Dumuzi-Abzu
Langlamet
Greetings,
I'm having a problem finding information about this
Sumerian/Mesopotamian deity. From what I gather he is a diety of the
marshes and a fertility deity. I am looking for the myths in which he
marrys Inanna, gets killed and in which his consorts search for him in
the Underworld.
My problem is that Sumerian culture is not nearly as popular as say,
Zen or Taoism, or even the East Indian traditions. So I haven't been
able to find a book at my local book store that can help me. I plan to
go to the library tomorow (it's closed today) and do a little searching.
Any information the you could give me pointing me in the right direction
as far as books or the internet goes would be much appreciated.
ThankYou Kindly
Falcon
the...@pcisys.net
On Mon, 07 Apr 1997 19:07:56 -0700, Langlamet <red...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
Try a book called "Treasures of Darkness" by Thorkild Davis, I
believe. I have studied the akkadian\sumerian culture and religion
for sometime now and this is by far one of the best books
Good Luck
Scott
Bryan Gardner
Langlamet wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> I'm having a problem finding information about this
> Sumerian/Mesopotamian deity. From what I gather he is a diety of the
> marshes and a fertility deity. I am looking for the myths in which he
> marrys Inanna, gets killed and in which his consorts search for him in
> the Underworld.
> My problem is that Sumerian culture is not nearly as popular as say,
> Zen or Taoism, or even the East Indian traditions. So I haven't been
> able to find a book at my local book store that can help me. I plan to
> go to the library tomorow (it's closed today) and do a little searching.
> Any information the you could give me pointing me in the right direction
> as far as books or the internet goes would be much appreciated.
>
> ThankYou Kindly
> Falcon
The only thing I can find is that he was a shepherd king. He courted
(and married) Inanna. After he consumated the relationship he was made
divine over fertility and plants (mainly grain)
You might try _Innana_:_Queen_of_heaven_ (maybe the heavens and earth)by
Kramer and Wolkstein and _The_Sumerians_ by Samuel Kramer. This is a
good reference (even without sufficient reference to Gozer the Gozerian)
:)
Bryan
Langlamet
Greetings,
mac...@ionet.net wrote:
>
> Have you looked in Christopher Siren's entries, supra? -Toci
I did look in those postings and I checked out the website too. But I
didn't find anything. It seems that the mythical cycle that I am looking
for is before the time that is in Chris' entries (which if I'm right are
all about the middle, Old Babylonian Period 19th century BC and last,
the Old Babylonian to the end of the Assyrian-Baby civilization in the
7th century BC. I believe the myths about Dumuzi-Abzu (known by the
Semetic peoples the Akkadians, Amorites, and Assyrians, as Tammuz) are
from the first period in the 3rd millenium BC around the 2nd Dynast of
Ur.
Some more specifics about it: mother Duttura, consort Innana, sister
Geshtinanna.
I'm wondering if I got a little confused somewhere along the way. There
is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
ThankYou Kindly
Falcon
mac...@ionet.net
Have you looked in Christopher Simon's entries, supra? -Toci
mac...@ionet.net
sorry- c.Siren Toci
Kim Burkard
In article 61...@ix.netcom.com, Langlamet <red...@ix.netcom.com> () writes:
> I did look in those postings and I checked out the website too. But I
>didn't find anything. It seems that the mythical cycle that I am looking
>for is before the time that is in Chris' entries (which if I'm right are
>all about the middle, Old Babylonian Period 19th century BC and last,
>the Old Babylonian to the end of the Assyrian-Baby civilization in the
>7th century BC. I believe the myths about Dumuzi-Abzu (known by the
>Semetic peoples the Akkadians, Amorites, and Assyrians, as Tammuz) are
>from the first period in the 3rd millenium BC around the 2nd Dynast of
>Ur.
> Some more specifics about it: mother Duttura, consort Innana, sister
>Geshtinanna.
> I'm wondering if I got a little confused somewhere along the way. There
>is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
>place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
Why you you try:
_Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia_ by
Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, University of
Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 1995, isbn 0-292-70794-0.
It has information on Dumuzi and his sister Gestinana. Perhaps this
book would give you the information you seek.
-kim
---
Kimberly Burkard | _ Everything I needed to know in life, I
Eastman Kodak Company| _____C .._. learned from my ferret:
Rochester, New York | ____/ \___/ Frolic and dance for joy often, have
bur...@kodak.com |<____/\_---\_\ no fear or worries, and enjoy life.
Carl KICE Brown
Bryan Gardner wrote:
>
SNIPS from OTHERS
> > > I'm wondering if I got a little confused somewhere along the way. There
> > >is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
> > >place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
> >
MORE SNIPS
> >
>
> I believe that the reason Dumuzi is put to death in the netherworlds is
> because his wife (Innana) went to the netherworlds to try to raise the
> dead. She is caught there and it is not until by order of the greater
> gods that she is released. Due to all of this, she is to be punished.
> However, Dumuzi (Tammaz) is sent in her place. There were three
> interventions on his behalf, but enventually he is put to death.
>
> Bryan
Wait a minute -- I thought Inanna went to visit her sister Ereshkigal
in order to rescue Dumuzi -- giving up a piece of her clothing to the
guardian at each of the 7 gates {and thus Salome's dance of the 7
veils
may well have been a ritual recreation of Inanna's journey} until she
appeared naked before the underworld queen. However, the resurrected
Dumuzi still took her for granted; not a wise thing for any husband to
take a wife for granted, much less a wife who had sacrificed ALL for
him.
In her righteous anger Inanna slays him once more, either directly or
indirectly.
--
"As no two people see the same
view along the Way, all trips
from here to there are imaginary;
all truth is a tale I am telling myself."
------ Brion Gysin in "The Process"
Kice Brown
Lone Tree & Iowa City
Bryan Gardner
have to remove her jewels. However I do believe Dumuzi was put to
death in spite of her not because.
mark mcmanus
> > Some more specifics about it: mother Duttura, consort Innana, sister
> >Geshtinanna.
> >is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
> >place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
It certainly does make sense and is the theme of Ishtar's Decent Into
The Underworld. You should be able to find even a brief desription of
the myth in any good Sumerian/Babylonina myth book. If you can't find
it, let me know and I'll organise something for you!
Antonio Greaney Delgado
Carl KICE Brown <cbr...@dexter.pmeh.uiowa.edu> wrote:
>
> Wait a minute -- I thought Inanna went to visit her sister Ereshkigal
> in order to rescue Dumuzi -- giving up a piece of her clothing to the
> guardian at each of the 7 gates {and thus Salome's dance of the 7
>veils
> may well have been a ritual recreation of Inanna's journey} until she
> appeared naked before the underworld queen. However, the resurrected
> Dumuzi still took her for granted; not a wise thing for any husband to
> take a wife for granted, much less a wife who had sacrificed ALL for
>him.
> In her righteous anger Inanna slays him once more, either directly or
> indirectly.
This may be a bit too off the wall, but this post just reminded me. There
was a radio series called Ruby by ZBS that featured a reworking of the
Inanna cycle as a major part of the storyline. It might be interesting to
check out; I haven't listened to it for a long time.
ZBS can be reached at:
http://asylum.apocalypse.org/pub/zbs/zbsold.html
Kneep!
P.S. Entropy requires no maintenance.
--
Jeff Marshall
Hi Kice,
In all versions of the story I've ready, Inanna went to the underworld
for the funeral of "the bull of heaven". Ereshkigal got ticked at her
and hung her out to dry. Inanna's uncle, Enki, then sent two
"creatures" (they were not human and not Anunnaki) to rescue her.
Inanna escaped with their help, but someone had to take her place. She
selected Dummuzi to take her place. Ereshkigal sent some minions to get
him. Dummuzi sought and obtained help from Inanna's brother, but it was
not enough. Dummuzi was caught and sent back to the underworld. His
sister then volunteered to stay in the underworld half a year for him.
AOI
Jeff
Carl KICE Brown wrote:
>
>
> Wait a minute -- I thought Inanna went to visit her sister Ereshkigal
> in order to rescue Dumuzi -- giving up a piece of her clothing to the
> guardian at each of the 7 gates {and thus Salome's dance of the 7
> veils
> may well have been a ritual recreation of Inanna's journey} until she
> appeared naked before the underworld queen. However, the resurrected
> Dumuzi still took her for granted; not a wise thing for any husband to
> take a wife for granted, much less a wife who had sacrificed ALL for
> him.
> In her righteous anger Inanna slays him once more, either directly or
> indirectly.
> --
Alice Turner
> Some more specifics about it: mother Duttura, consort Innana, sister
> Geshtinanna.
> I'm wondering if I got a little confused somewhere along the way. There
> is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
> place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
What you need is The Ancient Near East, edited by James B. Pritchard in two
volumes (Princeton, and in trade paperback). There are many other books,
but these are basic to the kind of research you're doing. Inanna/Ishtar is
a *very* important goddess of the area/era and Dumuzi/Tanmuz is her consort
(not her only consort!) and is indeed sent to the Underworld in her stead.
The story will make sense, believe me, if you read--even the sister makes
sense. Dumuzi/Tanmuz is also grouped with Attis and Adonis and even JC--you
should look them up.
Christopher B Siren
In article <334AF7...@ix.netcom.com> red...@ix.netcom.com writes:
>Greetings,
>mac...@ionet.net wrote:
>>
>> Have you looked in Christopher Siren's entries, supra? -Toci
>didn't find anything. It seems that the mythical cycle that I am looking
>for is before the time that is in Chris' entries (which if I'm right are
>all about the middle, Old Babylonian Period 19th century BC and last,
>the Old Babylonian to the end of the Assyrian-Baby civilization in the
>7th century BC. I believe the myths about Dumuzi-Abzu (known by the
>Semetic peoples the Akkadians, Amorites, and Assyrians, as Tammuz) are
>from the first period in the 3rd millenium BC around the 2nd Dynast of
>Ur.
>Geshtinanna.
> I'm wondering if I got a little confused somewhere along the way. There
>is mention later on of a Dumuzi who is sent to the underworld in the
>place of Ishtar. But that dosen't make sense to me.
The story does show up in the FAQ's - most completely in the Sumerian FAQ
and dates from the time period you are interested in. Look to the
entris on Inanna, Dumuzi, and Gesthinanna. In addition to the
other sources which have been mentioned elsewhere on this thread, such as
Wolkstein and Kramer's _Inanna_, I'd recommend Thorkild Jacobsen's
_Treasures_of_Darkness_ as a source for the tale.
Btw., your post is the first place I've seen Dumuzi named 'Dumuzi-Abzu'.
Where have you seen him named that way?
Chris Siren
Don Redmond
Just to jump in to Kice's defense. I have read, and of course have no reference
for where I read it, a version much look the above, i. e. Inanna trots
down to the
underworld to get Dumuzi back and either strips herself of everything to get him
back or gets hung out to dry for awhile in the underworld. In the later
version Enki
does send help to get Inanna back. However, I am also aware of a version that
ends with Inanna taking out her anger on Dumuzi for not caring that she
was dead.
I will try to find a reference for this part of the story.
Peace,
Don
Langlamet
Greetings,
I was doing what I could at home and I ran across some stuff in the
Groliers Encyclopedia CD-Rom 1993. There wasn't much but it listed
Dumuzi-Abzu as a Sumerian diety of the marshes, name meaning "quickener
of the young in hte mother womb of the deep". It mentions his sister
Geshtinanna as the power in the grape, Inanna as his female consort
(misleading that, makes me think she isn't very important when she is
most important). It also says that Ereshkigal is goddess of the
underworld and sister to Inanna (could it have been sibling rivalry that
led Ereshkigal to kill her sister, "she always does this, barging into
my life and demanding things. Well not this time.")
I think the use of Abzu after Dumuzi was an attempt to show that Dumuzi
is the inheritor of the power of Apsu "the fresh waters underground" who
was killed by Ea. Perhaps this means that the Dumuzi of the Sumerian
myths was the precurser to Apsu in the Babylonian myths.
Anyway I will take another look at your FAQ, I think I was a bit
overwhelmed the first time. But I still need the actual stories, which
was my problem with the FAQ, I had no sense of continuity, and that's
what I need most. I can't wait to get my hands on these books. It's only
a matter of time until I do.
Gee, what a wonderful thing this internet is, where the little
information and the people involved in learning about and loving that
information can help eachother with the learning and the loving. Thanks
agian to everybody that has and will chime in on this subject. It's nice
to see so many of you out there.
ThankYou Kindly
Falcon
Christopher B Siren wrote:
> >SNIP<
Richard Holmes
Falcon writes:
> It mentions his sister Geshtinanna as the power in the grape,
> Inanna as his female consort (misleading that, makes me think she
> isn't very important when she is most important). It also says
> that Ereshkigal is goddess of the underworld and sister to Inanna
> (could it have been sibling rivalry that led Ereshkigal to kill
> her sister, "she always does this, barging into my life and
> demanding things. Well not this time.")
I seem to recall that somewhere Inanna was decreed "Queen of
heaven and earth", and that Ereshkigal was "given" (i.e., it was
not her choice) the underworld to rule. This would seem a bit
more than sibling rivalry... one could also read this as symbolic
of the split in consciousness between a wholistic approach to
life/death to a more dualistic way of thinking. Of course, Inanna
would be reconciling the split by gaining mastery over the
underworld and in a manner of speaking making up with her sister.
-Richard.
@ \@/ Richard A. Holmes (rho...@cs.stanford.edu)
@ |
@ \|/ "If you could fill a veil with shells from Killarney's shore,
@ | And sweet talk in a tongue that is no more,
@ , , | , , If wishful thoughts could bridge / The Gulf of Araby between
@ ' ' ' ' What is, what is, what is, / And what can never be.
@ - Katell Keineg, "The Gulf of Araby"
@
@ Loreena McKennitt / Kate Bush / Tori Amos / Katell Keineg / Happy Rhodes
@ Kiva / Kate Price \ Dar Williams / Renaissance \ Sheila Chandra
@ Laura Love / Sinead O'Connor / Jane Siberry / Pauline Oliveros
@ Sarah McLachlan \ Libana / Danielle Dax \ Dog Faced Hermans
Langlamet
Greetings,
Right Richard, I'm finding alot of interesting stuff about Inanna. It
seems that early on in her life there was some sort of split in her
personality. This was durring the Hulupu tree incident. The three
creatures that lived in the tree were three aspects of herself the she
denied. One was Lilith who I think is actualy Eriskigal. These creatures
are eventualy driven away by Gilgamesh (who is a part of Dumuzi who is
another split personality). Lilith is driven away and eventuly is given
the underworld and So Inanna is split in two. She becomes the Queen of
Heaven and Earth, and is given everything wonderful and good including a
husband, while her darker aspect is made to rule the underworld and have
all things bad, to eat clay and drink muddy water and have no sexual
satisfaction. Inanna goes to the underworld because Erishkigal is about
to because her sister (other half) is about to give birth to a new her.
The two will become as one. But Erishkigal rejects and kills her sister.
Later when the two have become one Inanna understands everything and
realizes that she needed to accept the lost part of herself before she
could be a proper Queen. She also sees that he husband Dumuzi must do
the same thing (that he lost something when he helped her deny her other
side).
I am finding it interesting the aspects of nature that are formed by
putting two or more dieties together. For instance Dumuzi is a Fertility
god and great king, he is the wheat and grain but only when joined with
Inanna. His sister is the grapes and vines and together they are the
planting cycle and all vegitation as well as being the reborn gods. If
you take Inanna, Ereshkigal, Dumuzi (also called abzu showing him to be
an aspect of creation and those waters and son of the wisedome god),and
Geshtinanna you get well Jesus Crist. Does anyone else see this? Can
anyone tell me what other power dynamics can be and are formed in the
myths of mesopotamia? And are ther good sources for creation myths from
this place?
ThankYou Kindly
Falcon
Don Redmond
Can't say that I do. I think you're pushing the triple aspect a tad too far.
>
>Can anyone tell me what other power dynamics can be and are formed in the
> myths of mesopotamia? And are ther good sources for creation myths from
> this place?
>
Try various books by Pritchard and Heidel.
Peace,
Don