neptunesdolphins | The Gusisu Festival of Mesopotamia (Reply)

Since April/May is the month of spring storms in Sumer, the land needed to be prepared for sowing. (Note 1) The Gusisu Festival, held at the full moon, ecompasses this. During this month, Ningirsu, who is the Warrior God, becomes Ninurta, the Farmer God. The Son of Enlil (the Keeper of the Tablets of Destiny), Ninurta brings the rains of spring. Before the inundation of the fields in May/June, irrigation ditches are repaired and filled. In addition, the oxen and ploughs are prepared for the spring farrowing.

Held for three days, the Gusisu festival starts with Enlil and Ninlil receiving the first offerings. On the second day, the full pantheon of Sumer receives offerings. On the third day, the statue of Ninurta is washed and given offerings. Other offerings are made to the Chariot, the Footstool, the Harp, the Plough, and the Dais of the Gods. Traditions offerings consisted of cows, goats, and sheep. Modern stand-ins include bread cut into shapes of these animals.

The main ritual of this festival re-enacts the Farmer Ninurta creating a furrow with his Divine Plough, then dropping a seed into the newly ploughed earth. At this time, the fate of the harvest is determined as each God handles the Plough and gives their blessing. When They are finished, Ninurta shouts, “Great Mountain Enlil, My father, the divine functions of the month Gusisu have been completed; seed has touched the earth.” Then He proudly enters the resplendent Ekur (Home of the Gods).

The composition, “Isme-Dagan and Enlil’s Chariot” describes this ritual in depth. “Wherein Isme-Dagan, king of Isin and predecessor of Lipit-Istar, assumed the role of Ninurta and dropped the first seed: ‘Let the hoe (and) the plough, the implements of the working people, have a contest before you.’” The King follows Enlil’s instructions further: “Put the holy plough in good order, and plough the fertile field. So that the silos and granaries of Enlil may be piled high, he (the king) drops the fertile seed.”

During the festival, the “Song of the Ploughing Oxen” is recited. This hymn has several sections. First, the farmer asks the oxen to submit to the yoke. Before he yokes them, he asks for the intervention of Nanshe, the Goddess of Dreams to select which oxen to plough with. Then the farmer asks Enkimdu, the God of Dikes and Canals to irrigate the fields. He takes his implements from storage and prepares them for use. Afterwards, he clears his field of stumps with the hoe. Then he asks again the oxen to submit to the yoke. After ploughing, there is drinking in the ale house and happiness for Inanna, Goddess of the Morning and Evening Stars.

One passage reads, “My king, I want to praise the leading oxen of the plow: ‘Ellu! go, oxen, go, put the neck under the yoke, go, royal oxen, go, put the neck under the yoke! Step on the furrows of the fertile field, that the sides be made straight. With your lion's tail beat the sides of the plow, Your step, oxen, rejoices the people, you have been given strength to work! The oxen you guide, Lipit-Istar, and your song is a pleasure.”

Notes:

Note 1. Although the actual seeding occurs in the fall, with the harvest in the spring, it takes four months to prepare.