Ereshkigal | Queen of the Underworld
Ereshkigal is the powerful Mesopotamian goddess who reigns as the Queen of the Dead, governing the underworld, known as Kur. Her name translates to "Queen of the Great Below" or "Lady of the Great Place," symbolizing her dominion over the realm of the deceased.
As the ruler of this shadowy world, Ereshkigal's role was to guard the souls of the dead, ensuring they remained within her realm. She also served as a gatekeeper, preventing the living from crossing into the afterlife and uncovering its mysteries. Ereshkigal's character embodies both the inevitability and the secrecy of death, representing the boundary between the world of the living and the unknown.
Behind the Label: The label illustrates the gates of the underworld, with Ereshkigal's face serving as a formidable guardian, watching over the souls within her realm. The owl, a symbol deeply rooted in Mesopotamian religious beliefs, is depicted encircling her. In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, owls were commonly associated with the underworld, representing death and the passage to the afterlife. These nocturnal creatures, seen as agents of the unseen world, accompany Ereshkigal, the powerful goddess who rules over the domain of the dead.