Ereshkigal
In Mesopotamian mythology, Ereshkigal (Sumerian: ð’€ð’Š©ð’Œ†ð’† 𒃲 DEREÅ .KI.GAL, lit. "Queen of the Great Earth") was the goddess of Kur, the land of the dead or underworld in Sumerian mythology. In later myths, she was said to rule Irkalla alongside her husband Nergal. Sometimes her name is given as Irkalla, similar to the way the name Hades was used in Greek mythology for both the underworld and its ruler, and sometimes it is given as Ninkigal, lit. "Lady of the Great Earth".
| Ereshkigal | |
|---|---|
Queen of the Underworld | |
The "Queen of Night Relief", which dates to the Old Babylonian Period and might represent either Ereshkigal or Ishtar | |
| Abode | Kur or Irkalla |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Nanna and Ningal (implicitly, following the most common genealogy of Inanna) |
| Siblings | Utu and Inanna (younger siblings according to Inanna's Descent) |
| Consort | Ninazu, Gugalana, later Nergal |
| Children | Nungal, Ninazu, Namtar (in only one text) |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Hecate (only in a late magical papyrus) |
| Hurrian equivalent | Allani |
| Hittite equivalent | Sun goddess of the Earth |
| Hattian equivalent | Lelwani |
Ereshkigal was only one of multiple deities regarded as rulers of the underworld in Mesopotamia. The main temple dedicated to her was located in Kutha, a city originally associated with Nergal, and her cult had a very limited scope. No personal names with "Ereshkigal" as a theophoric element are known.
In the ancient Sumerian poem Inanna's Descent to the Underworld, Ereshkigal is described as Inanna's older sister. However, they were not commonly associated with each other.
The two main myths involving Ereshkigal are the story of Inanna's descent into the Underworld and the story of Ereshkigal's marriage to the god Nergal. Other myths also associate her with gods such as Ninazu, originally regarded as her husband but later as a son, and Ningishzida.