Ereshkigal

E1R1E1S1H4K5I1G2A1L1

proper noun

The goddess of the underworld.

Scrabble 18

Meanings

proper noun
  1. Mesopotamian mythologyThe goddess of the underworld.
    3 more examples

    1911, Morris Jastrow, Aspects of Religious Belief and Practice in Babylonia and Assyria, G. P. Putnam's Sons, page 369, A myth^‡ describes how Nergal invaded the domain of Ereshkigal, and forced her to yield her dominion to him. The gods are depicted as holding a feast to which all come except Ereshkigal.

    1988, Samuel A. Meier, The Messenger in the Ancient Semitic World, Scholars' Press, page 159, There still remains the problem of why the messenger from heaven bows while the messenger from below receives homage. In light of the suggestion earlier that Ereshkigal is depicted in a much more favorable light than the heavenly trinity of ruling gods, the issue of bowing messengers reaffirms this impression.

    1996, Tanya Wilkinson, Persephone Returns: Victims, Heroes and the Journey from the Underworld, PageMill Press, page 237, The dark sister is Ereshkigal, a Goddess with clear qualities and strong emotions. The myth describes in detail how Inanna surrenders to an excruciating, dismembering initiation into the Underworld.

Origin

  1. Sumerian𒀭𒎏𒆠𒃲
  2. EnglishEreshkigal

Ultimately from Sumerian 𒀭𒎏𒆠𒃲 (ᵈereš-ki-gal /⁠Ereškigalak⁠/).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Ereshkigal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ereshkigal

MLA

“Ereshkigal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ereshkigal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ereshkigal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ereshkigal.

Source: Ereshkigal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.