Ishtar was an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, fertility, sex, desire, and war. She was worshipped over 3,000 years ago, primarily in the regions of Babylon and Assyria which today comprise modern-day Iraq. Ishtar was an important deity in the Mesopotamian pantheon, sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Heaven”. Her cult involved sacred prostitution and she was associated with the planet Venus. There are some theories that propose a connection between Ishtar and the origins of the Christian holiday of Easter, but the evidence is inconclusive.
The Identity and Significance of Ishtar
Ishtar’s identity encompassed contradictory roles and concepts. She was the goddess of love, fertility, and sex, but also of war and combat. She represented life, but was linked with death and the underworld. Ishtar was associated with the planet Venus, known as Ninsianna in the Babylonian sky charts. Her movements across the sky seemed to reflect the cycle of the seasons and agricultural growth (Pritchard, 1958).
Ishtar was an important deity in Mesopotamia for millennia. She was one of the oldest gods, dating back to the Sumerian civilization circa 3500-1900 BCE. The Sumerians worshipped Inanna, who was later syncretized with Ishtar in the Akkadian pantheon as relations developed between the groups. Ishtar rose to prominence in the Old Babylonian period circa 1830-1531 BCE when she became the most important goddess of the Babylonian pantheon. Her main cult center was the Eanna temple located in the city of Uruk (Van de Mieroop, 2016).
Ishtar was the daughter of the moon god Nanna or Sin. She was associated with the eastern Semitic god Attar, who links back to the Sumerian Dumuzid. She had numerous lovers in myths, but her most famous consort was the Mesopotamian hero and king Gilgamesh. Ishtar’s primary symbols included the eight-pointed star or rosette and the lion. She was commonly depicted as a young beautiful woman, often with wings to represent her divinity (Black & Green, 1992).
The cult of Ishtar involved “sacred prostitution” with both male and female priests engaging in sexual acts as offerings to the goddess. Worship of Ishtar often involved imitative magic which included ritual sex. There were also exchanges of clothing between men and women to mimic the unity of the opposite sexes. The cultic acts were seen as a way of encouraging Ishtar’s fecundity and fertility (Leick, 1998).
Ishtar was invoked regularly in magic spells, incantations, hymns, and myths. She also played a prominent role in annual Akitu festivals focused on ensuring the renewal of nature for spring. The New Year festival revolved around the sacred marriage between Ishtar and the king, intended to bring fertility for crops, animals, and people for the coming year (Kilmer, 1993).
Ishtar Myths and Legends
Ishtar appears in numerous Mesopotamian myths, legends, hymns, and other literature from the Sumerian and Babylonian periods. Many of the stories emphasize her dual aspects as a goddess of contradictory forces. Below are summaries of some of the most famous Ishtar myths:
- The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzid – This Sumerian myth details the courtship between Inanna and the shepherd god Dumuzid. Their sacred marriage was celebrated in rituals to ensure agricultural prosperity. Inanna later descends to and ascends from the underworld after being trapped by her sister Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Underworld.
- Ishtar’s Descent to the Underworld – In this Akkadian myth, Ishtar decides to descend to the underworld, ruled by her sister Ereshkigal. She passes through seven gates, removing an article of clothing at each one. She is killed at the final gate and hung on a hook. Her absence causes all sexual activity to cease on earth. The gods intervene and she is sprinkled with the “water of life” and allowed to return, restoring fertility.
- Epic of Gilgamesh – Ishtar appears in tablets VI-XI of the famous Epic of Gilgamesh. She proposes marriage to the hero Gilgamesh but he rejects her. Enraged, Ishtar unleashes the Bull of Heaven to attack Gilgamesh, but he and Enkidu kill it. The gods decree Enkidu must die for these transgressions against Ishtar.
- Anzu Myth – In this myth, the bird-god Anzu steals the Tablet of Destinies which allow control over the universe. Ishtar leads the gods into battle against Anzu. Her power forces him to regurgitate the Tablet, restoring control to the gods.
- Inana’s Hymn – This hymn flatters Ishtar and recounts her legendary abilities and characteristics as a goddess. It was sung by priests seeking to appease and gain favor from Ishtar.
These myths emphasize Ishtar’s dual aspects as a goddess of fertility, love, and life paired with her wrathful nature and ability to decree misfortune and death. The stories reflect the interplay between cultivating Ishtar’s favor to bring prosperity while avoiding her vengeful side.
Worship of Ishtar
The worship of Ishtar was widespread across Mesopotamia for many centuries in various forms. Below are some of the major aspects of her veneration and worship:
- Temples and Priesthoods – Ishtar was worshipped at temples across Mesopotamia. Her main cult center was the Eanna temple in Uruk. She also had an important temple in the city of Arbela. Ishtar had a dedicated priesthood consisting of both male and female priests and priestesses.
- Sacred Prostitution – Cultic prostitution was an important element of Ishtar worship. Both male and female priests engaged in ritual sex acts. During festivals the general public often participated in mass sexual rites.
- Offerings and Sacrifices – Worshippers made offerings of food, drink, jewelry, and other valuables at Ishtar’s temples. Animals like doves and lambs were sacrificed. There were also offerings and sacrifices made in rituals to specific aspects of Ishtar.
- Magic and Divination – Ishtar was frequently invoked in all types of magical spells and incantations. She was called upon for purposes ranging from healing to curse tablets. Reading of omens and divining the future often relied on interpreting the movements of the planet Venus.
- Festivals – Major festivals such as the Akitu New Year celebration focused on Ishtar. The high point was the hieros gamos or sacred marriage between Ishtar and the king. Other festivals invoked Ishtar’s warlike aspects before battle.
- Iconography – Ishtar was commonly depicted as a beautiful naked woman with wings standing on a lion. The eight-pointed star was another symbol closely associated with Ishtar, sometimes found near temples.
The widespread veneration of Ishtar lasted for over 2000 years from the early Bronze Age into the start of the Common Era when worship of the Mesopotamian gods gradually declined.
Origins and Development of Ishtar
The origins and development of Ishtar have connections back to early Mesopotamian civilization. Her history can be traced to the Sumerian goddess Inanna and the Semitic deity Attar:
- Inanna – The earliest known version of Ishtar was the Sumerian mother goddess Inanna. Inanna was an important deity dating back to at least 3500 BCE. Her cult center was the Eanna temple in Uruk. Inanna represented love, fertility, sex, and war.
- Attar – Attar was a Northwest Semitic god especially popular in the northern Mesopotamian kingdom of Assyria between 1500-612 BCE. Attar was a maternal fertility goddess linked with agriculture.
- Syncretism – As the Semitic Akkadians and Assyrians interacted more with the Sumerians further south, Inanna and Attar became conflated and syncretized. The combined deity became known as Ishtar, incorporating traits of both.
- Prominence in Babylon – During the reign of Hammurabi, Ishtar rose to special prominence in the Old Babylonian pantheon from 1830-1531 BCE. The Babylonians revered her supreme power.
- Continuity for Millennia – The cult of Ishtar endured for over 2,000 years into the early centuries of the Common Era. Eventually other Near Eastern religions declined the importance of Ishtar and the Mesopotamian gods.
From early prominence in Sumer and Babylon, Ishtar evolved over millennia as a primary goddess in Mesopotamia. Her complex dual nature was integral to her widespread and long-lasting veneration.
Connection between Ishtar and Easter
There have been various theories proposed that link the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar to the Christian holiday of Easter. However, the direct evidence for connections between Ishtar myths and worship and the origin of Easter observances remains speculative and inconclusive. Below are some of the main claims made about an Ishtar and Easter link and analysis of their validity:
- Etymological Connection – Some have proposed Ishtar is etymologically connected to “Easter” based on the similar sounding names of the goddess and holiday. However, most linguists believe Easter derives from the German root “Eostre” or other Old English or Germanic words for the spring season.
- Hare Symbolism – Rabbits are symbols of both Ishtar and Easter. However, hares were symbols of spring and fertility across many ancient cultures, and their Easter symbolism likely has its own separate origin based in Germany.
- Resurrection Themes – Ishtar’s descent and return from the underworld has been connected to Easter’s theme of resurrection. But the myths have very different meanings. Ishtar returns to restore fertility while Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus.
- Cultic Origins – Some connect Easter’s origins to pre-Christian cultic practices devoted to Ishtar. However, these connections are highly speculative and many details of Ishtar’s cult remain uncertain.
- Veneration of Fertility – The emphasis on fertility in Ishtar worship and springtime themes of Easter have been linked. But evoking fertility was commonplace in many spring rituals and mythologies of the ancient Near East and Europe.
Overall, while there may have been some indirect influence and limited syncretism between Ishtar and later Easter imagery and practices, the two likely originated and developed independently based on their distinct histories.
Ishtar’s Decline and Lasting Influence
Though her cult faded many centuries ago, Ishtar has left a lasting legacy and influence in the ancient Near East and beyond:
- Ishtar was one of the most important deities in Mesopotamia for over 2000 years and the subject of an enormous volume of literature and hymns.
- She was a complex goddess embodying the dual principles of fertility and life paired with war and death.
- Ishtar’s worship practices such as sacred prostitution became infamous, contributing to her aura, mystique, and notoriety.
- The epic stories of Ishtar’s exploits inspired devotion and shaped the worldview of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.
- Ishtar influenced later civilizations including Jewish, Persian, Greek, and Roman thought on mother goddesses, planet astrology, mythology, and more.
- Ishtar remains an iconic figure in the rediscovered literature and history of the ancient Near East that so profoundly shaped human civilization.
Though her worship faded long ago, Ishtar’s imagery, mythology, and influence continues to intrigue and inspire modern scholars seeking insight into the ancient cultures that revered this paramount goddess.