Inanna, Queen of Heaven & Earth Brings Gifts, by Judith Shaw

In the early 1990’s I discovered the compelling story of Inanna, the ancient Sumerian Goddess, translated and retold in the book, Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Kramer.  I was inspired to create a series of paintings from Inanna’s story.  

The Sumerians invented the first system of writing, the cuneiform system, to record the stories of their deities, hymns, laments, and historical events  The stories of Inanna and hymns to Inanna are an important part of the Sumerian literature.

For the Sumerians the world was created

“when heaven had moved away form earth
When earth had separated from heaven
and the name of man was fixed.” …..
When… Erishkigal was given the underworld for her domain.”

Death enters the story and with it the need to find a meaning in life. Enki, God of Wisdom, God of Waters, sets sail for the underworld. Here he is buffeted, battered and bruised but he does not turn back. That struggle between male and female, between the conscious and unconscious realms, between the God of Wisdom and the Queen of the Underworld, births a tree, a Huluppa tree.

The stage is set for the epic tales of the Sumerian deities to begin. We first see Inanna when She rescues the Huluppa Tree from the waters of chaos and plants it in her garden.

Inanna, known as the Goddess of the Morning and Evening Star was the daughter of the Moon God, Nanna and Ningal, Enki’s daughter. The Semites knew Her as Ishtar.

Inanna encompasses all aspects of life. She was maiden, queen, lover, wife and She who descended into the Underworld and was reborn. She is described as radiant, thundering, destructive, defiant, judgmental, kind, generous, peaceful, healing, erotic, decisive, discerning, wise, transcendent, loving, fertile, joyous, and ever youthful.

With the help of her mortal brother Giglamesh (who later earns an epic tale of his own), Inanna overcame her youthful struggles and fears symbolized by a snake, the Anzu-bird and Lilith housed in the tree. Only once these were removed could Her throne and royal bed be fashioned from the Huluppa tree and Her queenship begin.

“Inanna placed the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, on Her head.”

She decides to visit her grandfather, Enki in his city Eridu, located where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers converge with the Persian Gulf.

Enki hosts Inanna with a feast and much drinking. 

“Enki and Inanna drank beer together
They drank more beer together.
They drank more and more beer together.”

As the evening wore on Enki became more and more generous, offering the me – the sacred culture of Sumer – to Inanna. 

“In the name of my power! In the name of my holy shrine!
To my daughter Inanna I shall give
The high priesthood! Godship!
The noble, enduring crown! The throne of kingship!”

“Inanna replied:  I take them!”

And with the second toast

“In the name of my power! In the name of my holy shrine!
To my daughter Inanna I shall give
Truth!
Descent into the underworld! Ascent from the underworld!
The art of lovemaking! The kissing of the phallus!”

Fourteen times Enki toasted Inanna and offered her the me.  Fourteen times she accepted.

The me encompassed things of value to the Sumerian priesthood and civilization –  the dagger and sword, the loosening and binding of the hair, the standard, the quiver, the art of forthright speech, the art of slanderous speech, the art of song, … and with those things that concern humanity – the art of the hero, the art of power and treachery, the rejoicing of the heart, the art of kindness, the secure dwelling place, the craft of the scribe, the smith, the leather maker, the perceptive ear, the sheepfold, fear, dismay, the assembled family, procreation, the giving of judgments, the making of decisions.

With this last me, the making of decisions, Inanna gained the strength and ability to perceive and take action.  She acted and immediately departed with the me.

Shortly after Inanna set off for Uruk, Enki sobered up and regretted his generous act.  He sent the enkum-creatures to take and return the holy me to him. 

Inanna resisted, calling on her sukkal, Ninshubur, for help. With a slice of the hand and an earth-shattering cry she sent the enkum-creatures back to Eridu.

Ninshubur, probably pure spirit, represents Inanna’s inner spiritual resources and relates to Inanna’s aspect as Morning Star.  Ninshubur, Queen of the East, is most likely associated with the sun. Her solar powers are able to quash Enki’s powers associated with water.

Enki then sent five more creatures of increasing power to retake the me which were each repelled by Ninshubur for Inanna. In their defeat, Inanna acquired their shamanic powers.

Inanna returns to Uruk a hero who obtained the treasure, a shaman with the power to protect her community, and a true Queen/Mother offering nourishment, both physical and spiritual, to her people.

The power of the feminine is seen when, as the me are being unloaded, suddenly more me appear; me not given by Enki.  “The art of women” and related feminine attributes plus “the perfect execution of the me”  were given. The ancient texts are unclear as to where these me came from. 

Sumer was one of the earliest patriarchal societies yet the Goddess would not be denied.  Enki, Father God of Wisdom provided Inanna with the Gifts of Civilization.  Upon arrival, mysteriously and suddenly, the feminine gifts arrived. These feminine gifts included the ability to perfectly perform all the other me.  Inanna, Queen of Uruk, Goddess of the Morning and Evening Star, provided the balance of feminine and masculine powers and gifts to the people of Uruk. In Her fullness she is the Goddess of Love, that divine force of life imbued in all.

“My Lady looks in sweet wonder from heaven
The people of Sumer parade before the holy Inanna.
The Lady Who Ascends into the Heavens, Inanna, is radiant.
Mighty, majestic, radiant, and ever youthful –
To you, Inanna, I sing!”

Sources: Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer, by Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer.  All quotes from the ancient texts are from this book.

Judith’s deck of Celtic Goddess Oracle Cards is available now.  You can order your deck on Judith’s website – click here. Experience the wisdom of the Celtic Goddesses!

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life.  Not long after graduating from SFAI, while living in Greece, Judith began exploring the Goddess in her artwork.  She continues to be inspired by the Goddess in all of Her manifestations. Originally from New Orleans, Judith now makes her home in New Mexico where she paints as much as time allows and sells real estate part-time.  She is now in the editing stage of her deck of Celtic Goddess Cards, which should be released this summer. Give yourself the gift of one of Judith’s prints or paintings, priced from $25 – $3000.