The chief gatekeeper of the underworld in Sumerian myth was Neti.
Neti appears most prominently in the Sumerian story commonly called Inanna’s Descent into the Underworld. He guards the seven gates leading to the realm ruled by Ereshkigal. When Inanna arrives, Neti reports her presence and follows the underworld queen’s instructions, opening the gates one by one while requiring Inanna to surrender an item of her divine regalia at each gate.
The name requires a small scholarly note. The cuneiform spelling once read “Neti” is now often interpreted as Bitu or Bidu in modern Assyriology. “Neti,” however, remains the established English form in many translations, reference works, and quiz contexts, making it the fair canonical answer to this question.
Neti is sometimes confused with Namtar, Ereshkigal’s divine attendant, or Nergal, a later underworld ruler. Neither is the gatekeeper in the Sumerian descent narrative.