Ereshkigal

> *Be as the earth: quiet and calm. Be as the night: silent and still.* - Traditional Allatu mantra
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Ereshkigal is a death goddess (and sometimes fertility goddess) worshipped almost exclusively by Andalusian humans. Her religion is one of the oldest in the Confederacy; evidence of her worship can be found as far back as there is evidence of human habitation. Followers of Ereshkigal are called the Allatu, after one of her other names. Her epithets include Night Queen, Queen of the Earth Below, and She Who Rules Beneath. When worshipped in her fertility aspect, she is called Inanna. (However, there are ancient texts that seem to indicate Inanna is, or was, actually Ereshkigal's younger sister.)

## Symbols

Ereshkigal is associated both with nighttime and with the earth; she is said to rule in a subterranean land of eternal night. As such, caves are considered sacred spaces. She is often depicted as an owl or a human/owl hybrid, and she is said to take the form of an owl when she retrieves the soul of a dying person. Snakes, being creatures very close to the earth, are also associated with Ereshkigal, and they are considered her messengers. Black panthers are sometimes considered Ereshkigal's enforcers when she is wrathful.

When worshipped in her aspect as Inanna, her symbols are the night stars, lions, doves, and the freshly-sprouted seedling.

Her colors are blue, purple, green, and black. The number seven is significant, as there are seven gates leading to Ereshkigal's kingdom.

## Tenets

There are several tenets that all Allatu adhere to, though precise interpretations of those tenets vary from person to person and community to community.

### Pacifism

A fundamental belief of the Allatu is that only the Night Queen may decide when a life ends. Therefore, the Allatu generally oppose capital punishment and refuse to participate in military conflict. The majority of Allatu also believe non-lethal physical violence is unacceptable because the line between lethal and non-lethal force is blurry at best; in the heat of the moment it's easy for someone to accidentally go to far, and in the right (or wrong) circumstances even a single punch can be deadly. Some of the most devout Allatu even believe violence done in self-defense is wrong, under the logic that if Ereshkigal has decided to come for you via brigands or cutthroats, you are in no place to oppose her. This is not a widely held belief, however; most Allatu believe some measure of non-lethal self-defense is acceptable as long as you don't escalate the violence.

### Vegetarianism

As an extension of the belief that only She Who Rules Below can take life, Allatu adhere to a vegetarian diet and eschew leather products. Most Allatu believe that consuming animal products that don't require the death of the animal (e.g. eggs, dairy, wool, beeswax) is acceptable, but there are a minority who abstain from all animal products. There are also some less-devout Allatu who will use leather for certain items; they purchase such items from non-Allatu vendors.

### Modesty

In order to enter Ereshkigal's realm, one must shed an article of clothing at each of the seven gates guarding her kingdom, rendering one nude by the time they are welcomed by her. The Allatu believe that only Ereshkigal has the right to view one's naked form, and therefore they dress modestly. There is variation between individuals and communities regarding what exactly is acceptable attire; all Allatu wear long sleeves and long trousers or skirts, but some consider it acceptable to show hair as long as one wears a cap or scarf, while other Allatu keep their hair completely covered at all times. Some Allatu wear loose, flowing garments that obscure the shape of their figure, while others wear more closely-tailored clothing. Generally speaking, though, when in public the only skin that the Allatu allow to be bared are the face and hands.