Ereshkigal

Ereshkigal is a major figure in Mesopotamian mythology, known as the goddess and ruler of Irkalla, the underworld. Her name is usually interpreted as “Queen of the Great Below.” In Sumerian and Akkadian lore she governs the realm of the dead, its gates and its administration, and she presides over the processes of death and the afterlife. In some texts she is described as the wife of Nergal, the god of war and plague, though her primary role remains the sovereign of the underworld.

Ereshkigal is typically portrayed as the sister of Inanna (Ishtar), the goddess of love and war. The two engage in a well-known myth in which Inanna descends to Irkalla to visit her sister. According to the Descent of Inanna, Inanna is received by Ereshkigal and, after passing through seven gates and surrendering her powers, she is killed or placed in a death-like state. The story involves intervention by other gods to restore Inanna to life and allow her to return to the world above, illustrating the delicate balance between the living and the dead in Mesopotamian belief.

In art and texts, Ereshkigal is described as a stern, formidable queen who sits on a throne and is served by various underworld attendants and demons. Her cult was part of broader Mesopotamian funerary and underworld traditions; specific temple centers and practices varied across periods. Ereshkigal remains a central figure in the mythology surrounding the afterlife and the governance of Irkalla.