Ishtar

Home > ... > Philosophy and Religion > Ancient Religions > Ancient Religion > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Ishtar

Ishtar , ancient fertility deity, the most widely worshiped goddess in Babylonian and Assyrian religion. She was worshiped under various names and forms. Most important as a mother goddess and as a goddess of love, Ishtar was the source of all the generative powers in nature and mankind. However, she was also a goddess of war and as such was capable of unremitting cruelty. Her cult spread throughout W Asia, and she became identified with various other earth goddesses (see Great Mother Goddess ). One of the most famous of the Babylonian legends related the trials of her descent into the underworld in search of her lover Tammuz and her triumphant return to earth. In Sumerian religion, where her cult probably originated, she was called Inanna or Innina.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Ishtar" title="Facts and information about Ishtar">Ishtar</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Ishtar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Ishtar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 16, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Ishtar.html

"Ishtar." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Ishtar.html

Learn more about citation styles

Ishtar

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Ishtar a Babylonian and Assyrian goddess of love and war whose name and functions correspond to those of the Phoenician goddess Astarte.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O214-Ishtar" title="Facts and information about Ishtar">Ishtar</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ishtar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ishtar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (November 16, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Ishtar.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ishtar." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Ishtar.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Devil in the flesh. Magazine article from: National Review; 7/3/1987
	A History of God: The 400-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: The Historian; 9/22/1994
	Iraq: Can ancient Babylon be rescued? News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 11/12/2008

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Interview: Singer Ishtar discusses her music Transcript from: NPR Weekend Edition - Sunday; 9/2/2001; ; 700+ words ; 00-00-0000 Interview: Singer Ishtar discusses her music Host: LISA SIMEONE Time: 8:00...and her music speaks to many cultures. Her name is Ishtar. (Soundbite of Ishtar singing in foreign language) SIMEONE: Ishtar is a 32...
	THE DESCENT OF ISHTAR INTO THE UNDERWORLD.(mythology of ancient Babylon) Magazine article from: Calliope; 11/1/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...According to the Babylonians, the goddess Ishtar once traveled to Kurnugi, the "Land...death. To reach her sister's palace, Ishtar had to pass through seven gates. At each...the version, Ereshkigal either killed Ishtar by giving her a disease, held her prisoner...
	Ishtar Inn Emerges From the Shadows Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 9/26/1993; ; 700+ words ; Ishtar Inn (STAR) (STAR) 1/2 Cuisine: Middle Eastern. Address...clear up a few things right up front. First and foremost, Ishtar is the Assyrian goddess of love. Also, "Ishtar" was the name of one of the bomb movies of all time (starring...
	`Ishtar' delay disrupts holiday film schedule Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 9/15/1986; ; 700+ words ; ...When a two-page advertisement for "Ishtar" ran recently in the trade paper Variety...black background, the white type read: "Ishtar. National release May 22, 1987." To...had seen "coming-soon" previews of "Ishtar" during the summer in local movie theaters...
	Singer Ishtar returns home Newspaper article from: Jerusalem Post; 11/23/2003; ; 565 words ; ...Post 11-23-2003 Headline: Singer Ishtar returns home Byline: VIVA SARAH PRESS...Page: 24 Sunday, November 23, 2003 -- Ishtar, of Alabina fame, returned home to Israel...South of the country and be based here." Ishtar, who takes her stage name from the Asian...
	WHY ISHTAR IS FONDA DANCING FOR FITNESS.(News) Newspaper article from: Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England); 2/6/2004; 581 words ; ...keep fit ... through belly dancing. Ishtar,as she is now known, has just released...of-one -whose full name is Paula Ishtar -has been holding belly dancing classes...than 10 years in Liverpool and Wirral. Ishtar, who is in her 30s and lives in New Brighton...
	WAITING FOR 'ISHTAR' Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 5/13/1987; ; 700+ words ; I can't wait for "Ishtar" to open. I'm counting the hours...feel as though I've already seen "Ishtar" several times. For years now I've...Of course I haven't really seen "Ishtar." I have very little idea what it...
	Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea heads to Moscow for travel and tourism exhibition. News Wire article from: Middle East; 3/21/2007; 700+ words ; ...kingdom of treasures' Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is attending the Moscow International...expected to visit the show, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea hopes to make its presence felt...and General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.Set against the famed splendour...
	Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea heads to Moscow for travel and tourism exhibition Newspaper article from: Al Bawaba; 3/21/2007; 700+ words ; ...kingdom of treasures' Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is attending the Moscow International...expected to visit the show, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea hopes to make its presence felt...and General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.Set against the famed splendour...
	`Ishtar' falls flat // Beatty, Hoffman play dumb in lifeless film Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 5/15/1987; ; 700+ words ; Ishtar 1/2 (STAR) Lyle Rogers Warren Beatty...game away. The best that can be said for "Ishtar" is that Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman...why they've made it in the movies. "Ishtar" is a truly dreadful film, a lifeless...