The Descent of Ishtar to the Nether World

To the land whence there is no return, the land of darkness (?) / Ishtar, the daughter of Sin, turned her mind, / The daughter of Sin turned her mind; / To the house of darkness, the dwelling of Irkalla, / To the house whence no one issues who has once entered it. / To the road from which there is no return, when once it has been trodden. / To the house whose inhabitants are deprived of light. / The place where dust is their nourishment, their food clay. / They have no light, dwelling in dense darkness. / And they are clothed like birds, in a garment of feathers; / Where over gate and bolt, dust is scattered.

When Ishtar arrived at the gate of the land without return, / She spoke to the watchman of the gate: / Ho! watchman - open thy gate. / Open thy gate that I may enter. / If thou dost not open the gate, if thou refusest me admission, / I will smash the door, break the bolt. / I will smash the threshold, force open the portals. / I will raise up the dead to eat the living / Until the dead outnumber the living.

The watchman opened his mouth and spoke. / Spoke to the great Ishtar: / Hold, O mistress, do not destroy them. / I will go and mention thy name to the queen Allatu.

I must weep for the masters who forsake their consorts. / I must weep for the wives who are torn from their husbands' side. / For the children I must weep who are snatched away (?) before their time. / Go, watchman, open thy gate. / Deal with her according to the ancient laws.

The watchman went and opened his gate. / Enter, O mistress, welcome in Cuthah. / The great house of the land without return greets thee. / Through the first gate he led her, and boldly removed the great crown from her head. / Why, O watchman, dost thou remove the great crown from my head? / Enter, O mistress, such are the laws of Allatu.

The ox does not mount the cow, the ass does not bend over the she-ass.

Ishtar has descended to the earth, and has not come up.

Ea created in his wisdom a male being. / He formed Uddushu-namir, a divine servant. / Go, Uddushu-namir, to the gate of the land without return, turn thy face. / The seven gates of the land without return will be opened before thee. / Allatu will see thee and welcome thee / After her heart is pacified, her spirit brightened. / Invoke against her the name of the great gods. / Raise thy countenance, to Sukhal-ziku direct thy attention. / Come, mistress, grant me Sukhal-ziku, that I may drink therefrom.

Allalu, upon hearing this, / Smote her sides and bit her finger. / Thou hast demanded of me a request that should not be requested. / Come, Uddushu-namir, I will curse thee with a terrible curse. / Food from the gutters of the city be thy nourishment. / The sewers (?) of the city be thy drink. / The shadow of the wall be thy seat. / The threshold be thy dwelling. / Exile and banishment break thy strength.

The goddess Allalu opened her mouth and spoke. / To Namtar, her messenger, she addressed an order: / Go, Namtar, smash the true palace. / Break down the threshold, destroy the door-posts (?). / Bring out the Anunnaki and place them on golden thrones. / Besprinkle Ishtar with the waters of life and take her from me.

If she will not grant her redemption, turn to her [thy countenance?] / To Tammuz, her youthful consort, / Pour out pure waters, costly oil [offer him?].

My only brother, let me not perish. / On the day of Tammuz, play for me on the flute of lapis lazuli, together with the lyre of pearl play for me. / Together let the professional dirge singers, male and female, play for me, / That the dead may arise and inhale the incense of offerings.