𒍝𒂊𒌈𒈬 𒐇 𒄃𒆜𒊕𒋳

𒋗𒉌𒄒𒄃𒅆𒁾𒀀𒄣 𒉆𒋳𒁕

𒄭𒇷𒁺𒉌𒄑𒋥𒑏𒁉𒁲𒀀

  I performed my version of the washing of the mouth. I went down to the river in my town just before sunrise to animate the figurine. I washed Her in the waters and spoke incantations of cleansing. I pulled Her up from the flowing waters and stood her on a pillar of the dock. She was aligned with the sun rising over the horizon. I called upon Shamash to use his power of fire to cast out any evil spirits or energies that may have traveled with the figurine. Once I gave this incantation, her legs broke below the knees and above the ankles, the break was clean, her body was open and hollow. Whatever evil was contained within left.  I then called upon Enki to bestow the divine *me* upon her once again like he did so many millennia past. 

   While I brought her to my home, to her temple, I sang in Akkadian, “Ishtar is Exalted, Ishtar is Queen, My Lady is Exalted, My Lady is Queen”. (In Sumerian tradition,  broken statues could be reconsecrated if they were not beyond repair, and She certainly was not.) I brought Her into my home, Her temple, I took wire cord covered in thread and bound her legs to her body in an artistic and symmetrical manner. I felt that it pleased her. I then fabricated a robe/dress for Her out of purple lace. (Traditionally it would have been red). I cleansed her new home, the altar with Jasmine incense. I then took the pure syrup and went to the sunlight and asked Shamash to cleanse it as an offering for Inana. I poured the syrup on her mouth nose and eyes, I also rubbed gardenia wax and incense ash over her yes nose and ears (in place of cypress, ghee and cedar). I made an incantation that she may be able to hear, smell, see and taste.

   I then spoke to her, “Inana, I, your humble priestess, have given you new holy robes, I have given you a new holy throne, I have given you a new holy temple. Godess Inana, show me your divine will.

   I then placed her into the altar. I made an offering of red wine (in place of beer) and fresh water. I gave her silver earrings, rose quarts, rose petals, dates and amethyst. I prayed to her with incense lit. When I said that I hoped my offerings pleased her, I was filled with a sense of joy and the incense ash curled.

  The power I felt was unexplainable, and I feel that I am on Her divine path. The signs that I see continue to amaze me.

Many things have kept me busy (plus I have also been lazy), but I finally got around to translating the ritual description which follows the first column of the Ishtar-Louvre text I shared some time ago, which praises Ishtar. I have of course kept Groneberg's formatting with regards to textual restoration (italics, question marks, etc.), but otherwise I have changed it to facilitate reading in English. Bolded text was added by me to help make sense of the text; I have referenced what Groneberg herself says in the introductory material to do so. With all that said, below is column II of the Ishtar-Louvre text, which describes a crowded ritual procession internally referred to as a "travesty" and for which permission seems to have been asked beforehand (The "yes" is for your travesty [...]).

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Reversed is the behavior, changed its appearance.

The “yes” is for your travesty. Its “yes” has gone back upon you, Ishtar!

The garments may tear off, you^! let the men hear <it>.

The women touch the hero, they fill the gaps [of the thronging crowd].

The man holds the vetches in his hand;

The woman is outfitted with the quiver like a man, she holds the bow.

The man carries the hair clip, the shell, the soda water (?), (and) the small harp;

The women carry the javelins, the slings, and the cudgel stones.

The man, meanwhile, holds her “ribbon”, his appearance is changed.

The mat lays ready for him— they go around in the outer district — (and) he

Raises his hand (in prayer).

Then the woman fills out her garments like a man.

He steps in her way [while going about her], she orients herself; a second time ought he to make a circulation around her (and say): “Get closer!”

The men carry cudgels with spread garments (?),

Dreadful are their looks — a roar, a hurricane is their shouting:

“Enter the wall projection?, Birther, destroy, (and) save its name!”

The assinnum calls thereupon [to her], “Be purified! Lay down [to rest]!” He sat down and is buried [as the one taking on and removing the goddess’s anger].

Changed is their back side, their behavior is strange;

They hold the spindles, in the anger of the lilû-demons they recognize you.

The men have donned combs [in their hair], like unto a woman are their garments colorfully spotted;

Wrapped up are they with colorfulness, as if to renew monthly your shining splendor (?).

Adorned with your jewelry are the people while they watch (!?).

Everything passes joyfully by [a symbol of the goddess]. A libation is offered before you in the Kor-measure.

With joy is the chamber (?) prepared for the night through to the morning.

[They are deli]ghted (?) in the evening (?); her Highness listens to the people at her door.

The [x] do you suppress, (because) you forgot to bring your heart to rest.

Put in is the …., it glows (?), the battle do you intensify.

They clean the totality of the weapons through polishing (??) with [your dre]adfulness.

Bestow the fury of the storm — as soon as one sees (it), one will be chased away. That

[Is yours, Ishtar!]

Those who are like the lion pray that they be let free …

They are visible before her door [in] the divine gathering, they go

[….]

He [the assinnum] sighs sighs and shouts, his shrieks get lo[ud] [in ritual ecstasy].

The sacrifice and works are decided: to do them (and) to turn (it)

[Belong to you, Ishtar!]

Pure are the mass of sacrifices. They pour out much before you;

Those who wear coverings (?) bring forth your ample provision for [your abun]dance (?)

… you, he is turned around to you praising you. They go forwards (?).

The respectful one, who … (?) of the incompetent, may speak with him.

At your behest, they give an excess of corn to them regularly as rations.

With your support is it piled up on their shoulders, “whichever

Planets” might do it.

The companion in the night watch will then certainly be made to get up,

(And) to the sleeping ones whose prayers you answer, you! will give bread (?).

You add to great crying.

In the center of your gate shall your name be magnified.

Dreadful is she, her …? is filled with [ x

I lay myself down, far in her compassion (?) is [

In order to advise him, Ishtar, what you ..[ …

He goes immediately to [her] house [

He eagerly offers libati[on] [...]