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242 a holy torch that fills the heavens; Her stance in heaven is like the Moon and Sun... In Heaven she is secure, the good "wild cow" of Anu: On Earth she is enduring, mistress of the lands. In the Abzu. from Eridu, she received the MEs; Her godfather Enki presented them to her, Lordship and Kingship he placed in her hand. With Anu she takes her seat upon the great throne. With Enlil she determines the fates in her land... Turning from her high position among the gods to her worship by the Sumerians (the "Black-Headed People"), the hymns went on: In all the land, the black-headed people assemble when abundance has been placed in the storehouses of Su- mer... They come to her with .... they bring disputes before her. She renders judgment to the evil and destroys the wicked; She favors the just, determines good fate for them... The good lady, the joy of Anu, a heroine she is: She surely comes forth from Heaven. .. She is mighty, she is trustworthy, she is great; She is exceeding in youthfulness. The people of Erech had every reason to be thankful to Inanna. for under her deityship, Erech had become an affluent center of Su- merian civilization. In praising her wisdom and valor, the people of Erech failed not also to mention her beauty and attractiveness. Indeed, it was at about that time that Inanna instituted the custom of the "Sacred Marriage," sexual rites whereby the priest-king was supposed to have become her spouse—but only for a night. A text, attributed to a king named Iddin-Dagan, described this aspect of Inanna's temple life—with music, male prostitute entertainers, and all: The male-prostitutes comb her hair . . . They decorate the neck with colored bands. . . Their right side they adorn with women's clothing as they walk before the pure Inanna. . . Their left side they cover with men's clothing as they walk before the pure Inanna. . . THE WARS OF GODS AND MEN