'The Creation' is in fact a hymn of praise of the feats of Marduk (Son of the Sun), the Babylonian king of the gods. It contains however a 'creation of man' which shows strong religious reminiscences. Man is made of the stuff of a fallen god: 'they declared him guilty ... they cut his arteries and from this blood they created man'.
Man is made to serve the gods and his burden is to labour forever.

'The Creation' is far less impressive than 'The Epic of Gilgamesh'.
It is very 'regional', written for a local god. 'Gilgamesh' treats the general human search to be equal to the gods and attain immortality.
It is also more beautifully written with magnigicent 'bis repetita placent's and hypnotizing cadenzas.
'The Creation' is a more 'clumsy' work.

'Inanna's journey to Hell' is certainly one of the highlights of world literature.
Its mythological and human themes are timeless. Its influence goes from the Greek to 'Salome' of Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss.
Pregnant are the moanings of the queen of Hell, Erishkigal, faking childbirth, because she is surrounded by men who 'bring to a woman's body no sweet satiety, nor fondle the happy children'.
Or, Inanna's stripping to nakedness to take the cloths of the death.
As N.K. Sandars in her excellent introduction, as well as Prof. N. Kramer in his book 'The Sumerians' indicate: Inanna goes to Hell to take the place of Ershkigal and resurrect the death (e.g. her husband Dumuzi).

This book is a must read for all those interested in the highlights of world literature.