In Inanna’s Bargain, ancient ceremonial objects exhibit magical powers associated with their divine originals. This excerpt from Chapter 21 describes Kianu’s encounter with such an object. As I prayed to the warrior god, my attention was captured by a large battle-mace displayed to one side of the cult statue, on a high shelf above theContinue reading “The Talking Mace”
Tag Archives: inannasbargain
Fall Colors
Enlil’s garden is awash in fall colors, with hints of the winter to come. The willows that I visited in early summer are beginning to turn golden yellow. Soon the leaves will cover the ground and the trees will go dormant, sleeping and perhaps dreaming of springtime. The willows provided inspiration for my novel, Inanna’sContinue reading “Fall Colors”
Inanna’s Willow
In Inanna’s Bargain, I explored the idea of multiple (fictitious) versions of ancient Mesopotamian myths, passed down and shared through oral traditions. With so many stories circulating, how did people know what to believe? “There are many legends about the tree of life, as well as other trees favored by the gods,” Beluga stated. “InContinue reading “Inanna’s Willow”
The Entrance Gate
In my historical fantasy world, stories about the Anzu’s theft were already well known during the Sargonic period. Representations of lion-headed eagles adorned temples dedicated to Ninurta as well as Enlil. In the holy city of Nippur, the E-Kur Temple itself displayed images of the Anzu, as described in Inanna’s Bargain: The entrance gate featuredContinue reading “The Entrance Gate”
Celebrating Spring
With the recent warm weather, I’ve developed a touch of ‘spring fever’. I find myself stepping outdoors at odd times of the day, clipping dead branches in my garden, taking walks around my neighborhood, and thinking about the turn of seasons. After a winter of harsh snows, and a year of pandemic restrictions, I’m particularlyContinue reading “Celebrating Spring”
Deities Within
Where is God? Humans have long pondered this concept, envisioning deities as exalted beings residing in the Heavens and the Underworld, as well as omnipotent forces present everywhere and within all of us. In Inanna’s Bargain, I made this latter idea more tangible with my protagonists. The following excerpt is from Chapter 24: “I’ve oftenContinue reading “Deities Within”
Review by Sad Sunday
Many thanks to Sad Sunday for my first Instagram book review, with more to come on Goodreads!
Fantastic Usmu
Usmu appears in my historical fantasy world as a truly liminal deity, with the ability to shift his physical appearance and assume both male and female guises. As I developed his fictitious character, I was inspired by the gender-bending attributes of Inanna/Ishtar, and by Enki’s creation of sexless beings who could cross the borders ofContinue reading “Fantastic Usmu”
The Willow Grove
Phenomenologically, we know the world through the sensory experiences of our bodies. And yet, the light from outside the cave invites us to consider different kinds of awareness. Usmu asks, “Does the beauty of the garden exist separate from your sensory perception of it?” Kianu responds by expressing his desire for a sublime union withContinue reading “The Willow Grove”
INANNA’S BARGAIN
INANNA’S BARGAIN – PRE-ORDER NOW! How did ancient Sumerians and Akkadians make sense of the incredible stories circulating about their gods, heroes, and rulers? How did they distinguish between truth and fiction? These questions inspired first-time novelist Claire Sulos in her new series of historical fantasy fiction books set in ancient Mesopotamia. With a mysteriousContinue reading “INANNA’S BARGAIN”
CLAIRE SULOS 