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Ishtar

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Ishtar

Other Names

Ishhara, Irnini, Inanna, Anunit, Astarte, Atarsamain, Esther, Aster, Apru-dité, and Manat

First Appearance

Mesopotamian Myth

Created by

Mesopotamian Myth

Origin[]

Ishtar is the Assyro-Babylonian goddess of sex, war and political power, and is arguably the most important mother goddess of Mesopotamia. She bears the title of "Queen of Heaven".

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ishtar appears to try and seduce the titular hero. He refuses her advances and recites her previous lovers. Angered by the rejection, Ishtar appeals to her father to send the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh. Enkidu and the hero manage to slay the beast, but not without punishment: Enkidu becomes ill and dies.

She also appears in another passage, in the famous story of the Huluppu Tree of the prologue of Gilgamesh. Here, Ishtar tends to a tree that she wants to use to carve a new throne and bed. Unfortunately, a dragon built its nest at the foot of her tree, a Zu bird raised its young at the crown, and Ki-sikil-lil-la-ke (Literally, Maiden of Lila) made her house in the middle. Petrified, Ishtar cries out to the gods and then Gilgamesh. The hero Gilgamesh then drives out all three, slaying the dragon, sending the Zu bird and its young flying to the mountains and Kisikillillake tearing her house down before fleeing to the wilderness.

One of the more popular myths tales is of Ishtar's descent into the underworld.

Ishtar gives a false explanation as to why she wants to visit the underworld to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper accepts the story, but is sure to inform Ishtar's sister Ereshkigal, of the former's presence. Ereshkigal gives allowance to her sister for admittance. However, she is to follow the ancient rites that come. At each of the seven gates, Ishtar removes an article of clothing (a symbol of Ishtar's decrease of power). She would be weakened every time a part of her attire was removed. While this is taking place, a great famine strikes the earth and everything begins to die.

As Ishtar arrives as the throne of Ereshkigal, completely nude, cold, and almost dead, she complains. However, Ereshkigal silences her, saying she must perform the underworld rites as followed. Ishtar then usurps Ereshkigal's postion on the throne and sits in her place. the Annunaki (Seven demon-gods of the underworld), as punishment for this deed, sentence Ishtar to death. Her corpse is hung on a hook.

The uncle of Ishtar, Ea, bides for the return of Ishtar. He sends a eunuch to make a bargain with Ereshkigal, offering her clean water in exchange for his niece. Ereshkigal curses this eunuch and consults her Annunaki. They decide to release Ishtar, and as she passes through each of the seven gates again, she is given her clothing back. However, for the release of her sister, Eseshkigal demands a substitute.

On arriving upon the upper world, Ishtar is shocked to see her consort, Tammuz, garbed in magnificent robe and sitting in the place of her, on the throne. Infuriated, Ishtar decides to send him to the underworld in her place. Tammuz hastily casts magic on himself to transform and flee to his sister, Gestinanna. Mercifully, Gestinanna agrees to take his place for one half of the year in the underworld, while Tammuz fulfills his role in the other half of the year.

Public Domain Appearances[]

All published appearances of Ishtar from before January 1, 1930 are in the public domain in the US.

Some notable appearances are listed below:

  • Epic of Gilgamesh
  • Akkadian Descent Myth

See Also[]

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