DumuzidWP (ドゥムジ, Dumuji?) is a figure appearing in Mesopotamian mythology. He is the husband of Ishtar and god of shepherds, harvests, and resurrection.
Profile[]
Background[]
Originally Dumuzid was a human and King of a small Sumerian city Uruk, his reign coming between King Lugalbanda's and King Gilgamesh's. His greatest weakness was a lust for glory, and he foolishly believed that by marrying Ishtar he would become worshiped by even more people than her. By marrying Ishtar, Dumuzid gained Authority and a place among the gods. However in short order Ishtar would cause an incident that would drive everybody mad.[1]
Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld -- the story of her traveling into Kur to see Ereshkigal, and her entrapment there. With Ishtar trapped in the underworld, the surface world no longer had its goddess of fertility and crops began to fail. Rather than mourn her loss, Dumuzid celebrated her disappearance for now he was Uruk's patron deity in charge of its wealth and riches. While Ishtar was resurrected by Enki the laws of the underworld still had to be obeyed and Ereshkigal needed a soul to take Ishtar's place, and so when Ishtar saw Dumuzid celebrating her death she chose him to replace her in the underworld.[1]
Dumuzid protested his position as Ishtar's substitute, but Ereshkigal took him nonetheless. His sister GeshtinannaWP asked Ereshkigal to let Dumuzid go and take her instead, but Ereshkigal only agreed halfway. In exchange for Dumuzid leaving half of his Authority within the underworld, Ereshkigal would only keep him there for half of every year, while in the other half of every year her prisoner would be Geshtinanna instead. Agreeing to the terms, Dumuzid left behind his Authority over serpents and gazelles in the underworld, but also took the water of life. Dumuzid returned to the surface world as the god of resurrection, worshiped as the ruler of death and rebirth.[1]
Appearance[]
The gods of Mestopotamia all have blond hair.[2] Dumuzid often takes the form of a golden sheep. He has a deep and smooth voice not befitting his appearance. His true human form is mostly naked except for golden wool.
Personality[]
Dumuzid is powerless to resist the allure of wealth and fame.[1] He speaks gently. He's painfully adorable. But...take all that with a big grain of salt. Sure, he may speak lovingly and appear serious, but he's still a god, so at times his behavior will be utterly incomprehensible to humans.[3]
Dumuzid doesn't have room in his mind to remember men's names.[4] He refers to Altera Santa as his new beloved and says they might as well be already married.[5]
He has a habit of adding short English phrases into the middle of his sentences. When he speaks English his voice gets even deeper than usual.
Role[]
Fate/Grand Order[]
Merry Christmas in the Underworld[]
When Ereshkigal discarded her memories of Ritsuka following the events of the Babylonia Singularity and then unleashed the Summer Fever upon Chaldea, Dumuzid rescued her memories and escaped to Chaldea. There he came across Altera, who was unaffected by the sickness. Hearing that it's Christmas, Dumuzid devises a story that Chaldea is being attacked because Ereshkigal is upset about not getting any presents. He asked Altera to become Santa and appease Ereshkigal's anger, which she readily accepted. Though surprised at first, he bestowed his Authority on Altera to make her Santa and gave her Ereshkigal's memories in the guise of a present to be delivered.
Dumuzid later arrives at the Abyss' bottom, just in time to block Nergal's attack using Ereshkigal's body meant to kill Altera and prevent her from returning Ereshkigal's discarded memories. Altera then returns Ereshkigal's memories to her. Angry that he reinforced her memories, Nergal asks Dumuzid if he has forgotten the humiliation he suffered at Ishtar and Ereshkigal's hands and the anger it roused. Dumuzid doesn't answer and escapes.
Nergal is defeated and wonders why he ever gave his Authority to Ereshkigal. Dumuzid returns and informs Nergal that he is nothing more than the malice born from the battle between the real Nergal and Ereshkigal and thus has no knowledge of its aftermath. He also reveals Nergal willingly gave his Authority to Ereshkigal following their battle as a friendly gesture of respect. Nergal's Malice refuses to believe it and disappears, believing he and Kur could have remained a part of humanity's mythology if Kur was ruled by fear and lamentation like himself.
Returning to the surface of the Abyss, Dumuzid informs everyone that once the date becomes December 24, Chaldea will return to December 2017, and Kur will return to December one year prior. While the time difference won't matter if they stay, Ritsuka will either be unable to leave or emerge to find themselves much older or younger. Dumuzid sees from Ritsuka's smile that they understand they and Ereshkigal won't be parted forever, noting the strength of the bonds they've forged. He reminds Ereshkigal she must wait one year before she can be summoned as Servant. Ereshkigal already understands and says she can wait. Seeing Ereshkigal's smile, Dumuzid and Altera both remark that it made the journey worthwhile. However, Altera doesn’t understand why Dumuzid helped Ereshkigal since it was her and Ishtar that took his power and life. Dumuzid admits he is neutral, and he holds no ill will towards either goddess. Altera then asks where Ereshkigal stands in his ranking of women, to which he implies she is the sole beautiful flower in Kur. Afterward, he and Ereshkigal see Ritsuka and Altera off as they return to the surface.
Battle in New York 2019[]
Dumuzid returns as the shopkeeper for this event's lottery.
After Space Ishtar is defeated, Gilgamesh asks Dumuzid if he thinks she was really an alternate version of Ishtar or an imposter. Dumuzid replies that not only was she the real deal, but she felt even more primordial than the Ishtar they were used to. He comments that is likely not the last they will see of Space Ishtar.
Nahui Mictlan: Golden Sea of Trees Travelogue[]
Dumuzid appears in the third underworld border of the South American Lostbelt, along with Ereshkigal Alter. Dumuzid is in his human form, so Ritsuka Fujimaru initially doesn't recognize him until he turns around, revealing his sheep face on the back of the wool he wears over his shoulder.[4]
Fate/Grand Carnival[]
Ereshkigal hugging Dumuzid.
Dumuzid convinces Ereshkigal to become a streamer on ServantTube so that she can be more popular.
Abilities[]
Dumuzid holds Authority over sheep, and formerly also had Authority over snakes and gazelles before giving them to Ereshkigal as part of their deal. He can transform into the animals he has Authority over.
Development[]
Creation and Conception[]
Dumuzid was designed by huke in Fate/Grand Order.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fate/Grand Order: Merry Christmas in the Underworld - Section 6
- ↑ fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia - Section 7: The Tablet of Destinies
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order Command Code: Your Faithful Sheep
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Nahui Mictlan: Golden Sea of Trees Travelogue - Section 13
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Battle in New York 2019 - Dumuzid shop lines