|
Then to the lower Abzu she hurried, Dumuzi's body for burial to retrieve. When Erishkigal, her sister, of the arrival of Inanna at the precinct's gates was told, Ereshkigal a devious scheme on the part of Inanna suspected. At each of the seven gates, one of Inanna's accoutrements and weapons was from her removed, Then unclothed and powerless before Ereshkigal's throne, Of scheming and heir by Nergal, Dumuzi's brother, she was accused! Trembling with fury, Ereshkigal to her sister's explanations would not listen. Let loose against her the sixty diseases! Ereshkigal her vizier, Namtar, in anger ordered. ...." (-Lost Book of Enki, p254-255) What were the seven "accoutrements and weapons" removed from Inanna? These objects/instruments clearly gave Her power- hence why She brought them and why Erishkigal had them removed. It stands to reason that these or similar objects would also have been worn by pilots involved in skybird duels (or any airborne activities). Further, it appears that these objects may have empowered the pilots beyond their skybird activities (i.e. while on foot). |
In this Sumerian relief, we see a winged eagle figure (on the left) - symbolic of the "pilots of the skyships of the gods." We see this figure holding the fruit of life in one hand and in the other, the water of life. Some [mistakenly] refer to these figures as "reptillian", but on this figure we see "wings". We also see these "wings" on other figures, notably Utu/Shamash, the god in charge of the landing place of the "shems"(skyborn vehicles). Through this we may conclude that Anunnaki pilots wore suits that "gave them the appearance of eagles."
|
In the seal to the right, we see Inanna (center) making her journey to the Lower World, the domain of her sister Erishkigal. Inanna is depicted with wings to stress the fact that she "flew" over from Sumer. "The texts dealing with this hazardous journey describe how Inanna meticulously put on herself seven objects prior to the start of the voyage, and how she had to give them up as she passed through the seven gates leading to her sister's abode. Seven such objects are also mentioned in other texts dealing with Inanna's skyborne travels...."*
The statue to the left, The Goddess with a Vase, shows Inanna with "various 'contraptions' attached to her chest and back". There appear to be more than seven objects (2-3 additional objects). Below I list seven.
1. The SHU.GAR.RA She put on Her head (pilot's helmet)
2. "Measuring Pendants", on Her ears (communication devices; pilot's earphones).
3. Chains of small blue stones, around Her neck.
4. Twin “stones”, on Her shoulders (shoulder pads to support the weight of a box behind the neck and a hose connected to its base by a circular clasp).
5. A golden cylinder, in Her hands.
6. Straps, clasping Her breast (leading back to and holding in place a box against the back of the neck).
7. The PALA garment, clothed around the body.