ISHTAR

Now linger not, but come, O goddess fair

When thou stoopest o'er the dying

With compassion, lo! They live;

And when the sick behold thee they are healed.

Hymn to Ishtar 1600 BCE

Ishtar is the Babylonian supreme goddess of fertility, love and war. As the Opener of the Womb, she is creator of life; as the Destroyer, she is the goddess of death. She rules sexual activity, ovulation and the menstrual cycle; at Ishtar's temples her ishtarishtu (sacred prostitutes) were to be found. In addition, Ishtar was regarded as a healer goddess, and her effigy once was transported to Egypt to heal the ailing Amenhotep III.

She is usually represented as a warrior-goddess, sometimes winged, with bow and quiver or a scimitar and surrounded by a halo of stars. Otherwise, she is depicted sitting on a lapis lazuli throne wearing a necklace with a star, accompanied by doves, like Aphrodite, snakes like Atana Potnia, or hunting dogs like Artemis. Sometimes she is shown riding on a lion, her sacred animal. As the goddess of love, her symbol was the eight-pointed star [Venus] or a rosette. She has aspects as a moon goddess, riding through the sky at night in a chariot drawn by goats or lions, ruling oracles and prophetic dreams. The zodiac was known as the "girdle of Ishtar".

She rules the gods and humankind as the Queen of Heaven and was worshipped throughout the Near East under various names such as Inanna in Sumeria, Astarte in Canaan and Tanit in Carthage. She was titled the Light of the World, Leader of Hosts, Righteous Judge, Lawgiver, Goddess of Goddesses, Bestower of Strength, Framer of all Decrees, Lady of Victory, Forgiver of Sins, Torch of Heaven and Earth, Exalted Light of Heaven, She Who Begets All, Guardian of the Law and Shepherdess of the Lands. She was said to be the daughter of the moon goddess Ningal and the sister of Ereshkigal "Mistress of the Underworld", who rules the only realm in which Ishtar has no influence.

The most famous story of Ishtar tells of her search for Tammuz in the Underworld, a legend recorded on clay tablets around 1750 BCE, which recalls the search of Demeter for Persephone. Tammuz, called "The Green One" is the Assyro-Babylonian equivalent to the Syrian Adonis, a vegetation god of death and resurrection. He was the husband of the goddess Ishtar and died every year during the hot month of Tammuz [July-August], gored by a boar. His soul was taken to the underworld and the goddess Ishtar led the lamentation, but the whole world mourned his death. The earth became dry and barren, as all vegetation withered in the blistering heat. Ishtar decided that she must go into the underworld to rescue her husband from the clutches of Ereshkigal.

Arrayed in splendour befitting the Queen of Heaven, Ishtar presented herself to Nedu, the gatekeeper of the Underworld, which was separated from the rest of creation by seven gates. According to the ancient rites, Istar had to surrender one of her garments, and the power it represented, at each of the gates. At the first gate, Nedu removed the magnificent crown that showed she was supreme among the gods. At the second gate, he removed her necklace with the eight-rayed star, which denoted that she was a goddess. At the third gate, he removed her bracelets of gold and lapis lazuli which showed her power and wealth. At the fourth gate, he removed her shoes and with them the ability to return to the world of men. At the fifth gate, he removed the veil which covered her secrets. At the sixth gate, he removed her outer robe, so that she stood naked and defenceless. At the seventh gate, he removed her final garment, the body that clothed her soul. Stripped of her wealth and power, her beauty, her secrets, and even her body, she became what we all must become at death. Alas, Ereshkigal refused her pleas to return Tammuz, and Ishtar became as one dead.

Meanwhile the earth was arid, barren and joyless. Sin the moon god and Shamash the sun god decided that something had to be done. They asked Ea, the god of water, magic and wisdom to help; he sent a messenger into the underworld with a powerful spell. The goddess of the underworld was forced to release her prisoners. Ishtar was purified by Ea's waters and passed back through the seven gates, regaining her raiment and jewels at each. Joy returned to earth [1] and  life began anew as the first rains fell around the autumn equinox, when the festival of the "Holy Marriage" was celebrated.

The women of the Near East mourned Tammuz every year during July-August at the rising of the Sirius the Dog Star, making little gardens which flourished for a short time before being thrown into the sea. After this, the women rejoiced, for the god had been reborn.

At the Seven Gates of the Underworld, Ishtar willingly sacrifices her wealth, power, status and beauty in order to rescue her beloved husband. Naked, alone and vulnerable, she awaited what would come. Reborn, she emerged into the light once more, a metaphor for death and rebirth, initiation, and the more mundane cycles of darkness and light that we all experience in the course of our lives.

 NB: This short article is not from my more comprehensive Goddess Encyclopaedia