Here we go with part two of Inanna and Ebih! With tomorrow being Women Empowerment Day, I thought this was a fitting way to lead up to a full breakdown of Enheduanna’s story and her struggle to take back what was stolen from her. I am inspired by what she accomplished so long ago, and love her story, from start to finish. With that said, part two is incoming; I hope you enjoy!
-Joni
IV. Inanna Goes to An
Inanna
child of the Moon God
a soft bud swelling
her queen’s robe cloaks the slender stem
on her smooth brow she paints
fire beams and fearsome glint
fastens carnelian
blood-red and glowing
around her throat
and then her hand clasps
the seven-headed mace
she stands as in youth’s prime
her right hand grasps the mace
steps, yes she steps her narrow foot
on the furred back
of a wild lapis lazuli boll
and she goes out
white-sparked, radiant
in the dark vault of evening’s sky
star-steps in the street
through the Gate of Wonder
and goes before the god
offers him the first fruits
with sacrificial prayer
An stretches out his hands
takes the fruit in
pleased, he receives Inanna
then sits in the place
he calls his own
and motions her
beside his great right hand
she speaks:
An
my father
be well! silim!
listen to my words
give me your ear
An, your word
proclaimed throughout heaven
dread of my fearsome brilliance
An, you are he who
gives my word weight
over all others
in heaven and on earth
who gives my iron cold ax
dominion to heaven’s outer edge
who carved godly pillars
beautiful as queens
to mark the place I stand
there you set my solid throne
there you bent the impaling pole
to my eager hands
and I ride out
team of six in harness
pulled over sky roads
to the bounds of heaven
I come forth a queen
like cool moonlight down the breast of the sky
arrows shot from my hands
strip field, forest, orchard
like the teeth of locusts
arrows sharp as harrows
level the rebel’s field
my hands like falcon claws
slash heads
like the FIRST SNAKE
I come out of the mountains
fast as snakes slip through earth cracks
I smash heads
An KING
I carry your name
unraveled on a flaxen cord
to the edge of the earth
my eyes scan the earth
I know the length of it
I travel heaven’s pure road
I know the depth of it
even the holy Annuna
stand in awe of me
listen!
I the Lady
came near
and the mountain did not fear
I Inanna came near
the mountain did not fear
came near
Mount Ebih
and 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 MY WAY EBIH!
PRAISE WITH SONG!
to be continued tomorrow….
Our Modern History 
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