The original script of Inanna’s Decent to the nether world

The original script of Inanna’s Decent to the nether world can be read in “The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature” at the Oxford University Website here.

Should you prefer, the below little introductory can be read about it first;

The original script of Inanna’s Decent to the nether world was written in cuneiform characters and is transliterated into alphabetical text in “The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature” at the Oxford University Website. They list the below;

-Corpus content by category

-Corpus content by number

Let’s take the simpler route thought the categories. Try clicking on “Narrative and mythological compositions”, then “Inanna and Dumuzid”, then “Inanna’s decent to the nether world”.

There will be an option to choose either “Unicode” or “Ascii”, either is fine. (Try flipping from one to the other if either fails)

Now you will have reached the page where it lists “Translation” and “Transliteration”. “Transliteration” is the original script in alphabet, which gives us an idea how the cuneiform characters must have been pronounced. When you hover over any word, the English equivalent appears. “Translation” is the English translation.

  ・“Transliteration"

  ・“Translation“


Enjoy!