93,
I thought Jim might be interested in some new research about the seven palaces and the 14 paths which suggests that the schematic was fully fledged in the Sumerian cult of Inana prior to the Merkabah mystics approbation of it. Well... it had to come from somewhere, did it? ð
In the Sumerian schema there are three worlds â the heavens, the earth, and the underworld which may be represented by the mother letters of Aramaic. Upon death in the earthly abode, you enter first into the underworld until you eventually enter into the palace of Ganzer, going through the door. In Aramaic this door is symbolized by the letter Daleth on the right side of the Seven Palaces. In the Sumerian legend of the Descent of Inana into the underworld she descends from the Sky and so enters the Palace of Ganzer first, and what is also interesting about this tale is that before descending from the Sky into the underworld there are 14 locations she abandons, no longer fulfilling the office of divinity and priestess for them (the 'en' & 'lagar'), and this is significant as there are 14 paths between the seven palaces.
She abandoned the office of en, abandoned the office of lagar, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-ana in Unug, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Giguna in Zabalam, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-cara in Adab, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Barag-dur-jara in Nibru, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Hursaj-kalama in Kic, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-Ulmac in Agade, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Ibgal in Umma, and descended to the underworld.
8 ) She abandoned the E-Dilmuna in Urim, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Amac-e-kug in Kisiga, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-ecdam-kug in Jirsu, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-sig-mece-du in Isin, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Anzagar in Akcak, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the Nijin-jar-kug in Curuppag, and descended to the underworld.
She abandoned the E-cag-hula in Kazallu, and descended to the underworld.
Translation from etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr141.htm
After abandoning the 14 paths she collects the seven divine powers and travels towards the underworld. This shows that the seven palace arrangement with their paths existed prior to the merkabah mystics, as well as signifying that the cult of Inana was a highly complex and sophisticated one, with her temples dedicated to each of the 14 paths and fulfilling different religious and administrative functions.
But what I really find fascinating about this story is how it predates and prefigures the story of Jesus. By giving up her divinity and her role of priestess, Inana descends and becomes a mortal woman, then descends even further through the underworld until she dies and is resurrected after 3 days...
Talk about "When God was a Girl" eh? ð
Best, Alrah. 93 93/93.