After 484 BC, several deities were (re)introduced into the pantheon of Uruk—most importantly the city’s new patron deity, the sky god Anu, but also the netherworld goddess Bēlet-ṣēri (“Lady of the Steppe”). In this article, I investigate the possible reasons behind the introduction of Bēlet-ṣēri’s cult at Uruk and the role ascribed to her by local worshipers. Using literary compositions, ritual texts, and legal documents, I trace the historical development of Bēlet-ṣēri’s divine characteristics, reconstruct her daily worship at Uruk, and examine the socioeconomic status of Urukean individuals bearing a “Bēlet-ṣēri-name.” I conclude that Bēlet-ṣēri was especially popular among non-elite citizens, probably because she could intercede with the queen of the netherworld, Ereškigal, for the lives of her followers and their families.

公元前484年之后，几个神灵被（重新）引入了乌鲁克的万神殿中，其中最重要的是该市的新守护神，天空之神阿努（Anu），还有荷兰女神贝索莱特里（Bēlet-ṣēri）（“草原夫人”）。在本文中，我将探讨在乌鲁克（Uruk）引入贝莱特里（Bēlet-ṣēri）的邪教背后的可能原因，以及当地信徒赋予她的角色。通过文学作品，仪式文本和法律文件，我追溯了贝莱特·ṣ里（Bēlet-ṣēri）神性的历史发展，重建了她在乌鲁克（Uruk）的日常朝拜活动，并研究了带有“贝ē特·塞尼（Bēlet-ṣēri）名字”的乌拉圭人的社会经济地位。我得出的结论是，贝莱特里（Bēlet-ṣēri）在非精英公民中特别受欢迎，这可能是因为她可以为追随者及其家人的生活与荷兰女王女王埃雷什基加（Ereškigal）求情。