To the land of the dead.

With mourning was he filled on the day

When he fell into great sorrow.”[31]

According to another story of the fate of Tammuz, Ištar was the victim of sudden and violent passion, and in a fit of anger for disregard of her command she had smitten him down, just as she crushed the allallu-bird she loved:

“Thou didst crush him and break his pinions.

In the woods he stands and laments,

‘O my pinions’.”[32]

Also as she cast out of her sight the lion:

“Thou didst love a lion of perfect strength,

Seven and seven times thou didst bury him in the corners.”[33]