Inanna:
Middle Eastern (Sumerian) Inventor of Civilization.
The flowering of Sumeria, its temples, ordered cities, irrigated fields,
birthplace of cuneiform writing and codes of law, and mastery of terra-cotta
arts, all offer tribute to the first Great Goddess named by history. Bejeweled
and serene, her chalice-shaped form was worshipped as early as 7000 BCE. Inanna
represents love, marriage, sensuality, and fertility, but she also counts all
gender-benders and prostitutes her own.
As early as 3500 B.C.E. Inanna was worshiped as the great Goddess of Sumeria.
Also known as Queen of Heaven and Earth, Priestess of Heaven, Light of the
World, First Daughter of the Moon, Righteous Justice, Holy Shepherdess, and Loud
Thundering Storm. She was represented by many different images: the crescent
moon, the morning and evening star, the lion, cow, dove, sparrow, scorpion and
viper. Her appearance as the evening star also gave rise to her association with
prostitutes as they both appeared at the same time during the evening hours.
Inanna is the Goddess of Fertility,
grain and vine, the date, palm, cedar, sycamore, fig, olive and apple trees.
Often these trees were planted near her temples. Bread made from wheat or
barley, ground flour, wine, beer, and dates, was baked and placed on her altars.
The fruits for the bread were harvested in special rituals and the baking of the
breads, or "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" celebrate nourishment from
the Goddess. As Holy Shepherdess, she was the guardian of the domesticated
animals, protectress of wild animals, and a team of lions drew Inanna's chariot
across the heavens.
Inanna of Power, Goddess of Battle. Just as
she images fertility, the Great Goddess also serves as archetype of natural
extremes: monsoon-like storms, great heat, earthquakes. Ancient clay
inscriptions depict her raining down fire, mounted on a beast, and call her
"devastatrix of the lands." Her powers explained earth-scourging
catastrophes, and these aspects still live in the forms of Kali
and Durga.
For Sumerians, battle was known as the dance of Inanna. She stands Amazon-like,
rooted and erect, garbed as Warrior Queen, gesturing confidently with her lance
of power.
The entrance to Inanna's
sheepfold was the entrance to her womb from which all living things originated.
Marked by a special symbolic vulva gate depicted as two bundles of reeds with
curved ends, this symbol was often found in temples or on farms. The Sacred
Marriage, which took place at the beginning of the New Year, (The Spring
Equinox) was the most important day in the Mesopotamian calendar.
It was at this time that Inanna wed her consort, Dumuzi and their union provided
for the fertility of the crops in the fields. Inanna is well known from the many
myths that tell of her exploits.
In the myth "Inanna and the God of Wisdom," we learn how Inanna,
through her cunning and skill, won the sacred Sumerian tablets of Justice from
Grandfather Enki. Our Links
page has info on a new book called "Seven Dreams of Inanna."
Inanna is part of the Circle of Goddesses Candle Shrine. Check it out by
clicking on this link! Circle
of Goddesses
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