Mourning, suffering and family loyalty in the mythical-literary cycle of Inanna and Dumuzi

Abstract

The mythical-literary cycle known as Inanna and Dumuzi includes a series of compositions writ- ten in the Sumerian language that focus on the relationship between these two deities, from the enthusiastic process of falling in love to the dramatic events surrounding Dumuzi’s death. Regarding the latter, perhaps the most famous episode is the one narrated in the composition known as Inanna’s Descent to the nether world, where, at certain point, the goddess decrees the death of her lover. Although less well known, other episodes in this cycle are very interesting in terms of one’s expected behaviour when faced with the loss of a loved one. This essay revi- sits these compositions with the aim of analysing the archetypal action of their central cha- racters, in what concerns mourning and suffering, to highlight the ideals of family loyalty and fidelity inherent to them.