Inanna determines to attend the funeral of her sister, Ereshkigal the Queen of the Underworld's, husband, Gugalanna. Although only an appointed messenger is allowed to enter Kur and leave again, she believes that she will be safe. In order to protect herself, however, she tells her servant Ninshubur to pray to four gods for her safe return, just in case. Then Inanna prepares her elaborate wardrobe, which is complete with jewelry and a lapis lazuli measuring rod which possesses magical powers.
When she hears that her sister has arrived at the gates, Ereshkigal orders the gatekeeper, Neti, to allow Inanna to enter only if she strips one garment or piece of jewelry at each of the seven gates. Inanna obeys, relinquishing her lapis lazuli rod first. By the time she arrives before her sister's throne, she is completely naked and furious. She sits upon Ereshkigal's throne, upsetting the Anna, the seven judges, who condemn her to death.
Inanna remains dead for three days. During this time all sexual activity in the world above ceases. Meanwhile Ninshubur is praying. After the first three deities turn down his requests, Enki agrees to rescue Inanna. He creates to beings without sex -- gala-tura and kur-jara -- from the dirt under his fingernails and sends them to sprinkle the food and water of life upon Inanna's corpse. In the Underworld, Ereshkigal is being tortured by guilt over her sister's death, even in her physical body. She finally agrees to trade her sister's corpse for relief. She sends the Galla demons to escort the two beings and sister out of the Underworld and demands a life in exchange for her sister's.
The demons attempt to take each person they encounter on the return journey. The first is Ninshubur, but Inanna will not allow his death because he so faithfully mourned and prayed for her. Next she protects her beautician, Shara, also because he mourned her death. And yet another servant, Lulal, is spared for his faithfulness. Finally, the Galla come across Dumuzid, Inanna's hsuband. He has not participated in the ceremonial mourning for his wife, but instead is resting in luxury and enjoying the services of his slave girls. Furious, Inanna condemns him to be her compensation to her sister. Though Dumuzid attempts to avoid his fate with the help of the god Utu, he is ultimately unsuccessful.
Thanks to Dumuzid's sister, Geshtinanna, who mourns for him for days and days, Inanna has some mercy upon the siblings. Inanna mourns for her brother and repents of her decisions, visiting his mother, Sirtur, and his sister. Suddenly a fly appears before the three women and reveals the location of Dumuzid in the Underworld. The wife and sister visit him and decide that Geshitanna will remain in Dumuzid's place for half of every year.
