Heart Song Goddess ~ Ishtar

Each year on the 2^nd June, the Babylonians celebrated the Sabbat of Ishtar. Ishtar was the most popular of Babylonian and Assyrian Goddesses, and was similar in tradition to Inanna, Juno, Hera, Aphrodite and Venus. She was later related to the planet Venus and was said to be the divine personification of the planet.

The animals associated with Ishtar are; Lion, Bull, Serpent and Dragon.

Ishtar is a Mother Goddess of compassion, a fertility goddess of spring, goddess of love, sex, marriage and childbirth. She is also goddess of the hunt, a warrior and goddess of war, goddess of the storm, and goddess of fate. She is also a goddess of the underworld, who's twin sister is Ereshkigal, goddess of death.

Ishtar is the patroness of courtesans and prostitutes, as she herself was courtesan of the gods. She was irresistible as the goddess of love.

The name Ishtar is derived from the Babylonian word for 'star', or 'unique star'. In the Bible Ishtar is referred to as Ashoreth or Anath, and the name Esther is a Hebrew adaptation. It has also been considered that the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of spring, Eostre is connected to Ishtar.

Ishtars' Descent to the Underworld

As supreme goddess Ishtar was the queen of the living. However, she also desired to rule the underworld, ruled by her twin sister, Ereshkigal, the queen of the dead. She visited the underworld, giving a false explanation to the gatekeeper as to why she wished to enter the Land of No Return. The gatekeeper accepted her explanation, though reported her presence immediately to Ereshkigal, who granted permission for her sister to visit, though warned that ancient rites would have to be followed. Ishtar proceeded to pass through each of the seven gates, and like the souls of the dead, removed an article of clothing at each gate. When Ishtar arrived at Ereshkigals palace she was naked and cold, complaining to her sister of her treatment. Ereshkigal silenced Ishtar, telling her that when visiting the underworld certain rituals and protocol had to be adhered to. Furious, Ishtar grabbed Ereshkigal by the hair, pulled her off her throne, and sat in her place. But the seven demon-gods of the underworld, the Annukai, sentenced her to death. After her sentence she was turned into a green slab of decaying meat, which Ereshkigal hung in her bedchamber.

Ea, the cunning uncle of Ishtar, and king of the gods, managed to persuade Ereshkigal to return life to Ishtar, providing she was sent a substitute. When Ishtar returned she was greeted by minor deities wearing rough sacks and grovelling in the dirt. while they lamented her. Ishtar decided that she couldn't send any of them, but on reaching her palace she found her lover Tammuz wearing brightly coloured clothing and sitting upon her throne! In her rage she sent him to the underworld as her replacement. However, She soon began to miss him, so sent his half-sister in his place every six months of the year.

An alternative version of this story claims that Ea created a eunuch named Asushunamir, who he sent to Ereshkigal, telling him to invoke the name of the great gods against her and to ask her for the bag containing the waters of life. This demand enrages Ereshkigal but she has to relent. Asushunamir sprinkles the water on Ishtar to revive her. As she passes through the seven gates she retrieves her garments until she is fully clothed before she leaves through the last gate. It is thought that the dance of the seven veils depicts this story.

ISHTAR

Mother Goddess, Ishtar,

Goddess of Spring and the stars above

Goddess of fertility and childbirth

Goddess of fate, marriage and love.

Supreme Goddess, Ishtar,

Goddess of love and true desires

Irresistible; courtesan of the gods,

Venus Divine, your beauty inspires.

Warrior Goddess, Ishtar,

Goddess of the hunt, of battle, and war

Guardian, protector, with your arrow and bow