Inanna and Enmerkar
He is also noted for leading campaigns against the land of Aratta.
The story begins with Enmerkar, the king of Uruk, who desires to expand his influence and bring the city of Aratta, known for its wealth and resources, under his control.
Aratta is described as a distant and prosperous city, possibly located in the eastern highlands.
Enmerkar, seeking to subdue Aratta, sends a messenger to the city's ruler with a demand to submit to Uruk's authority.
The messenger is instructed to deliver a lengthy message, inscribed on a clay tablet, to the ruler of Aratta, highlighting Enmerkar's divine right to rule and his connection with Inanna.
The ruler of Aratta responds defiantly, refusing to submit.
He challenges Enmerkar to prove his worthiness by performing a series of difficult tasks, including the construction of a ziggurat (a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia) and the delivery of large quantities of precious materials from Aratta to Uruk.
In some versions of the story, Inanna even travels between the two cities, assisting Enmerkar in his endeavors and negotiating with the ruler of Aratta.
Eventually, through a combination of divine favor and Enmerkar's persistence, Aratta is subdued, and its ruler agrees to submit to Uruk's authority.
Lines 11-15: "Enmerkar, the son of Utu, the king of Unug (Uruk), the lord of Kulaba, Enmerkar, the king of Unug, who made the neck-stock of the people of Aratta bow, He determined that the people of Aratta should be subjected to him, that they should bear the heavy yoke.
At that time, the people of Aratta had refused to submit to Enmerkar's rule.
Lines 16-20: "Enmerkar, the son of Utu, called upon his minister, His minister who was familiar with the words of Aratta.
He said to him, 'Messenger, carry my words to the lord of Aratta.
The lord of Kulaba has subdued the rebellious land of Aratta.
He has made the neck-stock of Aratta bow down to the ground.
Lines 36-40: "The lord of Aratta heard these words and was troubled.
Lines 46-50: "The lord of Aratta agreed to this counsel.
He delivered the words of the lord of Aratta.
He said to her, 'O my lady, the lord of Aratta has challenged me.'"
The lord of Aratta has demanded the sacred treasure, The shining gem, the lapis lazuli, the stone of the sky, Which is hidden in the mountains.
Lines 71-75: "Enmerkar sent his messenger to the lord of Aratta, With the lapis lazuli, the stone of the sky, as a gift.
The messenger entered the city of Aratta and spoke to its lord: 'Enmerkar, the lord of Kulaba, has sent me to you with this gift.
Lines 76-80: "The lord of Aratta received the gift and was amazed.
Lines 81-85: "The people of Aratta gathered their treasures, The finest gold, the most precious stones, the rarest gems.
Lines 86-90: "The lord of Aratta himself came before Enmerkar, And bowed low before him, in submission and respect.
Lines 91-95: "Enmerkar received the tribute and accepted the submission of Aratta.
Lines 101-105: "Thus ends the tale of Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta.
Mount Aratta
Mount Aratta is a significant and somewhat enigmatic location in Sumerian mythology, primarily known from the myths surrounding the city of Aratta, a distant, wealthy, and culturally sophisticated land.
While Mount Aratta itself is not as extensively described as other mythological mountains, it is closely associated with the region of Aratta and plays a key role in several Sumerian texts.
Aratta is depicted in Sumerian mythology as a remote and fabulously wealthy city, located in a mountainous region far from Sumer.
It is often described as being difficult to reach, requiring a challenging journey through mountainous terrain, which may include Mount Aratta.
The city of Aratta is portrayed as being rich in precious materials such as gold, silver, and lapis lazuli, and it is known for its skilled craftsmen.
This wealth and cultural sophistication made Aratta an object of envy and desire for the rulers of Sumer.
In the myth "Inanna and Enmerkar," the goddess Inanna, who was initially the patron of Aratta, shifts her favor to the city of Uruk and its king, Enmerkar.
The mountainous terrain, possibly including Mount Aratta, symbolizes the natural barriers that separate the two regions and the challenges faced in bringing them together.
One of the most famous Sumerian epics, "Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta," involves a series of challenges and exchanges between Enmerkar, the king of Uruk, and the ruler of Aratta.
The journey to Aratta, often implied to involve traversing difficult mountainous terrain, emphasizes the remoteness and inaccessibility of the city, and by extension, Mount Aratta.
The exact location of Aratta, and by extension, Mount Aratta, is unknown and remains a subject of speculation among scholars.
Some theories suggest that Aratta was located in the Zagros Mountains, in the region of modern-day Iran, while others propose locations further east, possibly in the area of the Hindu Kush or the eastern Iranian plateau.
Mount Ekur
The Epic of Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta: Ekur is mentioned in various myths, including the epic that narrates the conflict between the Sumerian king Enmerkar and the distant, mountainous land of Aratta.