(The Descent of Ishtar)
The gatekeeper went and opened his gate to her:
Enter, O lady, let Cuthah greet thee.
Let the palace of the land of no return rejoice at thy presence!
He (the Gatekeeper) bade her enter the first gate, which he opened wide, and took the large crown off her head:
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove the large crown off my head?”
“Enter, O lady, such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
The second gate he bade her enter, opening it wide, and removed her earrings:
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove my earrings?”
“Enter, O lady, for such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
The third gate he bade her enter, opened it wide, and removed her necklace:
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove my necklace? “
“Enter, O lady, for such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
The fourth gate he bade her enter, opened it wide, and removed the ornaments of her breast:
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove the ornaments of my breast? “
“Enter, O lady, for such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
The fifth gate he bade her enter, opened it wide, and removed the girdle of her body studded with birthstones.
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove the girdle of my body, studded with birthstones?”
“Enter, O lady, for such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
The sixth gate, he bade her enter, opened it wide, and removed the spangles off her hands and feet.
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove the spangles off my hands and feet?”
“Enter, O lady, for thus are the decrees of Ereishkigal.”
The seventh gate he bade her enter, opened it wide, and removed her loin-cloth.
“Why, O gatekeeper, dost thou remove my loin-cloth ?”
“Enter, O lady, for such are the decrees of Ereshkigal.”
Now when Ishtar had gone down into the land of no return,
Ereshkigal saw her and was angered at her presence.