ISHTAR'S DESCENT TO HADES
 

T
 

OWARD the land of No-Return, the region of dark¬
 

ness,^
 

Ishtar, the daughter of the Moon-god, directed her
attention.
The Moon-god's daughter directed her attention
Toward the house of darkness, Irkalla's dwelling-place.
Toward  the house out of which  he who enters  never

comes.
Toward the road whose way turns not back.
Toward the house where he who enters is deprived of light,
A place where dust Is their sustenance, their food clay,
Light they see not, they sit in darkness,
They are clothed, like a bird, with feathered raiment.
Over door and bolt is spread the dust.
Ishtar, on her arrival at the gate of the land of No-Return,
Addressed the porter of the gate:
*' O porter of the waters, open thy gate.
Open thy gate, let me enter!
If thou dost not open the gate, and I enter not,
I will shatter the door, the bolt I will break in pieces,
I will shatter the threshold, I will tear away the doors,
I will bring up the dead that they may eat and live.
And the dead shall join themselves to the living."

The porter opened his mouth to speak.

He addressed the Princess Ishtar:

" Stay, my lady, do not destroy it (i. e., the door).

' Or, the region which thou knowest, of which thou hast heard.

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