Ereshkigal ruled the underworld in Sumerian mythology.
Ereshkigal is the goddess of the realm of the dead, often called Kur or Irkalla in Mesopotamian traditions. She appears most prominently in the myth commonly known as Inanna’s Descent to the Underworld. In that story, Inanna enters Ereshkigal’s domain and is stripped of her powers before being judged and killed.
The myth emphasizes that the underworld is governed by rules that even powerful deities cannot simply ignore. Inanna eventually returns to the living world, but only after a substitute is provided. The story is therefore connected with themes of death, return, authority, and exchange.
Ereshkigal is sometimes confused with Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love, fertility, and war. They are distinct figures, although later traditions portray them as sisters. In Akkadian-language mythology, Ereshkigal remains an important underworld deity, especially in stories involving Ishtar and the dead.