Resurrection I Having been freed from Ereshkigal's grasp, Ishtar and Tammuz return to the land of the living, spreading fertility and life as they go. As they leave Ereshkigal's dark lands of the dead behind them, Ishtar's loyal vizier, Ninshubar, rushes to embrace her mistress! Oh, my Lady of Light, I see by my own eyes that it is true! You are free and life has returned to the land of the living. Brave Isimud was able to gain your release and I see also that of Tammuz. Grandfather Enki be praised! If not for him we should all have perished! Ninshubar!! My most beautiful and loyal cousin, my dearest and most beloved friend. Yes, Enki be praised, but Isimud has told me that it was you who raised the alarm with my parents to free me and failing that it was you again who went to Grandfather to secure terms for my freedom. If not for you, my brave and resourceful vizier, Tammuz and I would not be here now. I love you beyond what any words can express. Oh Ishtar, it is true; I fought so hard for you! But now I just need to hug you my dear for still I cannot believe that you are here. Ninshubar, I am here! Because of you we have returned. Tammuz and I are both resurrected. Cannot you see that I am cutting through the darkness of death; cannot you see that the light of life has returned to the land of the living? Who else but Ishtar could do such a thing? --------------- In most modern Wiccan traditions the story pretty much ends here with Ishtar and Tammuz both being resurrected. With their return, fertility and life returns to the land of the living and Ishtar’s role as Goddess of Love is celebrated with full due praise. However, modern Wicca conveniently ignores the burden that was cast upon Ishtar for the release of Tammuz. The ancient Sumerians knew that the story could not happily end here. Ishtar still had her demons to deal with; she was now obligated to find a way to balance life and death, passion and law. She had to find someone that she truly loved to take the place of Tammuz. Would not her beloved Ninshubar seem to be an ideal candidate? No, dear reader, the real tale of resurrection has not yet been fully told. Noble sacrifices have yet to be made. Number 20 in the Ishtar in the Underworld series Ninshubar is DMs SuzieQ at RMP morphed by me to middle eastern girl Ninshubar’s hair is Starlet by Lisbeth at DAZ Ninshubar’s outfit is Eclipse and Sirens for Eclipse at RMP Ishtar is Arinae by Thorne and Sarsa at DAZ morphed by me to middle eastern girl Ishtar’s hair is Portia by April YSH At DAZ Ishtar’s outfit is Vandra by Vampir3princess at DAZ with Vandra Styles textures by Karanta at DAZ Tammuz is Chris by Silverlynx at RMP morphed by me to middle eastern guy and postworked in PSP Tammuz’s outfit is Tutmosis by Boundless at DAZ Thanks to all of you who have been following and commenting on this series and welcome to any newcomers. It's your comments that keep me going on telling this most ancient, but wonderfully tortured and twisted tale of humanity. I'm now at 20 and still going … I had thought it would be done in 10!