Descent of the Goddess Ishtar Into the Lower World

[From The Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria, M. Jastrow, 1915]


To the land of no return, the land of darkness, Ishtar, the daughter of Sin directed her thought, Directed her thought, Ishtar, the daughter of Sin, To the house of shadows, the dwelling, of Irkalla, To the house without exit for him who enters therein, To the road, whence there is no turning, To the house without light for him who enters therein, The place where dust is their nourishment, clay their food.'


They have no light, in darkness they dwell.


Clothed like birds, with wings as garments,


Over door and bolt, dust has gathered.


Ishtar on arriving at the gate of the land of no return, To the gatekeeper thus addressed herself:


"Gatekeeper, ho, open thy gate!


Open thy gate that I may enter!


If thou openest not the gate to let me enter,


I will break the door, I will wrench the lock,


I will smash the door-posts, I will force the doors.


I will bring up the dead to eat the living.