Mentions of Inanna and Ishtar in the Bible
Mentions of Inanna and Ishtar in the Bible
The original name for this goddess is Aṯtart while earlier scholars suggested that the name Aṯtart was formed by adding an Afro-Asiatic feminine suffix to the name of the god Aṯtar Astarte was worshipped from the Bronze Age to Classical Antiquity and her name is associated with her cult in the Levant among the ancient Canaanites and Phoenicians She was originally associated with Amorite cities such as Ugarit and Emar as well as Mari and Ebla. She was also venerated in Egypt particularly during the reign of Ramses II after the introduction of foreign cults there
Emblem of the Goddess Inanna Louvre Museum
The Phoenicians brought her cult to their colonies on the Iberian Peninsula. Questions about her astrological characteristics remain Lists of deities known from Ugarit and other major cities in Bronze Age Syria consider her a counterpart of Ishtar the Assyrian-Babylonian goddess Ishtar similar to the Hurrian goddess is assumed to have the lady of love and Shaushka in some cities The Western form of the name and the Eastern form of Ishtar are completely interchangeable
A Burney bas-relief, presumably representing Ishtar or her sister Ereshkigal, 19th or 18th century BC.
In many myths Inanna is described as the daughter of Nanna the ancient Sumerian moon goddess. In other texts she is often described as the daughter of Enki or An This ambiguity led the early Assyrians to believe that although the title Queen of Heaven was used to refer to a number of goddesses in ancient times Inanna was the most common title The Sumerian word Ninna means Queen of Heaven Her cult had deep roots in Mesopotamia and among the western Canaanites where it was described as the transformation of Venus into the male god Ishtar the Akkadian goddess In many myths Inanna is described as the daughter of Nanna the Sumerian moon goddess.
An Akkadian cylinder seal from around 2300 BC depicting the gods Inanna, Utu, Enki, and Izimud.
in other texts she is often described as the daughter of Enki or An These difficulties plagued the early Assyrians as although the title Queen of Heaven was used to refer to many goddesses in ancient times Inanna was the most frequently used Inanna's name is often derived from the Sumerian word Nin-anna which means Queen of Heaven Known sources do not identify her as a fertility goddess which contradicts early views in various cultures. Astarte was associated with a combination of the following spheres war sex power royalty beauty healing Her symbol was the lion and she was often associated with horses and impliedly chariots A dove may have been her symbol as can be seen on some Bronze Age cylinder seals
