Goddess of the ancient world: Ishtar

Ishtar was one of the most important deities in the ancient Mesopotamian pantheon. She was primarily worshipped in Sumer (as Inanna) and later in Akkad, Assyria, and Babylon as Ishtar. Her figure evolved over time but retained a complex identity as both a goddess of love and war.

Ishtar embodied dualities: she was both nurturing and destructive, representing fertility, sexuality, and reproduction on one hand, and warfare, political power, and chaos on the other. This made her unpredictable and awe-inspiring. Her lovers were often doomed — in myths, she was known for destroying those who became too close or displeased her.

One of the most famous myths involving Ishtar is her Descent into the Underworld. In this story, she travels to the realm of her sister, Ereshkigal, queen of the dead. As she descends, she is stripped of her clothing and power at each gate. Her presence in the underworld causes fertility and life to cease on earth. Eventually, the gods intervene and she is revived and returned to the world of the living, but only after a substitute (often her lover Dumuzi) is sent in her place.

Ishtar was often associated with the planet Venus, reflecting her roles in both the morning and evening skies. Her symbols included the lion, the eight-pointed star, and weapons like bows and arrows. Temples to her, such as the famous Eanna temple in Uruk, were central places of worship and featured priestesses who served her through ritual, music, and possibly sacred prostitution.

Ishtar’s influence extended beyond Mesopotamia. She inspired later goddesses such as the Canaanite Astarte, the Greek Aphrodite, and the Roman Venus, though the Mesopotamian Ishtar was far more martial and politically powerful than her later counterparts.