The origin of the service of weeping for Tammuz is an interesting legend. When Ištar had slain her lover, she hastened, like the going down of the evening star, to the lower world in search of waters to restore him to life. She searches long, passing through all the compartments of Hades. The story does not give details of her finding Tammuz, but instead, a scene of his burial is introduced:
“To Tammuz, her youthful consort
Pour out pure waters, costly oil.”[34]
A scene of the mourning for Tammuz is also introduced, which may be taken as the original lamentation, all other summer solstice weepings being anniversaries of this original one. His sister is there lamenting:
“O my only brother, let me not perish!”[35]
And a great company of mourners sing dirges by the accompaniment of the flute and follow the instruction which Tammuz, though dead, seems to be giving then and there:
“On the day of Tammuz play for me,
On the flute of uknu and samtu!
With it play for me! With it play for me!
O male and female mourners!