Nether-world

The Sumerian nether world was a place for the bodies of the dead to exist after death. One passed through the seven gates on their journey through the portal to the netherworld leaving articles of clothing and adornment at each gate, not necessarily by choice as there was a guardian at each gate to extract a toll for one's passage and to keep one from going the wrong way. The living spirits of the dead are only spoken of in connection with this netherworld when someone has been placed here before they are dead or wrongly killed and can be saved. This is not like the "Hell" of other religions but rather a "recycling" area for the bodies of the dead. The spirits are separated and either become deities like Marduk or lesser gods and helping spirits. It was a terrible place to imagine because of the decomposing flesh of its inhabitants.