Inanna of Sumeria---
some 3000 years before Christ.
The Sumerian goddess
descended through seven gates
to the Netherworld
in a quest for power.
 
 
There,
her sister Ereshkigal
(queen of the Nether)
cast the look of death upon her.
Inanna's corpse was hung
on a pole for three days and nights
before being resurrected
by two sexless beings sent by Enki,
god of the Abzu (The Deep).
 
 
Before Inanna
could completely resurrect,
she had to find someone living
to replace her
in the Nether.
 
 
Inanna legend from Skipsilver Quantumgodsite