Inanna's Descent: The Seven Gates of the Underworld

Inanna leaves the great above and passes through seven gates into the realm of Ereshkigal. At every gate she loses another sign of power, and her return requires help, attention, and a difficult price. Inside this episode: - Inanna's preparations for the great below - The seven gates and the removal of power - Ereshkigal, Ninshubur, and Enki's response - The condition attached to Inanna's return Sources include the Sumerian poem Inanna's Descent in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature and Penn Museum scholarship. This episode is a researched narrative summary. Historical records may be incomplete, translated differently, or interpreted differently by scholars. We distinguish documented facts, estimates, disputed interpretations, and later stories where material. Corrections are logged and incorporated into future editions. Follow Myths in Context for more researched stories of gods, heroes, tricksters, and journeys from around the world.