In the poem, Inanna and Ebih written by the High Priestess Enheduanna, a story about how Inanna forces the mountain Ebih into submission. Inanna loses her support from the god An, so she must learn how to rely on herself to achieve her goal of forcing Ebih to bow to her power. Due to the length of this poem, I will post it in three parts for ease of reading.
I hope you enjoy!
IN-NIN-ME-HUŠ-A
by The High Priestess Enheduanna
I. Invocation
Lady of blazing dominion
clad in dread
riding on fire-red power
Inanna
holding a pure lance
terror folds in her robes
flood-storm-hurricane adorned
she bolts out in battle
plants a standing shield on the ground
Great Lady Inanna
battle planner
foe smasher
you rain arrows on enemies
set strength against foreigners
lion roar across heaven
on earth bodies struck
flesh cut
wild bull
hooves planted
battle-ready against foe
fiery lion
the upstart and rebel
you persuade
with your gall
II. Praise to Her
my Lady
godly child nursed in heaven
Inanna
godly maiden ripened on earth
YOU ARRIVE
your spread-out arms
wide as the Sun King
when you wear fearsome dread in heaven
crystal brilliance on earth
when you unfold from the mountains
your woven net of blue lapis cord
when you bathe
in clear mountain streams
you, mountain born
in a crystal-pure place
when you wear
the robes
of the old, old gods
when you slice heads
like a scythe cuts wheat swaths
then the black-headed praise you with song
the Sumerians sing in one voice
everyone sings sweetly a joy song
Queen of battle
the Moon God’s oldest child
Maiden Inanna
I worship you
here is my song
III. Inanna Sings
I the Lady
circling the sky
circling the earth
I Inanna
circling the sky
circling the earth
in the east circling the Elam lands
in the northwest circling the Subir lands
in the north circling the Lullubi lands
I ATTACK
THE MOUNTAIN
AT ITS HEART
I the Lady
came near
and the mountain did not fear
I Inanna
came near
the mountain did not fear
came near Mount Ebih
the mountain did not fear
did not tremble
of its own accord
nor wipe its nose on the ground
nor flatten its lips in the dust
I grab the upstarts in my hands
shake them
make them fear me
set a great ox
against its great strength
a calf
against its small strength
I chase them with my rope dance
goad them with my jump rope
I ignite battle
arrows quiver-ready
I braid thick rope slings
polish wood-spear
javelin, shield
set fires in their forest borders
ax the wicked
call the Fire God, pure Gibil
to flame trunks and thick branches
from my own city
Aratta
hidden jewel and sparkling
I spread terror all down the mountain
like an An-cursed place
never again will rise
like a ruin where Enlil frowned
never will lift its neck
PRAISE MY WAY MOUNTAIN!
PRAISE ME!
PRAISE WITH SONG!
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