Enkiu And Dumuzi Death Research Paper

Enkidu and Dumuzi’s death raises many questions such as, “why were they specifically chosen to be killed? Or what was the significance of their death?” Both Enkidu and Dumuzi received unexpected and torturous death. Enkidu’s death was acceptable considering his actions towards Ishtar, the goddesses of love and war. When Ishtar proposed marriage to Gilgamesh, she was quickly rejected and insulted. Therefore, she begged Anu, her father, to release the Bull of Heaven as revenge. After the two friends defeated the bull, Enkidu heard Ishtar wail, “That bully Gilgamesh who demeaned me, he’s killed the Bull of Heaven”(Norton, 2012, p.127), he tore of the bull’s haunch and flung it at her stating “ if I could vanquish you, I’d turn you to this, I’d

Inanna, the queen of Heaven and Earth, was married to a shepherd named Dumuzi. Little did Dumuzi know that Inanna only married him for his sperm. When Inanna traveled to the underworld to support her widowed sister, she was punished and killed. The underworld was a place that did not have an escape once you entered. It was a dark place that had demons that “know no food, know no drink, eat no offerings, drink no libations, accept no gifts…”(Wolkstein, 1817, p.68). To save Inanna from the lifeless place, Enki sent creatures down to the underworld. After the creatures successful brought Inanna back to life, the Annuna, the judges of the underworld, demanded Inanna to provide someone in her place. Instead of giving Ninshubur, Shara, or Lulal, she accepted to give them Dumuzi. The shepherd was unable to run away from galla, the demons, even after being transformed into a snake and a gazelle. At first, it was shocking, although there could be many ways to interpret this sacrifice. When Inanna spoke “ he smoothed my black boat with milk”(Wolkstein, 1817, p.44) she was referring to his sperm. Throughout the story, she also mentioned “cream” which also referred to sperm. Inanna’s acceptance for marriage could have only been to take Dumuzi’s sperm. Although, it is hard to say that Inanna was motivated to throw her husband into the underworld due to his irrelevance. Since Dumuzi was her husband whom she transformed to a