RESEARCH
NOTES
Pantheon
of Gods Appearing in the Play
Brief
History & Geographical Description of Sumer
Related
Myth: Creativity and the Dual Nature of the Divine Mother
Lists
of Objects
LISTS
OF OBJECTS
*****
ANIMALS
Gazelles - dust & grass torn
up. Mass of tracks by watering hole
Broad padded tracks of lions criss-cross. Sleeping, mock fighting.
Young bachelors, no king, nor delicate marks of queens.
Sheep, goats.
Onager - so wild can’t be
tamed. Was bred with donkey which was exalted as king of the road.
Noble & purely bred, wild ass - fierce as a hailstorm rolling
out of the desert.
*****
FOOD
Good wife’s bread. Dried
goat meat. Flat bread rolled around a cylinder of salty sheep
cheese.
Dates - squashy sweet beneath dry
skin.
Slightly muddy H2O from drinking hole.
Beer - sucked through straw that
clinked against a silver rim
Beer smooth & well-aged or rough & young
Melon slices interwoven w/thin
strips of white cheese.
Put tid bits in his mouth.
Savory pastries filled w/duck meat.
Small birds.
Honey cake.
*****
CLOTHING
Hunter - woolen kilt with fringe
tucked up while hunting to protect privates from dust & brambles.
Woman laborer - gown of woven wool.
Man - En’s full regalia:
Pointed crown made up of layers of overlapping horns.
Long white robes of linen blended w/wool.
Embroidered hems w/symbols of goddess.
Electrum medallion flaring w/smooth crystal stones & black
onyx.
Bronze knife in sacrificial Priest’s hand.
White robed assistants.
Ensi wears floor length kilt of
ruler - rustle of overlapping fronds of linen. Shining bronze
breast plate. Heavy gold bracelets. Bronze axe of ancestor strapped
into place at waist. Solid reassuring weight of power.
*****
ENVIRONMENT
Little flames from oil lamps light
the shrine.
Temple people arranged according to duty & rank.
Drum beat in temple.
En’s room:
Warm, little fire burning in hearth.
Bunches of drying herbs hung from ceiling. Walls lined w/chests
of cedar. Cats lying on bed. Spotted striped, descended from pair
brought back from Black land (across desert).
Mat of creamy wool before fire. Knock on door frame. Woven tapestry
for door.
Clean scent of house, rushes on
floor, sweet oils burning
In lamps. Cups - silver panels
inlaid w/lapis.
Girls of temple sleep together
in dorm. Room where music instruments kept-scarred & scratched
frame.
*****
HAIR
Long wavy hair oiled w/frankincense.
Man: short cropped.
Man - Hunter/Country: black bristles.
Man - City & Slave: Shaved head.
Man - Ensi: ringlets
*****
LEADERS
Lugal - war leader
Gala - priest: specializes in ritual singing.
Taught singing to temple little girls (choir). Would hit their
palms w/rod if not behave or answered back.
En - priestly spouse of Inanna.
Ensi - ruler of city.
*****
INSECTS
Scorpions
Snakes
Flies
*****
BATH
Bathing chamber lamp-lit. Endless
bathing – Steam scented. Step out of bath, whisk w/tamarisk
branches – stinking of sheep & sweat.
*****
JEWELRY
Crown w/tamarisk leaves in gold.
Ear pendents.
Necklaces of spriralled gold pendents. Girdle of gem stones.
Gold bracelets, rings.
*****
THINGS
Gong - Smoke of fire: gums &
oils. Wood pipes of musicians.
Me (plural n.) - all gifts
of knowledge, craftsmanship & power given to humans by Inanna/Gifts
of Civilization.
Abzu - Fresh water sea beneath the Earth where Enki lived.
Idiglat - Tigris.
Buranun - Euphrates.
Gula - goddess of healing.
Galla - spirit of the Underworld.
Ishib - priest of purification/sacrificial priest.
Gidim - restless ghost.
*****
FACIAL FEATURES
Eagle nose.
Lithe & fine featured.
Studious lines in face, calm bearing.
Mother from Black Land: Thick brown hair w/lite blue eyes.
Thin arched eyebrows.
*****
TYPES OF WORK
Reinforce canal walls that all
from slave to priest has fresh water- deal out barley & beer
that none go hungry - est. safe travel, build houses, plant gardens.
Weeping of women because husband taken away to make brick walls
– Later: army.
Children have no bread.
Older men & boys not there
to do work.
No baker, herdsman.
Aged mother is shepherd in early
am. Damp-cold or Lifting shovels of barley into malting ovens.
Men can’t earn bride-prices.
*****
FURNITURE
Bed – Ivory frame.
Clean linens.
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