#irkalla

Эрешкигаль, богиня подземного мира, владичица Иркаллы Художник - Lokey

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Sumerian Goddess of Death, Queen of Irkalla, and Annunaki Princess Erishkigal is a protector of lost souls, keeper of truth, and holder of the Book of Death.

Nergal

Mesopotamian god of death, war, and plagues

Nergal (Akkadian: Erra/Irra) is the god of the Mesopotamian Underworld, known as Kur (or Irkalla). As the King of Kur, Nergal is the husband of Queen Ereshkigal, the dark lady of death. Nergal and his wife were both known for being war-like, bringing death to mortals before they were even meant to die, as they delighted in the blood-shed and power of death. Nergal has another trait as well, which is his power of spreading pestilence, causing horrible disease wherever he wills it. Thus, he was known as the Lord of Plague by the Mesopotamians. Though despite these acts, neither Nergal or his Queen or evil beings, they simply view things differently and fully embrace their roles of causing death.

There are two separate mythical ideas of how Nergal became the husband of Ereshkigal. In one story, he spends seven passionate days with the goddess in her palace, but in another, Nergal attempts to kill her but spares her once Ereshkigal offers to be his wife and share her rulership with him. In either myth, Nergal becomes the co-ruler of Kur alongside Ereshkigal, but must return to the Earth after six months so he may attend to his other duties. In my workings with them, they state the first version to be closer to the truth. 

His Kingdom: The entire Underworld is an extremely vast place that is continuously growing in size. The kingdom of Kur alone is larger than ten Earths combined. Every kingdom of death known to humans exists in the Underworld; Kur is one of these kingdoms, and it lies beyond a long, empty desert. It is a subterranean domain which features a solemn city of bones. It is very dark here, without any sun. Their palace is majestic and gloomy, made of polished black stone and sits tall at the back-centre of the whole kingdom. Within Kur are very dark places and tall, skeletal warriors who guard the kingdom, among other chthonic entities. Mortals who go to their realm tend to be humans who follow the Mesopotamian religion, or are people of Mesopotamian descent. King Nergal and Queen Ereshkigal rule over all the dead sent to their domain, and task them with various challenges that they must overcome. These are for removing their limitations, making them face the wrongs they did during life, and to overcome anything else that restricts them from transcending into the rest of the spirit world.

Appearance: A tall and muscular man with short black hair, reddish-black skin, and eyes that are flaming yellow. He wears otherworldly black clothing that changes shape at will, manifesting appendages, mouths, and spikes. He also wields a scythe as his weapon. He is sadistic towards his enemies, and has booming laughter when he slaughters them.

Personality: Nergal is serious, confident, highly resilient, aggressive, dominating, and vengeful, with his wife being the only one he fully shows care for. He is also fiercely protective over his family and is territorial. He disregards the loss of life and loves death. He is a mighty and terrifying god, but is approachable towards those who respect him. If one truly seeks to understand death, Nergal and his Queen have great wisdom to share, and will illuminate the seeker in the mysteries of the dead. These teachings however are not easy, for death is always a sacrifice in one way or another, but they will make you stronger. Nergal states that ‘one cannot truly be wise if they do not “die” first, as you must kill your old self in order to be reborn’. 

One must also know how to overcome loss, pain, and loneliness, for these things are not only part of life, but will be experienced in the Underworld as well. If you seek to overcome the trials of death, you must first master your own mind, including any unnecessary fears. You shouldn’t be attached to things that are transient; many things that you hold precious in life, such as money, material objects, your appearance, pets, locations, and false beliefs will all be gone one day when you die. You should not be attached to these things, only the things which are eternal; only these are truly important. If one can understand this and accept it, then the Underworld will be easier for them to get through and they can move on to the spirit world beyond.

Day of Week: Tuesday (night)

Offerings: bitter lemonade, absinthe, grapefruit, pomegranates, almonds, garlic, bitter chocolate, animal bones, human skulls (made of obsidian), jet, obsidian, black tourmaline, black candles, scythes, dead scorpions, bat figurines, belladonna berries, thorn branches, lichen, Petri dish with agar gel and fungal blooms, corrugated iron, gas masks, and air raid sirens. Incense of amber + musk, or mugwort + calendula + lichen

Nazxul | Irkalla | 22nd March, 2021

Australian Occult Black Metal

NAZXUL

[Irkalla, Black Metal, Australia, Seance Records, 2021]