Irkalla – Underworld With No Return Ruled By Ereshkigal, Sister Of Inanna
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Babylonian mythology, Irkalla was a shadowed underworld - a realm from which there was no return. It was the land beyond the final horizon, where the living could not follow and from which the dead did not emerge. This mysterious domain, often imagined as lying deep beneath the earth, represented the great unknown that every soul would one day confront.
The realm of the dead, sometimes called the lower world, was also known as Arali, Kur, Kigal, and Gizal. Each of these names reflected a different facet of the same hidden reality—a place of silence, dust, and memory, yet also of order and inevitability. For the Babylonians, these words were not only names of a distant world, but reminders that life’s journey had depth and consequence, stretching beyond what the eye could see.
This is a preview of our premium article available only to members of Ancient Pages.
Become a member to read more - Click here
If you are already a member and have logged in to your account, you can access the article here
See also:
Death And Afterlife In Sumerian Beliefs
Mesopotamian God Nabu Inscribed The Human Fates Determined By The Gods
More From Ancient Pages
-
Why Couldn’t European Sailors Swim In The Past?
Featured Stories | Mar 6, 2025 -
Archaeologists Investigate The Mysterious Disappearance Of Human Skeletons In England And Wales During The 5th Century
Archaeology | Oct 16, 2024 -
Ledberg Stone (Ledbergsstenen) With Magic Formula Dated To Viking-Era – One Of Most Beautiful Landmarks
Featured Stories | Jan 5, 2023 -
Bizarre Event – Why Did Hundreds Of Individuals Suddenly Freak Out At A Cemetery?
Featured Stories | May 30, 2023 -
5 Most Common Misunderstandings About Evolution
Evolution | Jun 5, 2023 -
Sacred Cherokee Star Mound And The Legend Of The Star People – Beneath The Ground May Lie A Secret That Should Remain Hidden Forever
Featured Stories | Mar 23, 2025 -
Arborglyphs – Basque Immigrant Sheepherders Left Their Marks On Aspen Trees In The American West
Featured Stories | Jul 15, 2024 -
Long-Lost Island Documented On Ancient Maps – Erased From History Or Misidentified?
Ancient Mysteries | Dec 14, 2019 -
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Mayan Board Game – Here’s What It Can Teach Modern Educators
Featured Stories | May 19, 2023 -
Ancient Pathogens Released From Melting Ice Could Wreak Havoc On The World – New Analysis Reveals
Featured Stories | Aug 2, 2023 -
Gargoyles – Mysterious Ancient Fearsome Creatures Warding Off Evil
Featured Stories | Nov 25, 2024 -
Return Of Pahana – The Lost White Brother Of The Hopi And The Sacred Tablet
Myths & Legends | Mar 5, 2018 -
Ancient City Of Timgad: Largest Roman Settlement Ever Built In North Africa
Featured Stories | Dec 15, 2025 -
Did Etruscans Solve The Mystery Of Synchronicity And The Secret Language Of The Stars?
Ancient Mysteries | Jul 5, 2018 -
Utiseta – Norse Vision Quest – Ancient Spiritual Tradition Of Northern Europe
Ancient Mysteries | Oct 3, 2019 -
Why Are Medieval Manuscripts Full Of Doodles Of Snail Fights?
Featured Stories | Jun 17, 2023 -
Ancient City Empuries (Emporiae) With Best Greek Ruins Located Outside Of Greece
Featured Stories | Dec 29, 2022 -
The Hidden Face Of The Elusive Master
Ancient Mysteries | Jun 8, 2018 -
British Columbia’s Mysterious Ancient Underground People Who Avoided Daylight And Owned Strange Magical Objects
Ancient Mysteries | Apr 6, 2025 -
Obscure History Of Atlantean Statues In Ancient Toltecs’ City Of Tula
Featured Stories | Oct 19, 2020



