ある伝承では、イナンナはエンキの術によってのみ冥界を去ることができたとされ、身代わりを見つける可能性については言及されていない<ref>Katz, 2015, p65</ref>。この部分は、権力や栄光などを得るために苦闘する神々を描いた神話(『ルガルエ』や『エヌマ・エリシュ』など)のジャンルに属し<ref>Katz, 2015, p65</ref>、周期的に消滅する星霊体の擬人化としてのイナンナの性格を表現する役割を果たした可能性もある<ref>Katz, 2015, p66</ref>。カッツによれば、イナンナのニンシュブルに対する指示には、彼女を救出する手段も含めて、最終的な運命が正確に予言されていることから、この神話の目的は、イナンナが天界と地下世界の両方を行き来できる能力を強調することに他ならず、あたかも金星が何度も復活するのと同じことだという<ref>Katz, 2015, p66</ref>。
もう一つは、イナンナの神話はドゥムジの死に関する多くの神話(『ドゥムジの夢』や『イナナとビルル』など、これらの神話ではイナンナは彼の死について非難していない)の一つに過ぎず、植生の体現者としての彼の役割と結びついたものである<ref>Katz, 2015, p68</ref>。
Another was simply one of the many myths about the death of [[Dumuzi]] (such as Dumuzi's Dream or Inana and Bilulu; in these myths Inanna is not to blame for his death),{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=68}} tied to his role as an embodiment of vegetation. She considers it possible that the connection between the two parts of the narrative was meant to mirror some well attested healing rituals which required a symbolic substitute of the person being treated.{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=67-68}}
Katz also notes that the Sumerian version of the myth is not concerned with matters of fertility, and points out any references to it (e.g. to nature being infertile while Ishtar is dead) were only added in later Akkadian translations;{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=70}} so was the description of [[Tammuz]]'s funeral.{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=70}} The purpose of these changes was likely to make the myth closer to cultic traditions linked to Tammuz, namely the annual mourning of his death followed by celebration of a temporary return.{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=70-71}} According to Katz it is notable that known many copies of the later versions of the myth come from [[Assyrian Empire|Assyrian]] cities which were known for their veneration of Tammuz, such as [[Assur|Ashur]] and [[Nineveh]].{{sfn|Katz|2015|p=70}}