Inanna: mito de la cultura sumeria

by Kim Echlin

Long before the Bible, the Koran, and Greek and Roman mythology, the people of Sumer recorded stories of their gods and kings on cuneiform tablets. The world’s oldest epic poem, the 4,000-year-old Epic of Gilgamesh, tells of a hero who was part god, part man. But a recent discovery uncovered another, equally intriguing hero — Gilgamesh’s powerful sister, the goddess Inanna. Inanna embodies the quest for growth. Her stories describe her growth from childish inexperience and youthful exuberance into maturity as she gains the power to create, to destroy, and to name. She is a goddess of spirit and wisdom who outwits and defies the powerful, falls in love with the shepherd Dumuzi, and, like Gilgamesh, dares to seek immortality. The people of Sumer associated her with the planet Venus — radiant, strong, mysterious. Using Sumerian scholarship as a guide, Kim Echlin offers a sensitive and knowledgeable translation of the Inanna stories. Accompanied by the exquisite illustrations of Linda Wolfsgruber, these tales will interest both students of history and myth and anyone who appreciates art and poetry.

Genres: Poetry, History, Mythology, Picture Books, Religion, Nonfiction, Classics

72 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2003

About the author

Kim Echlin is a Canadian novelist, translator, editor and teacher. She has written five novels. She has travelled around the world for her research. The Disappeared is translated into 20 languages, won the Barnes and Noble prize and was short-listed for The Giller. Speak, Silence, about women and justice at the International Criminal Court, won the City of Toronto Book award.
She won the CBC Creative Nonfiction award and the Dalton Camp award for nonfiction. Her new collection of essays, Tell Others, reflects on literature and witness. She is a board member of PEN International. Author proceeds for this book will be donated to PEN.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful little book. Poetic recounting of 4,000 year old myths by Sumerians (Iraq) of astral beings interpreted as powerful gods with dominance over the earth. Attractive pictures throughout illustrate the story, which, despite being thousands of years old, has a contemporary theme.

[Kelcey Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for Early World English Literature class. We read The Huluppu Tree, Inanna and the God of Wisdom, and The Courtship of Inanna & Dumuzi. It was one of the easier works of literature to read and actually understandable, considering it is from 2500BC. The courtship of Inanna & Dumuzi was super sexual & weird. I think they said vulva at least 50 times. *eye roll*

[Xinma]

Clearly Echlin read fragments and pieced them together for children. That said, it is lovely to have a sense of continuity in the narrative of Inanna, and more importantly, Echlin includes bits of her dark side, not falling into the trap of 'Oh, Inanna was so great, listen to this big journey she undertook'. This collection also brings a flavor of the root lyrical style, which feels a bit surreal given the swift pace of the overall text, but is nonetheless welcome.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

For teens.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book revitalized me. First book of 2023! Haven’t read much for like two years it’s so weird. Glad to start out with a 3000 year old text lol. Feels accurate

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the retelling of a Sumerian myth . . . actually, the oldest written story ever discovered. The tales of Inanna, queen of heaven and earth, are sometimes intriguing, sometimes provocative, and often symbolic of life experiences that we can relate to even now, thousands of years after it was written.

[Karena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read the Globe and Mail article on the newer edition of this book and was intrigued. This copy has lovely illustrations but none of the faceplates I was expecting. Still, it was nice reading 5,000 year old poetry about one strong woman on the beach. I take it!

[Calysta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful introduction to Inanna and her stories. The art and the words combine to create a very vivid experience that pulled me right into it. Complete on it's own, I nevertheless am inspired to seek out more detailed descriptions of the stories. Truly a wonderful book.

[Kurt Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally. A Sumerian epic that's readable. What's more, it's beautiful.

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous &great

[Franca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing short of brilliant.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is this!"

A really good interpretation of the myths of Inanna is what this is.
I really enjoyed both the artwork and the poetry.
I think the Queen of Heaven would approve.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It WILL be part of my collection.

[Meg]

Remember in Snow Crash when Hiro and Juanita get all obsessed with Inanna? Maybe they had a point - the lady is fascinating and gets into a lot of trouble. I also dug the illustrations in this translation.