The god Enki intervenes indirectly, restoring Inanna to life. However, on her return journey, Inanna is required to deliver another living human in exchange for her freedom.
She selects Dumuzi, her spouse , who is abruptly transported to the Underworld. In response to the pleas of Dumuzi 's sister , Geshtinanna , his circumstances are somewhat ameliorated: he is permitted to remain in the Underworld for only a portion of the year, with his sister assuming his role for the remaining duration.
The myth exists in two main versions: one in Sumerian and the other in Akkadian. The Akkadian version was first discovered and translated in the s. The existence of the longer and older Sumerian version was first established in the early 20th century , but it required approximately fifty years for epigraphists to fully reconstruct and translate it. The story of Descent of Inanna into the Underworld offers insights into Mesopotamian culture through its numerous characters and developed plot.
The influence of this culture on subsequent civilizations is evident in the traces of Mesopotamian elements found in Greece , Phoenicia , and the Old Testament. In the 20th century, the story was employed by some psychoanalysis theorists to illustrate psychic mechanisms. The myth of Descent of Inanna into the Underworld is presented in two versions: one written in Sumerian and another rewritten in Akkadian, where the goddess is referred to as Ishtar.
These two versions are not faithful translations of each other; instead, they represent two distinct renditions. The Akkadian version of the myth, comprising lines and entitled The Descent of Ishtar into the Underworld , was the initial version to be unearthed.
