ERESHKIGAL, also known as ALLATU, the name of the chief Babylonian goddess of the nether-world where the dead are gathered. Her name signifies "lady of the nether-world." She is known to us chiefly through two myths, both symbolizing the change of seasons, but intended also to illustrate certain doctrines developed in the temple schools of Babylonia. One of these myths is the famous story of Ishtar's descent to Irkalla or Aralu, the lower world, and her reception by her sister who pre sides over it ; the other is the story of Nergal's offence against Ereshkigal, his banishment to the kingdom controlled by the goddess and the reconciliation between Nergal and Ereshkigal through the latter's offer to have Nergal share the honours of the rule over Irkalla. The story of Ishtar's descent illustrates the possibility of an escape from Irkalla, while the other myth reconciles the existence of two rulers of Irkalla—a goddess and a god.
Originally a goddess was supposed to be in control of Irkalla, corresponding to Ishtar in control of fertility and vegetation on earth. Ereshkigal is therefore the sister of Ishtar and from one point of view her counterpart, the symbol of nature during the non-productive season of the year. As the doctrine of two king doms, one of this world and one of the world of the dead, be comes crystallized, the dominions of the two sisters are sharply differentiated from one another. The addition of Nergal repre sents the harmonizing tendency to unite with Ereshkigal as the queen of the nether-world, the god who, in his character as god of war and of pestilence, passes judgment upon the souls who arrive in Irkalla and thus becomes the one who presides over the dead. Ereshkigal was also worshipped by the Hittites as early as the 17th century B.C.