The Evolving Sumerian Underworld

Last time I wrote about the original mountainous Sumerian Netherworld. This land of the dead eventually evolved into the Sumerian Underworld, which inspired all subsequent Mesopotamian notions of the Great Below.  

The Evolving Sumerian Underworld

Remember, the Sumerian people called their original netherworld, Kur. Eventually, the name kur fell away, replaced by terms like Irkala, Arali, Kigal, and my favorite, Kukku. These words translated to everything from "the land of no return," to "the desert," and "the ground." The reason I like kukku the best is because it is truly descriptive. Kukku means "darkness." According to the literature, no light shines in the netherworld. No stars, no fires, and nothing to give illumination or warmth. Think of how dark it is in space, or deep beneath the sea. This is the level of darkness associated with the Sumerian Netherworld. At the heart of this darkness lay a great palace complex surrounded by a vast city. (source) Of course, the gods and goddesses, as well as their servants and scribes, lived in the palace complex. Meanwhile, all of the dead lived together in the city. These departed spirits wandered endlessly in this shadow world, where no crops grew, no fresh water flowed, and animals remained barren, offering no sustenance or source of warmth. Here, no one rose in status above than another. Whether king or peasant in life, in the underworld all existed on equal, probably dismal footing. (source) Surrounding the city were seven walls and seven gates, keeping the dead securely within. (source) Not even the evil spirits could pass through these gates without permission from the Queen of the Netherworld.  

The Queen of the Great Below

In Sumer, the highest heavenly positions were often held by divine women. Perhaps the most revered and feared was Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld. Her name means "Lady of the Great Place" and "Queen of the Great Below." The living depended on Ereshkigal to maintain order among the departed, ensuring that nothing and no one left the Netherworld without her express permission. At the seven gates, she posted guardians to aid in her effort. Over time, as male-dominated cultures adopted the myths as their own, Ereshkigal lost some of her power to her male consort Nergal. However, throughout time, the divine feminine remains a powerful force in subsequent mythologies.

Life in the Sumerian Underworld

Sumerian philosophy approached death as a journey, a long one at that. For no less than seven days after someone died, their family and friends observed elaborate preparatory rituals on their behalf. After performing the required funeral rites, the living rested in their grief, assured that their loved ones managed to pass through steppe, river, and finally through the seven gates descending to the underworld. (source) Upon arrival, the newly departed soul stood before a gatekeeper who examined the record of both their social status during life, as well as the preparations made on their behalf after death. (source) (source) A person's actions or character on earth played no role in determining social status in the underworld. Again, we see the equalizing nature of this House of Darkness. Though some paint a picture of dreary misery, most experts describe an inherent neutrality. (source) Life in the netherworld mirrored that of earth, but without its highs and lows, without its sweet and sour, without food and fresh water. There in the shadows, spirits awaited final judgment for an unknown period of time. From the Great Below also emanated storms and hail. Once a night, as the Sun God of Justice made his trek across space and time, a bright light shone through the darkness for just a brief moment. And that is it. Still wondering how this relates to jewelry? Stay tuned for my next article, a closer look at Ereshkigal, sister/aunt to Inanna. Remember, Inanna is the goddess who carried objects made of lapis to the Underworld. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews