Goddess of the Week: Inanna

Some people like dark.  Me?  Not so much.  I'm your basic lets-add-a-laugh-track and live happily ever after sort of gal.  But if you are brave enough to explore the dark side, if you can steady your nerves enough to read thrillers or let your mind wander down dangerous paths, then the goddess for you is Inanna.

Inanna is an ancient, ancient Sumerian goddess.  Basically, most of your old world gods and goddesses somehow evolved out of Inanna, who was one tough cookie.  She tricked her father, who was the god of wisdom, into giving her "the hundred objects of culture," which made her the supreme Sumerian deity.  Sibling rivalry being as ancient as goddesses, this did not endear Inanna to her sister, Ereskigal who just couldn't stand it that Inanna, who always got everything and who had awesome hair and great skin and a totally gorgeous boyfriend named Damuzi, now got to keep the totally cool hundred objects of culture too. 

So, one day, Ereskigal, who was queen of the underworld,  invited Inanna for a visit.  "Sure," said Inanna.  "I'll be right down."  

"Great.  By the way," added Ereskigal, "Security is pretty tight down here.  You know, all those dead guys trying to get out..."

"Really?" said Inanna.

"Yes," answered her sister.  "But you know the rules.  No givebacks.  Once a dead soul arrives, a deal soul has to stay."

Well, Ereskigal wasn't kidding.  The TSA had nothing on the guardians of hell, who stripped Inanna of all her clothing and protective talismans.  By the time Inanna reached her sister's pad she was buck naked and defenseless, which was just what Ereskigal wanted.  Ereskigal killed Inanna and hung her dead body on a hook, because, really, what else are you going to do with your dead sister's body?

Meanwhile, Damuzi was all "Where's Inanna?  Anybody seen Inanna?  No?  Well, I guess that means I get to be king of heaven." And he plopped right down on her throne.  

Luckily, Inanna had some real friends.  Her faithful toady found her in hell, brought her back to life and helped her get back through security, picking up each of her personal belongings along the way.

But rules are rules, and the guardians of hell took their accounting very seriously.  Inanna died in hell.  If she left, there would be one soul less.  A deal was made.  She could return to the world of the living, but she would have to chose another soul to take her place.  

Hmmmm....Who to choose?  Well, how about the dirtbag husband who didn't even go looking for you when you went missing and then usurped your throne?  The pig.  So down goes Damuzi, up comes Inanna.  And what do you know?  There is a happy ending after all.

Channel this goddess: When you are flirting with danger, when you are feeling a little Maltese Falcon, when the shadows are a little too dark and you can't see straight.  You know how to call her don't you: You just whistle.  You just put your lips together and blow.

Desiree: This one's for you.