Ereshkigal: Mesopotamian Queen of the Dead

Q: Who is Ereshkigal?

Ereshkigal is the Queen of the Dead in Mesopotamian religious belief. She presided over the underworld and is also known as Irkalla and Allatu, also names of her realm. Her primary responsibility was keeping the souls of the dead where they belonged.

Q: Is Ereshkigal related to Inanna/Ishtar?

Yes. Ereshkigal is the older sister of Inanna/Ishtar. Contrary to rumor, they are not twins.

Q: When is Ereshkigal first mentioned in writing?

Ereshkigal is mentioned in fragments from the Akkadian period (2350/2334-2154 BCE) and depicted as Queen of the Dead in the poem The Death of Ur-Nammu from the reign of Shulgi of Ur (2094 to circa 2046 BCE).

Q: What is Ereshkigal most famous for?

Ereshkigal is best known for her depiction in the poem The Descent of Inanna, circa 1900-1600 BCE.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Ereshkigal (also known as Irkalla and Allatu) is the Mesopotamian Queen of the Dead, who rules the underworld. Her name translates as "Queen of the Great Below" or "Lady of the Great Place." She was responsible for both keeping the dead within her realm and preventing the living from entering and learning the truth of the afterlife.

More about: Ereshkigal

Timeline

2334 BCE - 2154 BCE
Ereshkigal referenced in fragments from the period of the Mesopotamian empire of Akkad.
2094 BCE - c. 2046 BCE
Ereshkigal mentioned in the poem The Death of Ur-Nammu from the reign of Shulgi of Ur, Sumeria.
c. 1894 BCE - 1595 BCE
Ereshkigal grows in popularity during the Old Babylonian Period.
1792 BCE - 1750 BCE
Ereshkigal's place in the Mesopotamian Pantheon solidifies during the reign of King Hammurabi of Babylon.