Inanna

I'm writing this because I never know when to stop.

Yesterday's entry focused on the Eleusinian mysteries, a magnificent example of Earth mother/daughter worship at its most powerful. The lost daughter could also be a son (Attis/Jesus)or a lover/husband (Osiris/Tammuz). The odd one out is Jesus, because his story does not become a calendar myth, i.e, his return is not a metaphor for seasonal change. And yet, the celebration of his resurrection was placed at the time of Eostre, a germanic/saxon fertility/growth goddess (hence the eggs).

The best Descent into the Underworld I have ever come across is that of Inanna, Star of Sumer. It's a marvellous change from Woman as Earth Mother, an archetype which has power, but sometimes is emphasised to the detriment of so many other aspects of personality and intellect. Creation is not just about what lies between one's hips, wonderful though that can be.

The legend I am about to recount is known to be at least 4000 years old, and evidence begins to suggest it may be a lot older. I love this story, though I do it no favours by telling it in brief.

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Strange and sad to think that this story originated (approximately) from the land now called Iraq. So much has been lost...