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The Descent of the Goddess Ishtar into the Lower World · 3 of 3 · tr. E.A. Speiser / M. Jastrow

Section 1c

Sprinkle Ishtar with the waters of life and take her out of my presence. Namtar went, knocked at the strong palace, Tapped on the threshold of precious stones. He brought out the Anunnaki and placed them on golden thrones, He sprinkled Ishtar with the waters of life and took hold of her. Through the first gate he led her out and returned to her her loin-cloth. Through the second gate he led her out and returned to her the spangles of her hands and feet Through the third gate he led her out and returned to her the girdle of her body, studded with birth-stones. Through the fourth gate he led her out and returned to her the ornaments of her breast. Through the fifth gate he led her out and returned to her her necklace. Through the sixth gate he led her out and returned her earrings. Through the seventh gate he led her out and returned to her the large crown for her head. [The following lines are in the form of an address -apparently to some one who has sought release for a dear one from the portals of the lower world.] "If she (Ishtar) will not grant thee her release, To Tammuz, the lover of her youth, Pour out pure waters, pour out fine oil; With a festival garment deck him that he may play on the flute of lapis lazuli, That the votaries may cheer his liver. [his spirit] Belili [sister of Tammuz] had gathered the treasure, With precious stones filled her bosom. When Belili heard the lament of her brother, she dropped her treasure, She scattered the precious stones before her, "Oh, my only brother, do not let me perish! On the day when Tammuz plays for me on the flute of lapis lazuli, playing it for me with the porphyry ring. Together with him, play ye for me, ye weepers and lamenting women! That the dead may rise up and inhale the incense."
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] The passage extensively describes the goddess wearing human clothing, jewelry, and having a physical body and lover.

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Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The restoration of specific ornaments at each gate implies a structural mapping between the journey stages and divine attributes.

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Divine Marriagesoteriology

The reunification of complementary divine principles (male-female, spirit-matter) as a symbol of wholeness and salvation.

The passage references Tammuz as Ishtar's lover, highlighting the divine union central to their mythos.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The text provides specific ritual instructions for releasing a soul from the portals of the lower world.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

The deities act with personal agency, emotions, and interpersonal relationships rather than as abstract principles.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

[auto] The structure of the release is organized around the specific number of seven gates.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] Namtar acts as a guide leading Ishtar out of the underworld through specific gates.

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Renunciation Of Wealthethics

The spiritual danger of attachment to material possessions; wealth as a spiritual obstacle.

Belili scatters her precious stones and treasure to aid in the release of her brother, prioritizing spiritual need over material possession.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

Ishtar is rescued from the lower world and returned to her original presence and status in the upper realm.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

[auto] Release requires sprinkling with waters of life and pouring out pure waters and fine oil.

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Separation From Sourcesoteriology

The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive.

Ishtar's initial state in the lower world involves being stripped of her identity markers, representing exile from her divine source.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The text details a staged upward journey from the lower world through seven gates.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

Ritual actions such as sprinkling waters, pouring oil, and playing music are performed to effect a change in divine status or location.

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