| Inanna and the Skylord A Story of Ancient Sumeria by James W. Bell © 2001 |
| Dan-Inanna came to the door of the throne room and thumped his staff on the limestone floor several times. The goddess looked up. “Yes, what is it?” she asked. “A messenger newly arrived to see you,” her High Priest announced. “He’s flown from the Holy City of Nippur by bird.” Inanna frowned. “By the gods, what can Enlil be wanting now?” The messenger minced his way forward and bowed. “May I speak, My Lady?” “You’re already speaking. What more have you to say?” “The Magnificent One, the Skylord, desires you to come to the Holy City of Nippur.” “Tell Enlil I will be there on New Year’s day,” the goddess replied. “He desires that you come now,” the messenger said. “He had me bring an extra zu-bird for you. The bird awaits outside in the courtyard.” “I have no intention of flying out of here during the daylight hours. What would my people say if they saw me flying around on a bird?” “Then, tonight,” the messenger said. “At midnight, when it’s dark. The Skylord is insistent, but tonight will be soon enough.” * * * At the call of the midnight watch, Anu, King of Heaven, accompanied Inanna and the messenger into the temple courtyard where two zu-birds waited, already harnessed. The giant birds, eagles with the heads of lions, growled as their approach woke them. “That pompous ass,” Anu muttered to the goddess. “You’re not really flying up to Nippur tonight on one of these creatures of Enlil’s, are you?” “That pompous ass, my dear, is the father of Ninurta, the same Ninurta who has unleashed floods and caused droughts.” Inanna stopped beside the nearest zu-bird. She put a foot in the leather stirrup and swung her leg over the back of the bird as the messenger walked around to mount the other bird. “I have no wish to provoke Enlil and have his son deliver us a another catastrophe. I’d best go see what he wants.” “You hearken to his every wish,” the King of Heaven complained. “On the Earth,” Inanna replied. She flicked the reins and the zu-bird stood. “Don’t forget, my dear, the Skylord is supreme on the Earth.” Then she added, “For the time being.” “Damn Enlil!” the King of Heaven cursed. “My dear, how can you say that? He’s your son.” Inanna flicked the reins again and her zu-bird spread its twelve-foot wings. It took off, running like an ostrich, then leaped into the air to clear the far courtyard wall. The messenger’s bird followed close behind. Anu watched the two birds carry his consort and the messenger away, disappearing in the night sky. * * * The flight from Uruk to the Holy City of Nippur, a ninety mile trip by water, went over Eden and took little more than two hours. When they landed in the flare-lit courtyard of the Ekur Temple in Nippur, Enlil’s sukkal rushed out to meet them. As soon as the birds settled, he extended a hand to Inanna to help her down. “You had a good flight I trust,” he said as he took the reins she offered with one hand and helped her down with the other. The goddess stepped onto the limestone pavement. “I was queasy even though I couldn’t see how high I was because it was so dark. I don’t like flying at night.” “Tsk, tsk,” Nusku quipped. “And you, the Queen of Heaven.” “You’d best hold your tongue, my good man, or I shall see it removed. Now where is the Skylord? Has he gone to bed when I was expected?” Nusku bowed. “No, MiLady. He has been awaiting your arrival, albeit impatiently. He’s in his throne room.” Nusku turned. “Come, I’ll show you the way.” Inanna followed Enlil’s sukkal to the throne room where the Skylord sprawled on his throne of polished lapis lazuli. He greeted her entrance with nothing more than, “About time.” Then he said to his sukkal, “You may leave us, Nusku.” “Well, Enlil,” Inanna addressed the Skylord, “it’s the middle of the night. Why in kur have you summoned me this time?” “By Nin, Inanna, do you have any idea of what you’re doing?” “I’ve been busy, Enlil, making my way as best I can.” “Making your way? Inanna, you’re upsetting everyone! Destabilizing the Earth.” “Me? You exaggerate, Enlil. Like I said, I’ve been making my way.” “Why do you not just let things be?” “So that I remain a nothing forever? Let me remind you, Enlil. When I was born, the Council of Gods assigned no task to me. My father was given the Moon, my brother the Sun, and my sister, the Netherworld. But me? You know as well as I, that I was given nothing. I had no … position. To amount to anything, I’ve had to make my own way.” “I’ve watched you, Inanna. You’ve done well. You’ve persuaded Anu to come down to the Earth without his wife and share the Eanna Temple with you. As a result, you are now the Queen of Heaven, a most important position—with high status, I might add.” “I’m glad you recognize my accomplishments, Enlil.” “Then, why aren’t you satisfied?” “Because I see human mortals still being mistreated, held down. They build our temples but we destroy many works they build in our anger. You, yourself, Enlil, destroyed their tower in Babil. Then you confounded their language and drove them away.” “Only because they had grown insolent and overbearing.” Inanna scoffed. “If mortals had done what you wanted, they would still be working naked in your fields like beasts. I’m making a home for them in Uruk.” “You fool! Even your precious mortals show little respect for you.” Inanna ignored Enlil’s outburst. “Have you heard what they’re calling your city?” “You’re going to tell me, Enlil, aren’t you? I can’t stop you. So go ahead, tell me. “Rainbow City. That’s what they’re calling it.” “What’s that to me?” “An insult, if you don’t realize it. A rainbow is a thing of mixed parts. So is your city. It has been overrun with foreigners and mixed breeds—mongrels, if you will.” Inanna shrugged. “Are you suggesting your city is superior to mine?” “My Holy City of Nippur? Inanna, it’s pure because I see that it stays that way.” “Hah! You’ve built your city out here in the middle of nothingness, Enlil, away from mortals and their flow of traffic. You open the gates of your city only to those who bring gifts and praise. Your city today, Enlil, is no different than it was the day you first built it … back at the beginning of time. It reminds me of Anduruna, the city of Heaven, which never changes.” “We are gods, Inanna. We are immortal. What need have we for change?” “Then, think, Enlil. What need have we for the Earth which is not immortal? Why do they choose to come down to live upon it? And, why do the gods remain so concerned with the Earth and its creatures when they have all Heaven to roam for eternity?” The Skylord paused in thought for a moment. “Those are good questions,” he said. “I must admit, I find the Earth a fascinating place. Especially its creatures.” “Enlil, human mortals have long since found your fascination with them leads only to their sorrow. Not only did you deny them immortality, but now you have cut their lifespans short.” “I did that because the creatures are never satisfied. They seek only change. There is no telling what they might do next.” Inanna laughed. “By the gods, Enlil, when Enki created human mortals, you insisted they be shaped in the image of gods but then, so they would populate the Earth, you had Enki instill in them beastly instincts greater than any animal. Tell me, what did you expect to happen? If mortals had remained oversexed animals, they would have gone mad.” “Inanna, they were created to be our servants.” “Servants that you have three times disavowed, Enlil. The last time, with The Flood, you even went further. You set out not only to destroy human mortals, but to wipe all life off the face of the Earth.” “I note, Inanna that, as time passes, you are becoming more and more obstinate. You seem to be taking after those mortals of whom you are so enamored. Now, you too seem to be seeking change.” “I’ve already explained to you, Enlil. Did you not listen to my words? Unlike my brother and sister, I was a deity without sinecure.” “I heard you, Inanna. Did you hear what I said in reply? Why do you go on and on now that you have been made Queen of Heaven? By Nin, I wish you and Anu would fly up to Heaven.” “Need I remind you, Enlil, that Anu’s wife is still up there? Can you imagine what might happen if she got her claws into me?” “By the gods, Inanna, you are a natural-born disturbance. Anywhere you go, you are the harbinger of Chaos. Because of you, the gates that once protected the comfortable darkness of the Netherworld have been thrown open and the blazing fires of the Underworld let in.” “That was Ereshkigal’s doing, Enlil, not mine.” “Your sister did it only because she envied your accomplishments in the Great Above.” “So, what am I to do? Do nothing because of my sister?” “There are many decent things a deity can do. Temple beautification … ziggurat enhancement, to mention a few.” “Bah. I’d prefer to build larger freighters to carry cargo to Megan and Melhuhha. I’d prefer to develop a safe overland route to Ægypt. I’d prefer – ” “Inanna, stop! I can tell you have become more grossly materialistic than ever. I made a mistake in trying to reason with you.” “Why? Because I am of the Earth? Yes, Enlil, although I am a goddess, I was born on the Earth and admit being filled with earthly appetites and worldly desires. And you? Regardless however much you deny it, I know you feel those same appetites and desires. I’ve witnessed the earthly bursts of anger you’ve displayed from time to time.” “But you treat with these human mortals.” “No more than you. Only, you carefully choose men without blemish to be your priests while I welcome all who come. You say, Enlil, that my city is no longer pure, that I have mongrelized it. But my city has produced writing, textiles and pottery unequaled anywhere on the Earth. We ship our goods across the seas and our writing is used by all the nations of the world.” Enlil sighed. “See. Your attention is centered solely upon worldly things.” “My attention is on those things that benefit human mortals. It is they who give me both sustenance and praise. Tell me, Enlil, do I not owe these short-lived earth creatures something in return?” “Have you not done enough for them already?” “I plan to do more.” “Like, what?” “I must wait till I have grown as strong as my sister. Then, when my sister sends Namtar to carry off another misjudged mortal and carry him down into the Underworld, I will be strong enough to stand in his path and deny him his unfortunate victim.” “You would dare set yourself up against the Underworld?” “Given time, I shall.” “This cannot be, Inanna. You would cause warfare among the gods.” “I will see justice done to human mortals. The day will come when goodness will be a reward in itself and the good shall not be let to die young.” “You have become too much taken with these human mortals. You must desist.” “Desist? Like you, Enlil, the creatures fascinate me. I cannot desist.” “I warn you, Inanna, continue on and Chaos threatens!” “Your rantings scare me no more, Enlil. Have you nothing better to say?” “Are you telling me that you are leaving?” “I’m telling you I have wasted enough time here. My people need me.” “I’ll not allow you to fly back on one of my zu-birds.” The goddess shrugged. “As you wish, Enlil. I’d prefer to ride home on one of our freighters.” Enlil lost his temper. “By the gods, Inanna, you infuriate me! Get out of here!” * * * At first call of the morning watch, Inanna made her way to the municipal quay. A moored freighter, The Imeru, was readying to cast off. The goddess spotted the captain standing by the pontoon, a large bearded man, bare-chested and dressed in leather breeches like a foreigner. “Captain,” she called to him. “Yes?” he responded and turned around. He recognized her immediately and dropped to one knee. “My Lady,” he said. “I am Captain Shalum. Though I am a trader, I am at your service.” “Relax, captain. These days, some of my most devout devotees are traders. I find myself in need of passage to Uruk.” “That city … the Eanna Quay … is my destination. I would be happy to have you aboard.” “Thank you,” Inanna said and started up the ramp. Captain Shalum rushed to help her up. “Have you no luggage?” “No,” she said. “Will the trip last long?” “Two days, My Lady,” Shalum replied. “We’ll arrive at Uruk on the morrow’s eve.” “Then I’ll go as I am.” “Without servants, My Lady? We’re ready to leave.” “Then proceed, captain. Cast off when you will.” Captain Shalum followed her aboard, pulling up the ramp behind him. “Raise poles,” he shouted. Men pulled up the fore and aft mooring poles and then used them to push the reed freighter away from the limestone pavement of the quay. The current of the river caught her lead pontoon. Creaking, its bundled reeds straining at their lashings as the boat turned, the freighter nosed its way out into midstream of the mighty Euphrates. When the poles had been stowed, Shalum noticed the goddess standing in the bow of the ship and hurried forward to check her well-being. “You should be in the cabin, MiLady, instead of here on the foredeck. Is everything all right?” Inanna kept her eyes on the broad reach of the river, its banks lined each side by the dark green of palm trees. “It’s good to be back on the river again,” she replied. “I didn’t know goddesses traveled by boat except when they had to. You need have no worry, My Lady. We know the river quite well.” The goddess turned and smiled at him. “Oh, I have no worry about the trip, captain. I came forward to better enjoy the view. I find the Earth a place of exceptional beauty. And man’s ability to traverse it in such silence and with so little effort is an inspiration to me. Even the gods themselves have not been able to do so well in harnessing the Earth.” The End |