Ereshkigal
Categories: Asian mythology stubs | Akkadian goddesses | Sumerian goddesses | Death goddesses
Introduction
In Sumerian and Akkadian (Babylonian and Assyrian) mythology, Ereshkigal, wife of Nergal, was the goddess of Irkalla, the land of the dead. She managed the destiny of those who were beyond the grave, in the Underworld, where she was queen.
It was said that she had been stolen away by Kur and taken to the Underworld, where she was made queen unwillingly. She is actually the twin sister of Enki. Ereshkigal was the only one who could pass judgement and give laws in her kingdom, and her name means "Lady of the Great Place", "Lady of the Great Earth", or "Lady of the Great Below". Her main temples were at Kutha and Sippar.
In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which based many of its archdevils and demon princes on actual myths, Ereshkigal is no exception. She is mentioned in passing in the 1st edition Monster Manual 2 as one of the demonic rulers of the Abyss. She appears as a behind-the-scenes villain in the 2nd edition Silver Anniversary module "Return to the Keep on the Borderland" under the slightly different spelling of Erishkigal.
da:Ereshkigal