Beautiful Image

[qos]

One of the interesting things about Ereshkigal is that there are no surviving images of Her from ancient times -- and very few modern ones, come to think of it. There are a few descriptive lines in the texts which have come down to us, but they are contradictory. In The Descent of Inanna Ereshkigal is frightening sight; in The Marriage of Nergal and Ereshkigal She is so alluringly beautiful that Nergal forgets all the wise advice he's been given and spends six nights in bed with Her.

I've created a couple of collages of images that I've placed over my personal shrines, trying to convey the complexity of Her character and the different facets of my relationship to Her, but no one image captures it all. Which, on reflection, is probably true of most deities -- or any individual.

Yesterday, however, I turned one of the last pages in the Neil Gaiman collection Death, The High Cost of Living, .




Click twice for full size


In literal terms, this is actually closer to Hel than to Ereshkigal, since Ereshkigal has never been described as being half a corpse -- but there is definitely a truthfulness to the image in the combination of living beauty and death.

Comments

[morgwensraven.livejournal.com]

*nods* That is one of the problems with many goddesses.. especially those labeled as "dark" . It is very difficult to find depictions of them. I also agree that the art for Death, in many of her guises in the comic books and gallery that Gaiman published work for various ones. especially as modern depictions. Will have to see if I can find my Death gallery and show you a few of them

[silverhawkdruid.livejournal.com]

That is a very interesting depiction and it also reminds me that I need to check the local library for Neil Gaiman books.

[sekhmetkare.livejournal.com]

It IS gorgeous, but you're right, it looks more like Hel (with an ankh, interesting). When I was doing research for my Erishkegal paper (the one I sent you for the anthology), I found the same problem, only a few descriptions, and they tend to disagree with each other in areas. The one that felt most right to me was the description of Her as a "huge black woman sleeping in a lapis palace". Not black as in African, withvery dark brown skin, but with actual BLACK skin. I created a mask of her as part of my study, then had a picture taken of me wearing it. I don't remember if I sent you a copy of the pic, but if you're interested I'll try to find it.

[stiobhanrune.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I love that pic. I always thought of it as being a good depiction of the Norse Hel, as well. :)

Good image, though. ;)