An Assyrian prince (Kummâ) is granted a terrifying vision of the underworld — the assembly of the dead gods, Nergal’s judgement, and his own narrow escape back to the upper world.
1 chapter
Tradition
Neo-Assyrian narrative poem, c. 700 BCE. The earliest surviving "tour-of-hell" vision; structural ancestor of Ezekiel’s and Enoch’s underworld visions.
Translation
Translation by Benjamin R. Foster, *Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature*, 3rd ed. (Bethesda: CDL Press, 2005), §IV.5 The Netherworld Vision of an Assyrian Crown Prince. Substantial selection from Foster's translation of the Kummâ vision text; see source edition for complete text. Used under fair-use principles for non-commercial educational and religious commentary; copyright remains with the publisher.
License
Used under fair-use principles for non-commercial educational and religious commentary. Copyright remains with the publisher.