Publication
Imprint: New York : Harper & Row, c1983. Edition: First edition. Responsibility: Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer ; art compiled by Elizabeth Williams-Forte. OCLC Number: 8866420. Physical: Text : 1 volume : xix, 227 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. Features: Includes bibliography, index.
Call number
Myth / Wolks
ISBN
0060908548 / 9780060908546
Original publication date
1983
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: Translation and retelling of the Inanna stories from the Sumerian.
With the publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital of ancient myths- that of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar), the world's first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians. In this groundbreaking work, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein have retranslated, ordered, and combined the fragmented cuneiform tablets comprising the Cycle of Inanna to created an authentic portrait of the goddess from her adolescence to her completed womanhood and "godship."--Back cover.
Table of Contents: Inanna's stories and hymns --
Commentaries. Inanna's stories and hymns: The Huluppa-tree --
Inanna and the god of wisdom --
The courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi --
The descent of Inanna --
Seven hymns to Inanna. Commentaries: Sumerian history, culture, and literature / by Samuel Noah Kramer --
The discovery and decipherment of 'The descent of Inanna' / by Samuel Noah Kramer --
Interpretation of Inanna's stories and hymns / by Diane Wolkstein --
Annotations of the art / by Elizabeth Williams-Forte.
Location: COLLECTION: Ancient & Primal Religions -- SECTION: Myth & Mythology / Filing name: Wolkstein
Topics: In TinyCat -- See "Tags" above for our libraries topic areas. See "Subjects" below for LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) (note you can tour our library via Tags or LCSH, but LCHS are not available for all items in our holdings).
FYxxxx / FY2015 /
With the publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital of ancient myths- that of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar), the world's first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians. In this groundbreaking work, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein have retranslated, ordered, and combined the fragmented cuneiform tablets comprising the Cycle of Inanna to created an authentic portrait of the goddess from her adolescence to her completed womanhood and "godship."--Back cover.
Table of Contents: Inanna's stories and hymns --
Commentaries. Inanna's stories and hymns: The Huluppa-tree --
Inanna and the god of wisdom --
The courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi --
The descent of Inanna --
Seven hymns to Inanna. Commentaries: Sumerian history, culture, and literature / by Samuel Noah Kramer --
The discovery and decipherment of 'The descent of Inanna' / by Samuel Noah Kramer --
Interpretation of Inanna's stories and hymns / by Diane Wolkstein --
Annotations of the art / by Elizabeth Williams-Forte.
Location: COLLECTION: Ancient & Primal Religions -- SECTION: Myth & Mythology / Filing name: Wolkstein
Topics: In TinyCat -- See "Tags" above for our libraries topic areas. See "Subjects" below for LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) (note you can tour our library via Tags or LCSH, but LCHS are not available for all items in our holdings).
FYxxxx / FY2015 /
Physical description
xix, 227 p.; 24 cm
Description
A fresh retelling of the ancient texts about Ishtar, the world's first goddess. Illustrated with visual artifacts of the period. "A great masterpiece of universal literature."--Mircea Eliade
Language
Original language
Sumerian
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User reviews
LibraryThing member questbird
A collection of mythological stories about the Sumerian Goddess Inanna, gleaned from stone tablets from 2000 BCE. The stories begin with Inanna rescuing a Huluppu tree from the wild waters of the Euphrates River. Other stories relate to Inanna gaining wisdom from the god Enki after getting him
The second half of the book is an academic examination of the stories, starting with a Sumerian history and cultural background from cuneiform translator Samuel Noah Kramer, an exegeseis of the tales themselves by folklorist Diane Wolkstein and descriptions of the various artworks photographed in the book.
I found it fascinating not only because the stories were strong: Innana's strength and character shine through undimmed by the intervening millenia; but also for the cross-disciplinary academic collegiality of the authors and the story of the excavation and translation of the tablets themselves.
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drunk on beer, her courtship and love with the shepherd Dumuzi, her descent into the Underworld and its consequences, and several hymns of praise in her honour.The second half of the book is an academic examination of the stories, starting with a Sumerian history and cultural background from cuneiform translator Samuel Noah Kramer, an exegeseis of the tales themselves by folklorist Diane Wolkstein and descriptions of the various artworks photographed in the book.
I found it fascinating not only because the stories were strong: Innana's strength and character shine through undimmed by the intervening millenia; but also for the cross-disciplinary academic collegiality of the authors and the story of the excavation and translation of the tablets themselves.
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LibraryThing member keylawk
This is the first modern and poetic rendering of the Queen of Heaven materials recovered from 400 cuneiform lines on the clay tablets excavated from Nippur, Sumer's center. [127] Many have contributed to the deciphering. [201] Half of the book is Commentary by Samuel Noah Kramer.
Remarkably, the
"She called to her bridegroom: 'The bed is waiting!' He put his hand in her hand. He put his hand to her heart. Sweet is the sleep of hand-to-hand. Sweeter still the sleep of heart-to-heart." [42] Inanna, known as Lillith, the first wife of Adam in Hebrew mythology, was quite a love. When she wasn't coming back from the Dead! [67]
Make a mental note -- this is a Great poem to read aloud and terrify small children!
Remarkably, the
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work is illustrated with photographic reproductions of contemporary artifacts and decoration."She called to her bridegroom: 'The bed is waiting!' He put his hand in her hand. He put his hand to her heart. Sweet is the sleep of hand-to-hand. Sweeter still the sleep of heart-to-heart." [42] Inanna, known as Lillith, the first wife of Adam in Hebrew mythology, was quite a love. When she wasn't coming back from the Dead! [67]
Make a mental note -- this is a Great poem to read aloud and terrify small children!
Show Less
LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl
Profound, funny and horrifying in turn - and sometimes simultaneously. What more can one want from a myth cycle?
(I will admit that I kind of want to tag this "wondrous vulva" though; that's a phrase I'll never forget!)
(I will admit that I kind of want to tag this "wondrous vulva" though; that's a phrase I'll never forget!)
LibraryThing member MarysGirl
Just about half this book is dedicated to the stories and hymns of Inanna, the second half has commentaries by the sumerologist who collected the original materials and the folklorist who "translated" the stories into rich poetry. I particularly loved the illustrations drawn from images in museums
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across the world. The stories and hymns are lyrical and the commentaries informative. Show Less
LibraryThing member regularguy5mb
Here we have the collected translations of the Inanna cycle of tales from Ancient Sumer. Along with the tales there are commentary from both Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Kramer on the way in which the original tablets were found and how the translations were made.
Kramer's part focuses on how the
After the tales, there are a series of hymns also dedicated to Inanna. Many of these seem to be either for marriage rites or temple/altar worship based on the text.
If, like me, you're interested in learning more about some of the earlier myths from the "cradle of civilization," this is definitely a book worth reading.
Kramer's part focuses on how the
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pieces of the tablets were found by different excavation teams and how he and a few others eventually connected the various pieces and figured out that they were part of the same story cycle.After the tales, there are a series of hymns also dedicated to Inanna. Many of these seem to be either for marriage rites or temple/altar worship based on the text.
If, like me, you're interested in learning more about some of the earlier myths from the "cradle of civilization," this is definitely a book worth reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member markm2315
Recommended by BMcH. Crazy, like a trip to the zog people, only it's my relatives. I once had a "wild-haired enkum-creature" as a pet. My copy is from the Erie, Illinois high school and still has the date due sheet and the pocket for the library card. Nobody ever took it out.
LibraryThing member ritaer
Finally read most of this after moving it around for 40+ years. Interesting interpretations of the poetry and legends by Wolkstein and interesting history of the discoveries of the texts and of the history and culture of Sumer by Kramer.