Summary page for the ancient Sumerian myth of Ereshkigal and Nergal. Explore the fateful meeting of the god of war and the queen of the dead.
Ereshkigal ruled the dark underworld alone after the loss of her husband, Gugalanna. At a divine feast, Nergal, the god of war, insulted her by not rising for her messenger. Offended, she demanded Nergal be brought down so she could kill him. Enki helped Nergal by providing him with instructions and fourteen demons. Nergal entered Ereshkigal’s realm, and with the help of 14 demons, he forced his way past her gates. Nergal seized Ereshkigal, ready to kill her. She instead offered an alliance, proposing marriage. He agreed to stay with her.
However, Nergal left her after six days of being together. Enraged, Ereshkigal threatened to release the dead on the living. The world was on the brink of a zombie apocalypse. The Anunnaki gods, fearing the wrath of Ereshkigal, told Nergal to return to her. Enraged, he fought his way back, but again chose love over violence. Nergal became her consort, ruling the underworld for part of the year. Thus, balance was restored between the living and the dead.
Themes Related To The Myth of Ereshkigal and Nergal
Conflict and Code of Warriors
Nergal disrespected a divine messenger at a heavenly banquet.
He stormed the underworld by force, fighting through seven gates.
He acted with violence before choosing partnership and peace.
The gods sent him below to control his warlike nature.
Tricksters and Their Mischief
Enki manipulated events to remove Nergal from heaven.
He advised Nergal in ways that led to seduction.
His actions shaped the myth’s turning points without direct force.
Specters of the Spirit Realm
The dead lived in darkness, fed on dust and mud.
Souls crossed a river into the one-way land of gloom.
The dead wore feathers and moaned like doves.
Judgment awaited them by Utu and Nanna.
Ereshkigal threatened to release the dead upon the living.
She vowed to make the dead outnumber the living.
The gods feared her power and returned Nergal to her.
Descent to the Netherworld
Nergal entered Kurnugi, the realm of the dead, to face Ereshkigal.
He passed each gate, leaving demons behind to hold them open.
He stayed six months each year as her consort.
His descent brought change to the realm of the dead.
Gods and Goddesses Noted In The Myth Of Ereshkigal and Nergal
Ereshkigal
- Ruled the underworld alone from her palace called Ganzir.
- Lived behind seven gates guarded by her servant, Neti.
- Sent her son Namtar to attend the gods’ feast.
- Became enraged when Nergal insulted her messenger.
- Took Nergal as her consort and ruled beside him.
Nergal
- He was the god of war and destruction.
- Refused to honor Ereshkigal’s messenger at the divine banquet.
- Descended to the underworld with demon guards.
- Seized Ereshkigal but spared her and became her consort.
- Ruled the underworld alongside Ereshkigal for half the year.
Namtar
- Was Ereshkigal’s son and loyal vizier.
- Attended the heavenly feast in her place.
- Felt insulted by Nergal’s disrespect.
- Delivered Ereshkigal’s threats to the other gods.
- Identified Nergal and led him back to the underworld.
Neti
- Guarded the seven gates of the underworld.
- Announced visitors arriving at Ereshkigal’s palace.
- Opened the gates for Nergal’s descent.
- Did not stop Nergal’s violent return to the underworld.
An
- He was one of the high gods of heaven.
- Sent the messenger Kakka to speak with Ereshkigal.
- Approved the return of Nergal to calm Ereshkigal.
- Helped restore balance between heaven and the underworld.
Enki (Ea)
- Advised Nergal before his journey to the underworld.
- Warned him not to accept food or drink from Ereshkigal.
- Gave Nergal 14 demons for protection.
- Helped arrange Nergal’s peaceful return to the underworld.
Utu
- Was the sun-god who judged the souls of the dead.
- Played a role in justice and order in the afterlife.
Nanna
- Was the moon-god involved in afterlife matters.
- Held limited influence over the fate of the dead.
Enlil (Ellil)
- He was one of the chief gods of heaven.
- Joined An and Enki in sending Nergal back.
- Helped prevent chaos between the living and the dead.
Kakka
- He was a divine messenger of Anu.
- Traveled to Kurnugi to deliver Anu’s words.
- Told Ereshkigal to send a messenger for her offerings.
- Helped ease tensions between the heavens and the underworld.
Nungal (Manungal)
- She was Ereshkigal’s daughter and an underworld goddess.
- Punished the wicked and healed the repentant.
Other Characters Noted In The Myth Of Ereshkigal and Nergal
The Galla Demons
- Served as constables in the underworld.
- Worked under the rule of Ereshkigal and Nergal.
- Helped control spirits and maintain order among the dead.
Realms and Places Mentioned In The Myth Of Ereshkigal and Nergal
Kurnugi / Irkalla
- Was the land of the dead in Mesopotamian myth.
- Lay beneath the Mountains of Sunset in the west.
- Held no return for souls who entered.
- Housed the dead and lesser gods.
- Was ruled by Ereshkigal from her palace.
- Received gods, messengers, and the dead alike.
Ganzir
- Was Ereshkigal’s palace at the underworld’s entrance.
- Stood behind seven guarded gates.
- Served as the throne room of the dead.
- Welcomed Nergal during his descent.
Mountains of Sunset
- Marked the western edge of the world.
- Lay above Kurnugi and the underworld.
- Symbolized the boundary between life and death.
Heaven
- It was home to the high gods, such as An and Enlil.
- Stood far above the underworld realm.
- Sent messengers down the stairway to Kurnugi.
- Hosted the divine banquet that sparked the conflict.
Forest of mesu trees
- Held sacred trees used in divine rituals.
- Enki sent Nergal to gather wood from there.
- It was part of Nergal’s preparation for his journey.
Erech
- Was an ancient Sumerian city.
- Held sacred gates linked to the netherworld.
- Served as a contact point between worlds.
Gate of Anu, Enlil, and Enki
- Marked the entrance to the heavenly court.
- Welcomed gods returning from earth or the underworld.
- Served as a barrier between realms.
Stairway of heaven
- Connected the heavens to the lower worlds.
- Messengers and gods used it to travel.
- Linked divine realms with Kurnugi below.
Ereshkigal and Nergal
A Union Forged in the Underworld
The Queen of the Dead and the War God
Ereshkigal ruled the underworld alone from her palace, Ganzir.
This was a place of no return; anyone who entered could not leave.
Except for some divine messengers. They could pass between the worlds.
Ereshkigal received a visit from Kakka, the sky god An’s messenger.
Kakka extended an invitation from the sky god An, requesting Ereshkigal’s presence.
Unable to leave the underworld, she sent her son, Namtar, to accept her portion of the feast in heaven.
Failure To Honor The Queen Of The Dead
Upon his arrival, the gods honored Ereshkigal’s vizier, Namtar, by standing when he entered.
All stood, except for the god of war, Nergal, who stayed seated.
Namtar took offence and reported the incident to Ereshkigal.
Ereshkigal demanded justice for this insult.
Nergal’s journey to the underworld was set in motion.
The Descent and the Divine Offense
Ereshkigal demanded Nergal’s surrender.
The gods agreed and sent Nergal to Kurnugi.
Enki, in order to prevent the collapse of the world order, offered specific instructions to Nergal.
Nergal passed through the forest, made a throne, and prepared for the journey per Enki’s instructions.
Enki gave Nergal 14 demons as protection at each gate.
Nergal entered the underworld, obeying Enki’s commands to avoid temptation.
Alliance and Betrayal
Nergal passed through each of the seven gates, stationing two demons at each gate to keep them open.
He burst into the throne room, destroying everything in his path.
He was ready to strike the queen down, but Ereshkigal was not ready to give up.
In her quick thinking, she proposed an alliance, allowing him to rule the realm by her side.
Nergal, forgetting Enki’s advice, agreed to become Ereshkigal’s consort.
On the seventh day, however, Nergal left without an explanation or a goodbye.
Passion, Betrayal, and Threat of Doom
Ereshkigal became furious. She threatened to raise all of the dead against the living.
She threatened the world with a zombie apocalypse unless Nergal was returned to her realm.
The gods feared her wrath and agreed to her demands.
Namtar went to the heavenly realm to return Nergal.
He found him hiding in heaven, cringing and bareheaded.
Return to the Underworld and Balance Restoration
Nergal returned as Ereshkigal demanded.
He did not come down quietly; he struck down the doormen without mercy.
He pulled Ereshkigal from her throne by her hair.
However, instead of violence, he chose love once more.
Peace was restored in the underworld.
Nergal became Ereshkigal’s consort and co-ruler.
He stayed in Kurnugi for half the year.
He returned to heaven with her consent and the gods’ blessing.
The myth ended with the balance between heaven, earth, and the dead.
Find More Sumerian Myths and Explore Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- Joshua J. Mark, Ereshkigal (World History Encyclopedia, 11 January 2017)
- Samuel Noah Kramer, The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character (The University of Chicago Press, 1963), Page 134
- Nergal and Ereshkigal (Gateways To Babylon)