2016 8/30

(29.) ASTAROTH. - The Twenty-ninth Spirit is Astaroth. He is a Mighty, Strong Duke, and appeareth in the Form of an hurtful Angel riding on an Infernal Beast like a Dragon, and carrying in his right hand a Viper. Thou must in no wise let him approach too near unto thee, lest he do thee damage by his Noisome Breath. Wherefore the Magician must hold the Magical Ring near his face, and that will defend him. He giveth true answers of things Past, Present, and to Come, and can discover all Secrets. He will declare wittingly how the Spirits fell, if desired, and the reason of his own fall. He can make men wonderfully knowing in all Liberal Sciences. He ruleth 40 Legions of Spirits. His Seal is this, which wear thou as a Lamen before thee, or else he will not appear nor yet obey thee, etc.

After the Sumerian:

Inana abandoned heaven, abandoned earth,

and descended to the underworld.

She said:

Come my faithful minister

my minister who speaks fair words,

my escort who speaks trustworthy words

I am going to give you instructions:

my instructions must be followed;

On this day I will descend .

When I have arrived in the underworld,

make a lament for me on the ruin mounds.

Beat the drum for me in the sanctuary.

Make the rounds of the houses of the gods for me.

Lacerate your eyes for me,

lacerate your nose for me.

Lacerate your ears for me, in public.

In private, lacerate your buttocks for me.

Like a pauper, clothe yourself in a single garment

and all alone set your foot in the Mountain-house,

The house of the storm

When you have entered the Mountain-house,

the house of the storm

lament before the storm-god

Father, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld.

Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the grave

Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone.

Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood.

Don't let young lady Inana be slaughtered in the underworld."

When Inana arrived at the palace

she pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld.

She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld:

Open up, doorman, open up.

Open up

I am all alone and I want to come in.