However, the role and status of the eres ˇ-digˆir-priestess is uncertain. Steinkeller proposed
that, in the pre-Sargonic period during the early dynasties of Sumer, while male priests
functioned as the consorts of goddesses, their female counterparts could not do so and
thus the eresˇ-digˆir-priestess ‘could not have functioned as a deity’s human consort.
Rather, her role was that of a deity’s servant or attendant’ (Steinkeller 1999 : 121 ). He
further suggested that in the Neo-Sumerian period ‘by analogy with the female ens,
those of the eres ˇ-dingirsthat were dedicated to male deities became consequently those
gods’ human consorts... the eresˇ-dingirbecame a virtual equivalent of the female en
... As for the eresˇ-dingirsthat served female deities, no change occurred in their status.
Accordingly, from this time on, eresˇ-dingirserved to describe two different types of
priestess: ( 1 ) the human consort of a god, who was identical with the female enand
( 2 ) the attendant or companion of a goddess’ (Steinkeller 1999 : 128 – 129 ). Neither
generalisation seems supported by the evidence.
The counterpart of the isˇibof Ningˆirsu was the eresˇ-digˆirof the goddess BaU, the
consort of Ningˆirsu. Thus, she was the high priestess of a goddess rather than her
attendant. The best-known eresˇ-digˆir-priestess of BaU is Geme-Lama who held this
office under Sˇulgi, second king of the third dynasty of Ur (c. 2063 – 2046 BC). Her
household, é-eresˇ-digˆir-dBaU (‘household of the eresˇ-digˆirof the goddess BaU’), owned
vast tracts of land, orchards, forests, large herds and flocks (branded with her own
brand) and employed a large staff, among whom were cultivators, gardeners, cowherds,
boatmen, washers and as many as 106 weavers. There also survive numerous and
sundry sealings of her subordinates as well as her own sealing. The latter is preserved
on an envelope in the British Museum (Figure 12. 6 ). Geme-Lama, as BaU’s high
–– Joan Goodnick Westenholz ––Figure 12.6Drawing of seal impression of seal of Geme-Lama, eresˇ-digˆir
priestess of BaU, British Museum 18207 A (after Fischer 1997 : no. 4 )