolds, filled with milk
and fat by Enki. (Kramer 1961 p. 62) He has a palace in Kur, and is
due a visit by those entering Kur. He is Inanna's husband. In life, he
was the shepherd king of Uruk.
"The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi"
Utu tries to set Inanna up with him but she initially rebuffs him,
preferring the farmer. He assures her that his parents are as good as
hers and she begins to desire him. The two consummate their relationship
and with their exercise in fertility, the plants and grains grow as well.
After they spend time in the marriage bed, Inanna declares herself as his
battle leader and sets his duties as including sitting on the throne and
guiding the path of weapons. At Ninshubur's request, she gives him power
over the fertility of plants and animals. (Wolkstein and Kramer pp. 30-50)
"Descent of Inanna to the Nether World"
Upon her rescue from the dead, he was pursued by galla demons, which
he eluded for a time with the aid of Utu. Eventually he was caught and
slain; however, he was partially freed from his stay in the underworld
by the actions of his sister Geshtinanna. Now he resides there only
half of the year, while she lives there the other half year; this
represents seasonal change (see Inanna and Geshtinanna). (Wolkstein and
Kramer pp. 71-89)
(See also his Babylonian analog, Tammuz, in the Assyro-Babylonian
Mythology FAQ.)
Geshtinanna (demigoddess)
She is Dumuzi's sister. After his death, she visited him in the
underworld with Inanna, and was allowed to take his place there for six
months out of the year. Her time in the underworld and her periodic
emergence from it are linked with her new divine authority over the
autumn vines and wine. (see also Inanna and Dumuzi)
Ziusudra (Ziusura)
In the Sumerian version of the flood story, the pious Ziusudra of
Shuruppak (Kramer 1963 p. 26), the son of Ubartutu (or of Shuruppak?)
(Kramer 1963 p. 224) is informed of the gods decision to destroy mankind
by listening to a wall. He weathers the deluge and wind-storms aboard
a huge boat. The only surviving detail of the boat is that it had a
window. The flood lasts for seven days before Utu appears dispersing
the flood waters. After that, Ziusudra makes appropriate sacrifices
and protrations to Utu, An and Enlil. He is given eternal life in
Dilmun by An and Enlil. (Kramer 1963 pp. 163-164; Kramer 1961
pp. 97-98)
Jacobsen reports a more complete version of "The Eridu Genesis" than
Kramer or Black and Green which is close to the Babylonian story of
Atrahasis. In this account, man had been directed to live in cities by
Nintur but as they thrived, the noise irritated Enlil, who thus started
the flood. In this account, Enki warns Ziusudra, instructing him to
build the boat for his family and for representatives of the animals.
The remainder is consistent with the accounts of Kramer and Black and
Green. (Jacobsen p. 114)
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