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240 A text titled by §S. N. Kramer (Sumerian Mythology) as "Inanna and Enki." but whose original (and more poetic) Su- merian title is unknown, describes how Inanna journeyed in her "Boat of Heaven" to the Abzu, where Enki had secreted away the MEs. Realizing that Inanna was coming to call on him by herself—"the maiden, all alone, has directed her step to the Abzu"—Enki ordered his chamberlain to prepare a sumptuous meal, including plenty of date wine. After Inanna and Enki had feasted and Enki's heart became happy with drink, Inanna brought up the subject of the MEs. Gracious with drink, Enki presented to her ME for "Lordship ..... Godship. the Exalted and Enduring Tiara, the Throne of Kingship." and "bright Inanna took them." As Inanna worked her charms on her aging host, Enki made to her a second presentation of "the Exalted Scepter and Staff, the Exalted Shrine, Righteous Ru- lership"; and "bright Inanna took them," too. As the feasting and drinking went on, Enki parted with seven major MEs, embracing the functions and attributes of a Divine Lady, her temple and rituals, its priests, eunuchs, and prostitutes; warfare and weapons; justice and courts; music and arts; masonry; woodworking and metal working; leatherwork and weaving; scribeship and mathematics; and so on. With the encoded data for all these attributes of a high civiliza- tion in her hands, Inanna slipped away and took off in her Boat of Heaven, back to Erech. Hours later a sobered Enki realized that Inanna and the MEs were gone. His somewhat embarrassed cham- berlain reminded Enki that he, Enki himself, had made the MEs a present to Inanna. Greatly upset. Enki ordered his chamberlain to pursue Inanna in Enki's "Great Heavenly Skychamber" and_re- trieve the MEs. Overtaking Inanna at the first stopping point, the chamberlain explained to Inanna his orders; but Inanna, asking, "Why had Enki changed his word to me?" refused. Reporting the situation to Enki, the chamberlain was ordered to seize Inanna's Boat of Heaven, bring the Boat to Eridu, and release Inanna, but without the MEs. But in Eridu, Inanna ordered her trusted pilot to "save the Boat of Heaven and the MEs pre- sented to Inanna.". And so, while Inanna kept the argument with Enki's chamberlain going, her pilot slipped away in her boat with the invaluable MEs. An Exaltation of Inanna, composed to be read _ responsively by the congregation, echoes the sentiments of the people of Erech: THE WARS OF GODS AND MEN