Inanna

Prologue

In the beginning of human civilization, in the part of the world we recognize as Iraq today, was six thousand years ago called Mesopotamia. It was the land of the people called Sumerians who were ruled by gods and goddesses.

The city of Uruk was the mightiest city where the goddess Inanna was worshipped and loved by all except for her sister Ereshkigal. They were enemies from their first breath, even though they had never seen each other. Enki, the God of water, wisdom, magic, and creation, created the goddesses and decided that one shall walk the earth and the other one will rule in the underworld.

From the darkness below, anger and envy started growing, along with a plan for her sister's undoing. The goddess Inanna was thought to be an easy target since she was the goddess of both war and love, thus impulsive. Always wanting more power but also yearning to be loved and live a peaceful life. And when she finally fell in love with a human, a man called Dumuzi, Ereshkigal got the final piece for her dreadful plan.

In the beginning, the heavenly gods who created humans also created gods to look after them. Rules were made for the earthly gods to prevent chaos. The most important rule forbids a God to kill another God, meaning that Gods cannot be forced to enter the realm of the underworld. The only way is by accepting an invitation by a dark creature with dark powers. There had never been a God that has ever stood in front of the gate to the underworld, until that day when Inanna pounded hard on the door, screaming that her sister must let her in.

A few days prior to Inanna's deathwish, Ereshkigal sent six creatures to the surface of the earth to search for Dumuzi. These were creatures that knew no hunger, nor thirst, nor greed. They did not humble at the sound of children's laughter, nor did they smile at piles of gold. When the words spread that death was roaming the earth for Dumuzi, he hid. Inanna was unaware of the hunt for her husband since she was visiting one of her holy temples in another city. It did not take long for the dark creatures to find Dumuzi and trick him into believing that they could kill him and Ereshkigal smiled when he so easily accepted her offer of immortality.

Inanna grows more impatient and bangs harder on the door. The gatekeeper Namtaru alerts the dark Queen who looks him firmly in the eyes and says "Do exactly as you are told. Open each of the seven gates at a time. For every time Inanna passes one, ask her to give up one of her holy powers – me. I can sense she is wearing all seven of them. By the time she faces me, she will be bare naked. Quickly, go now and do as you are told."

After a while, Inanna stands face to face with her sister, all naked but with no less pride and anger in her eyes. Ereshkigal greets her sister in the vast cold dark throne room. Inanna gazes at her sister who has no face and a white elongated body with no beating heart. Her nails are sharp and long. Her limbs are even longer and float in the air as if she is surrounded by water. The stench of death is all around her. It's her home which she so kindly offers her sister.

Ereshkigal gets up from her large black metal throne carved in thousands of patterns that form chaos. She floats slowly above the sets of steps to her sister and whispers to her "Poor sister. Our father gave me a kingdom to rule and enslaved you to a life with dirty humans, to serve them, when he should have made you a Queen. Don't try to deny it, every god and goddess knows your craving for more power, and that's why I shall grant you this. Go take your place as the Queen of the underworld."

Inanna hesitates for a while. She looks at her sister who offers her a dark cloth full of red gemstones and points at the black staircase that leads to the throne of darkness and power. The first step is heavy, but the rest are light. Inanna lays her hand on the cold surface of the throne and then sits in it. She smiles and starts laughing loud.

Suddenly, Inanna finds herself on a cold dark floor surrounded by pillars, each holding a black chair with a dark creature sitting in it. None of the five white faceless creatures make a move, but still their voice can be heard in unison, a terrible sound that rips her soul in thousand pieces: "You have broken the holy rules set by our heavenly gods. A God cannot overtake another God's power. Greedy and foolish you are, child of Enki. Never again shall you witness the sun nor the moon, goddess Inanna."

Ereshkigal's laughter echoes in the dark hall where the tormented prisoners are kept for all eternity. Inanna's scream is heard throughout the underworld. She pleads to her father Enki that replies in a whisper in her head "You, of all, should have remembered that one shall never enter the realm of the underworld nor accept a gift from the dark queen, and yet you did. After everything I have given you, after everything I have done for you. But know, I will never stop loving you".

Her agonized screams and cries echo relentlessly, a torrent that refuses to diminish until darkness claims her sight, and she crumples upon the cold, sodden floor of the underworld.