ARALLU. — Among the Mesopotamians it was equivalent to the Sheol of the Hebrews and the Hades of the Greeks; an infernal abode, called irsìt la tari, “the land from which there is no return.”
The kingdom of the dead had its entrance in the west, in the desert. Before entering it, one had to cross the river Habur (after the judgment). The Mesopotamian Charon was named Humud-tabal, “bring out quickly”; he had the head of a bird of prey and four hands and legs.
The A., or infernal city, was enclosed within seven double encircling walls. Each wall had a gate with two entrances, guarded by vigilant sentries who allowed no one to enter unless he first conformed to the rules in force for the abode of the dead, established by the goddess or queen of the dark place, Allatu or Ereškigal. Before entering this autonomous kingdom, each shade had to present itself to the first guardian, and only when he had received permission from the goddess Ereškigal were the bolts removed, the locks and doors opened, and access made possible. From the account of the goddess Ištar’s descent into the underworld, it seems that man, having emerged naked from his mother’s womb, had to leave part of his clothing at each of the seven gates of the A. in order to appear naked before the mistress of the dark kingdom. Indeed, when entering the dwelling of the dead, the goddess Ištar left a part of her garments and jewels at each of the gates.
The goddess wished to enter “the house of darkness, the dwelling of Irkalle, — the house from which whoever enters never comes out again, — the road whose access has no return, — the house where whoever enters is deprived of light, — where dust is nourishment and mud food, — they (the inhabitants) see no light, they dwell in darkness, — they are clothed like a bird, with a garment of wings.”
This scarcely encouraging description explains, despite the theological references to a judgment and a future reward, the Mesopotamians’ skepticism regarding the afterlife and how their desires were practically reduced to obtaining from the deity a long life on this earth.