Difference between revisions of "Ishtar" - New World Encyclopedia
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The were two conflicting aspects to this goddess of life. She was the goddess of fertility and sexuality, but was a jealous deity who could also bring vengeance against individuals, go to war, destroy fields, and make the earth's creatures infertile. She was invoked as a goddess of war, battles, and the chase, particularly among the warlike [[Assyria]]ns. Before the battle the priestess-vicar of Ishtar would appear to the Assyrian army, clad in battle array and armed with bow and arrow. (compare Greek [[Athena]].) | The were two conflicting aspects to this goddess of life. She was the goddess of fertility and sexuality, but was a jealous deity who could also bring vengeance against individuals, go to war, destroy fields, and make the earth's creatures infertile. She was invoked as a goddess of war, battles, and the chase, particularly among the warlike [[Assyria]]ns. Before the battle the priestess-vicar of Ishtar would appear to the Assyrian army, clad in battle array and armed with bow and arrow. (compare Greek [[Athena]].) | ||
| − | + | ===History=== | |
| − | + | Ishtar was first worshiped at [[Uruk]] (Erech in the Bible) in the earliest period of [[Mesopotamia]]n history. Incantations, hymns, myths, epics, votive inscriptions, and historical annals celebrated and invoked her as the force of life. | |
| − | Ishtar's reign did not nomrally depend upon | + | Ishtar's reign did not nomrally depend upon a particular male consort. Although sometimes portrayed as subject to higher male authorities, her position in the Babylonian pantheon in practice was the highest. Her genealogy varies depending on the source. Ishtar was sometimes described as the daughter of the moon goddess Ningal and her consort Nanna (Akaddian: Sin), who were the patron dieties of Uruk. In other traditions, however, she is the daughter of the sky god Anu. Later she also is portrayed as his wife. |
| − | In all the great | + | In all the great Mesopotamian cultural centers, Ishtar — or Innana — had her temples: |
| + | *E-anna, "house of An," in Uruk | ||
| + | *E-makh, "great house," in Babylon | ||
| + | *E-mash-mash, "house of offerings," in [[Nineveh]] | ||
| − | + | Inanna was the guardian of sacred harlots and is described as having sacred [[priestess-prostitutes]] who served her. In later times, however, the priestesses of Ishtar were virgins who, as long as they remained in her service, were not permitted to marry. Ishtar/Inanna was also associated with beer, and was the patroness of tavern keepers, who were usually female in early Mesopotamia. | |
| − | On monuments and seal-cylinders Inanna/Ishtar appears frequently with bow and arrow, | + | On monuments and seal-cylinders Inanna/Ishtar appears frequently with bow and arrow. At other times, she appears simply clad in long robes with a crown on her head and an eight-rayed star as her symbol. Statuettes have been found in large numbers representing her as naked with her arms folded across her breast or holding a child. |
| + | |||
| + | Together with the moon god Sin and the sun god Shamash, Ishtar is the third figure in a triad deifying and personalizing the moon, the sun, and the earth. In this trinity, the moon represents wisdom, the sun personifies justice, and and the earth repesentns life force. This triad overlies another: [[CLARIFY} An, heaven; [[Enllil, earth; and [[Enki]] (Ea in Akkadian), the watery deep. | ||
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| + | The twin of Shamash, children of [[Nannar]]/[[Sin (mythology)|Sin]], first born on Earth of the cheif god [[Enlil]]. (The first names given are [[Mesopotamian mythology|Sumerian]], the second names derive from the [[Akkadian]], the language of a [[Semitic]] people who immigrated into Sumeria. | ||
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| + | Ishtar is a significant figure in the epic of [[Gilgamesh]]. She appears also on the Uruk vase, one of the most famous ancient Mesopotamian artifacts. The relief on this vase seems to show Inanna conferring kingship on a supplicant. Various inscriptions and artifacts indicate that kingship was one of the gifts bestowed by Inanna on the ruler of [[Uruk]]. | ||
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===Innana's Descent=== | ===Innana's Descent=== | ||
| − | http://inanna.virtualave.net/tammuz.html | + | An important myth involving Ishtar is the story of her [http://inanna.virtualave.net/tammuz.html |
| + | descent to the underworld]. As the story comes down to us, Ishtar, who was already regarded as the queen of the living, desired to rule the underworld. Beginning her journey, she offered a false explanation to the underworld's gatekeeper as to why she desired to enter the Land of No Return. The gatekeeper accepted her explanation, but also made sure to tell Ishtar's sister Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Dead, of Ishtar's visit. Ereshkigal's face grew dark, and although she gave permission for Ishtar to enter, she warned that ancient rites would have to be followed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | At all seven gates, Ishtar, like all souls of the dead, had to remove an article of clothing, at the seventh taking off her beautiful dress. When she arrived at the palace of Ereshkigal, cold and naked, she complained to her sister of her treatment, but Ereshkigal silenced her and told her that when she visited the underworld, she would have to follow the necessary tradition. Ishtar then grabbed Ereshkigal, pulling her off her throne and sitting in her place, but the Annunaki, the seven demon-gods of the underworld, sentenced her to death. Immediately after their judgement was announced, Ishtar turned into a green, decaying slab of meat, which Ereshkigal hung in her bedchamber. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, Ea, the cunning uncle of Ishtar, managed to get Ereshkigal to let Ishtar live again, on the condition that she provided a substitute. Ishtar was greeted by minor deities upon her return, who had been wearing only rough sacks and groveling in the dirt for days, mourning for Ishtar. Ishtar decided that she couldn't send any of them, but when she reached her palace, she found her lover Tammuz, wearing brilliantly colored clothes and sitting upon her throne. In her rage, she sent him to the underworld in her place. However, she later missed him and sent Tammuz's half-sister for six months every year to take Tammuz's place. | ||
===The Epic of Gilgamesh=== | ===The Epic of Gilgamesh=== | ||
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Ishtar makes important appearances in the [[Gilgamesh, Epic of|Epic of Gilgamesh]], the world's earliest epic poem. The opening chapter of the story describes the glories of [[Uruk]] and praises Ishtar's temple there in terms that confirm her association with both fertility and sacred prostitution. In anaother chapter, Ishtar proposes marriage to Gilgamesh, but he declines, knowing that her previous mates have met tragic fates.Insulted by his rejection, she demands that her father, (name), send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh. | Ishtar makes important appearances in the [[Gilgamesh, Epic of|Epic of Gilgamesh]], the world's earliest epic poem. The opening chapter of the story describes the glories of [[Uruk]] and praises Ishtar's temple there in terms that confirm her association with both fertility and sacred prostitution. In anaother chapter, Ishtar proposes marriage to Gilgamesh, but he declines, knowing that her previous mates have met tragic fates.Insulted by his rejection, she demands that her father, (name), send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh. | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | At Agade she was worshiped as the spouse of Shamash ("Heb." x. 24-26), and at Babylon as that of Marduk. At the latter shrine, where she was called Zarpanit, she was the goddess of fertility for both plants and animals. According to Herodotus (i. 199), every Babylonian woman once in her life was compelled to offer her person at Zarpanit's shrine (compare "Heb." x. 15-23). | ||
| + | *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/ane/iai/iai22.htm The King Worships at the Atlar of Ishatar] | ||
Revision as of 01:59, 18 October 2006
Ishtar, a goddess of both fertility and war, is the Assyrian counterpart to the Sumerian goddess Inanna and to the northwest Semitic goddess Astarte.
In late Babylonian astrology, the goddess Ishtar was related to the planet Venus. As the most prominent female deity in the late Babylonian pantheon, she was equated by the Greeks with either or bothHera and Aphrodite. Roman mythology renders Aprphodite as Venus, and the planet is indirectly named for Ishtar. The double aspect of Ishtar as the goddess of both ferility and war may correspond to the difference between Venus as a morning star and as an evening star. Sumerian the planet is called "unique star."
The Sumerian name Inanna means "Great Lady of An", where An is the god of heaven. The origin of the name Ishtar is not known, though it is possible that the underlying stem is the same as that of Assur, which would thus make her the "leading one" or "chief." In any event, it is now generally recognized that the name is Semitic in origin, and was identified in ancient times with Canaanite Ashtoreth or Astarte (e.g. Biblical Hebrew עשתרת). Some scholars have suggested that Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring (whose name later gave rise to modern English "Easter") may be etymologically connected to that of Ishtar.
The were two conflicting aspects to this goddess of life. She was the goddess of fertility and sexuality, but was a jealous deity who could also bring vengeance against individuals, go to war, destroy fields, and make the earth's creatures infertile. She was invoked as a goddess of war, battles, and the chase, particularly among the warlike Assyrians. Before the battle the priestess-vicar of Ishtar would appear to the Assyrian army, clad in battle array and armed with bow and arrow. (compare Greek Athena.)
History
Ishtar was first worshiped at Uruk (Erech in the Bible) in the earliest period of Mesopotamian history. Incantations, hymns, myths, epics, votive inscriptions, and historical annals celebrated and invoked her as the force of life.
Ishtar's reign did not nomrally depend upon a particular male consort. Although sometimes portrayed as subject to higher male authorities, her position in the Babylonian pantheon in practice was the highest. Her genealogy varies depending on the source. Ishtar was sometimes described as the daughter of the moon goddess Ningal and her consort Nanna (Akaddian: Sin), who were the patron dieties of Uruk. In other traditions, however, she is the daughter of the sky god Anu. Later she also is portrayed as his wife.
In all the great Mesopotamian cultural centers, Ishtar — or Innana — had her temples:
- E-anna, "house of An," in Uruk
- E-makh, "great house," in Babylon
- E-mash-mash, "house of offerings," in Nineveh
Inanna was the guardian of sacred harlots and is described as having sacred priestess-prostitutes who served her. In later times, however, the priestesses of Ishtar were virgins who, as long as they remained in her service, were not permitted to marry. Ishtar/Inanna was also associated with beer, and was the patroness of tavern keepers, who were usually female in early Mesopotamia.
On monuments and seal-cylinders Inanna/Ishtar appears frequently with bow and arrow. At other times, she appears simply clad in long robes with a crown on her head and an eight-rayed star as her symbol. Statuettes have been found in large numbers representing her as naked with her arms folded across her breast or holding a child.
Together with the moon god Sin and the sun god Shamash, Ishtar is the third figure in a triad deifying and personalizing the moon, the sun, and the earth. In this trinity, the moon represents wisdom, the sun personifies justice, and and the earth repesentns life force. This triad overlies another: [[CLARIFY} An, heaven; [[Enllil, earth; and Enki (Ea in Akkadian), the watery deep.
The twin of Shamash, children of Nannar/Sin, first born on Earth of the cheif god Enlil. (The first names given are Sumerian, the second names derive from the Akkadian, the language of a Semitic people who immigrated into Sumeria.
Ishtar is a significant figure in the epic of Gilgamesh. She appears also on the Uruk vase, one of the most famous ancient Mesopotamian artifacts. The relief on this vase seems to show Inanna conferring kingship on a supplicant. Various inscriptions and artifacts indicate that kingship was one of the gifts bestowed by Inanna on the ruler of Uruk.
Major Myths Concerning Ishtar
Innana's Descent
An important myth involving Ishtar is the story of her [http://inanna.virtualave.net/tammuz.html descent to the underworld]. As the story comes down to us, Ishtar, who was already regarded as the queen of the living, desired to rule the underworld. Beginning her journey, she offered a false explanation to the underworld's gatekeeper as to why she desired to enter the Land of No Return. The gatekeeper accepted her explanation, but also made sure to tell Ishtar's sister Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Dead, of Ishtar's visit. Ereshkigal's face grew dark, and although she gave permission for Ishtar to enter, she warned that ancient rites would have to be followed.
At all seven gates, Ishtar, like all souls of the dead, had to remove an article of clothing, at the seventh taking off her beautiful dress. When she arrived at the palace of Ereshkigal, cold and naked, she complained to her sister of her treatment, but Ereshkigal silenced her and told her that when she visited the underworld, she would have to follow the necessary tradition. Ishtar then grabbed Ereshkigal, pulling her off her throne and sitting in her place, but the Annunaki, the seven demon-gods of the underworld, sentenced her to death. Immediately after their judgement was announced, Ishtar turned into a green, decaying slab of meat, which Ereshkigal hung in her bedchamber.
However, Ea, the cunning uncle of Ishtar, managed to get Ereshkigal to let Ishtar live again, on the condition that she provided a substitute. Ishtar was greeted by minor deities upon her return, who had been wearing only rough sacks and groveling in the dirt for days, mourning for Ishtar. Ishtar decided that she couldn't send any of them, but when she reached her palace, she found her lover Tammuz, wearing brilliantly colored clothes and sitting upon her throne. In her rage, she sent him to the underworld in her place. However, she later missed him and sent Tammuz's half-sister for six months every year to take Tammuz's place.
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Ishtar makes important appearances in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the world's earliest epic poem. The opening chapter of the story describes the glories of Uruk and praises Ishtar's temple there in terms that confirm her association with both fertility and sacred prostitution. In anaother chapter, Ishtar proposes marriage to Gilgamesh, but he declines, knowing that her previous mates have met tragic fates.Insulted by his rejection, she demands that her father, (name), send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
At Agade she was worshiped as the spouse of Shamash ("Heb." x. 24-26), and at Babylon as that of Marduk. At the latter shrine, where she was called Zarpanit, she was the goddess of fertility for both plants and animals. According to Herodotus (i. 199), every Babylonian woman once in her life was compelled to offer her person at Zarpanit's shrine (compare "Heb." x. 15-23).
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