In the Sumerian literature known to us, one can find two different versions of the relationship between Inanna and Dumuzi. In the poem presented below, the young people immediately fell in love with each other, but according to another version, Inanna initially preferred another groom and only after persuasion agreed to marry Dumuzi. (See "Dumuzi and Enkimdu").
The myth begins with Inanna's memories of how one day, while walking somewhere alone, she met the shepherd Dumuzi. He took her hand and hugged her, but the goddess began to beg to let her go, as she was afraid of the wrath of her mother Ningal. Dumuzi suggests that she deceive her mother and say that she was with a friend in the city square.
I'll tell you, I'll tell you
Inanna, the most deceitful of women, I tell you,
(Say) "My friend took me with her to the square,
There the musician entertained us with dance,
He sang such a beautiful song for us,
We whiled away our time with him in joy."
With this deception you will appear before your mother,
While we're in the moonlight, we'll get drunk with love,
I will make you a bed, clean, sweet, worthy,
A sweet day brings joy to you.
Inanna agreed, and they made love. After spending time together, the young people apparently decided to get married.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the second part has not been preserved and the myth continues with Inanna's message that Dumuzi is ready to meet her mother to ask for the hand of his beloved.
I (Inanna) came to my mother's gate,
Walking joyfully
I came to the Ningal gate,
Walking joyfully.
He will talk to my mother
Sprinkles the floors with cypress oil,
He will talk to my mother
Sprinkles the floors with cypress oil,
He whose house is fragrant,
Whose word is joyful?
My lord of pure pleasant branches,
Ama-Ushumgal-Anna, son-in-law of Sina,
My lord, sweet is your ascent,
Your plants and the grass of the plain are delicious,
Ama-Ushumgal-Anna, son-in-law of Sina, sweet is your ascent,
Your plants and the grass of the plain are delicious.
When I, lady, was shining in the sky,
When I, lady, was shining in the sky,
When I was shining, when I was dancing,
From dawn to dusk she sang songs,
Opposite me, opposite me
Mister Culianna stood in front of me!
The gentleman squeezed my hand,
Ushumgalanna hugged me!
"Leave me. Wild Bull! I have to go home!
Leave me, Kuli-Enlil! I have to go home!
What will I tell my mother? I’ll lie,
Ningal, my mother, will I tell a lie?"
"Let me teach you, let me teach you!
O Inanna, most cunning! Let me teach you! -
"My friend lured me to go for a walk,
Sing, take a walk, dance to a tambourine!
Oh, how good her songs are - she sang for me!
Oh, I had fun with all my heart - I had fun until dawn!
Tell your dear mother that, you lie like that!
And you and I in the moonlight
Let's caress and hug each other!
I will prepare a bright bed,
A luxurious bed, a royal bed!
Ah, a sweet time will come, ah, fun and joy will come!
Sagidda - this song!
I, a girl, am walking down the street,
I walk down the street in the light of day,
I, Inanna, walk down the street,
Turnover:
I walk down the street in the light of day!
Lines 2-3 destroyed
I came to my mother's gate,
And so I walk in joy.
I came to my mother's gate,
And so I walk in joy.
Ningal approached the gate,
And so I walk in joy.
He will say a word to his mother,
Cypress oil will be poured onto the ground.
He will say a word to Mother Ningal,
Cypress oil will pour on the ground!
His home is full of fragrances!
His word is full of affection!
My master is worthy of a bright womb!
O Amaushumgalanna, son-in-law of Zuen!
Lord Dumuzi is worthy of a bright womb!
O Amaushumgalanna, son-in-law of Zuen!
O lord, how sweet is your desire for the soul!
In your steppe, your herbs, your grains are so good!
Amaushumgalanna, sweet is your desire for the soul!
In your steppe, your herbs, your grains are so good!
Sagarra - this song
(translation by V.K. Afanasyeva)
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru