Ishtar Goddess illustration
Ishtar (or Inanna) is a primary Mesopotamian goddess closely associated with love and war. And this is my small part in preserving the knowledge.
This powerful Mesopotamian goddess is the first known deity for which we have written evidence. While largely unknown in the modern day, this powerful ancient deity had a complex and influential role in the religions and cultures of the Ancient Near East.
Among the ancient literary sources, the goddess is best known for her appearance in two of the most famous myths from Mesopotamia: the Epic of Gilgamesh, and Ishtar's Descent to the Netherworld.
Depiction:
The nude, winged goddess, represents an “underworld form” of Ishtar.
Several features of the Relief indicate that the goddess is being presented in the context of her visit to the underworld.
The talons and wings of the figure may show the goddess returning from the Netherworld in pursuit of vengeance.
The deity holds the rod and ring of leadership, a turban and a necklace, and is possibly wearing a wig. The double row of oval-like shapes at the base of the Relief represent mountains, which have associations with death, as do the owls.
While not a part of the myth, the positioning of the figure on the back of two lions strengthens the connection to Ishtar, as does the figure's frontal presentation. The goddess' nudity suggests the stage in the myth of the Descent where she is close to death—perhaps on her way back from the realm of the dead.
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