Inanna
Throughout the story of Inanna, readers witness her transformation from a young lady to a beloved goddess and the frustrations and obstacles that are associated with these transformations. This transformation can be associated with her functions and roles as a woman, which relates with the theory of the Great Goddess. The relationship between Inanna and the Great Goddess follows the ideals of an agrarian society, whereupon a woman is looked to bring fertilility, life, death, and re-birth. Inanna's character is developed with the uses of symbolisms and repetition to show the power of this myth, although the real power lies within her specific transformations. The first change the reader sees in Inanna is in the first paragraphs of the story, which sets the tone for the rest of the myth to unfold. Inanna begins her journey into Godhood with the finding of the huluppu-tree. Her meticulousness in reviving the tree that was once swept away by the waters of the Euphrates signifies her passage into Godhood. Inanna is immediately intrigued with the rewards that she is expecting after taking the huluppu-tree and restoring it. This is evident in the text when she wonders, "How long will it be until I have a shining throne to sit
The Boat of Heaven has played an important role up to this point, but it is important to understand its true meaning. Throughout time vessels have held the meaning for a long unpredictable journey. Here, the vessel is the Boat of Heaven and it symbolizes Inanna's body and the journey that she will undergo in the next section of the text, specifically her descent into the underworld. Inanna's craftiness in taking the sacred me from Enkil proves to the reader that she has grown and matured. As Enkil repeatedly offers Inanna parts of the sacred me she repeatedly accepts by saying, "I take them." Again, repetition is evident, and in this case it allows the reader to see the importance of the transaction that is taking place between Inanna and Enkil. After the fourteen me were taken, they were placed on the Boat of Heaven, given to Inanna by Enkil. This gift will later signify the final journey Inanna will take on her way to total immortality, but she must first escape the hangover of Enkil. We still see that Inanna is dependent on somebody, this happens to be her servant/protector Ninshubur. At the same time as the newly appointed Goddess and her sukkal were leaving, Enkil summoned monsters to retrieve the fourteen me and the Boat of Heaven from the two. Readers actually see the first commands given by Inanna during this stand off, a sign of her newly gained power. She commands Ninshubur by saying, "Save the Boat of Heaven with the holy me!" and Ninshubur answers her masters call five more times. As the two enter the city of Uruk, Ninshubur suggests to Inanna to celebrate their victory. Inanna does so by answering her sukkal's advise by saying, "On the day the Boat of Heaven enters the Nigulla Gate of Uruk, Let High water sweep over the streets; ... Let all the lands proclaim my noble name. Let my people sing my praises." This powerful piece of writing puts the stamp onto the fact that Inanna has made her presence felt among her followers, but with the help of her sukkal giving her sound advise. Once again repetition demonstrates the power of this myth. From the huluppu-tree to the Boat of Heaven and
Some common words found in the essay are:
Boat Heaven, Utu Gilgamesh, Inanna Goddess, Underworld Ereshkigal, Godhood Inanna, Gate Uruk, Isimud Treat, , Goddess Readers, Gods Goddesses, boat heaven, interpreting text, power myth, newly appointed goddess, gods goddesses, appointed goddess, shining throne, god wisdom, queen heaven, inanna enkil, help sukkal,
Approximate Word count = 1437
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
