Inana / Ištar, Goddess of Love & War
Goddess of love and of war in one body — she crosses every line the other gods respect.
Inana, called Ishtar in Akkadian, is the most vivid figure of the pantheon: goddess at once of erotic love and of battle, of the morning and evening star (Venus), and of a restless ambition that drives many of the great myths. She courts and destroys, ascends and descends, gathers the divine offices (the me) to herself, and crosses every boundary — between man and woman, life and death, order and chaos. Hymns praise her as the most powerful of deities; her cult was among the most widespread and enduring in the ancient Near East.
Key passages(20)
A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P)
…… of my …… is holy. I am she who directs ……. …… genitals ……. …… is perfect for august status. Subduing ……, fixing my gaze ……, I am she who directs ……. …… my genitals ……, my …… which is seemly for a
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My father gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! Which god compares with me? Enlil gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! He gave me lordship, and he gave me que
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The burgeoning one, he …… with his own mother; the one with kindly eyes takes counsel with his father. You are our brother, you are our brother. You are our brother in charge of the palace gate, you
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The great-hearted mistress, the impetuous lady, proud among the Anuna gods and pre-eminent in all lands, the great daughter of Suen, exalted among the Great Princes , the magnificent lady who gathers
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A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K)
Young woman Inana, Suen's daughter, who makes the divine powers of the Land supreme, who achieves everything, who seizes the divine powers in heaven and gathers them up on earth, who proceeds proudly
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If it were not for our mother, he would be chasing me along the dark (?) paths of the desert! If it were not for our mother, this young man would be chasing me along the dark (?) paths of the desert!
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While I, the lady, was passing the day yesterday, while I, Inana, was passing the day yesterday, while I was passing the day, while I was dancing, while I was singing songs all day until evening, he m
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A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A)
I shall greet her who ascends above, her who ascends above, I shall greet the Mistress who ascends above, I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! I shall greet the holy torch who fills the heav
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When I go, when I go -- the mighty queen who ……, who ……; when I, the queen, go to the Abzu, when I, Inana, go to the Abzu, when I go to the Abzu, the E-nun, when I go to Eridug the good, when I go to
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Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made perfect by the holy a-an-kar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shie
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Lady of all the divine powers, resplendent light, righteous woman clothed in radiance, beloved of An and Uraš! Mistress of heaven, with the great diadem, who loves the good headdress befitting the off
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When I …… as I travel by boat, when I …… as I travel by boat, when I, the queen, journey to the abzu, when I enter the house of Enlil, I am indeed the queen who is pre-eminent in the mountains. When I
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Incantation: Ištar-Kakkabi, goddess of the morning, Mistress of the ladies, elevated among the goddesses, Brightness of the Igigi, light of the lands, Elevated among of the gods, illuminator of the [.
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Lady ……! Returning heroic youth, Inana ……. At the shrine, in Nibru, in the E-du-kug …… by An, with the holy crown of An placed on her head, the most holy ba garment of An draped around her torso, and
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Great light, heavenly lioness, always speaking words of assent! Inana, great light, lioness of heaven, who always speaks words of assent! Ninegala! As you rise in the morning sky like a flame visible
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…… he who cools, who cools ……. He who uproots the grass for holy Inana, who uproots ……. He who gathers the dates, …… the date palm. He who gathers the dates for holy Inana, …… the date palm. Let him b
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[ Incantation: ] Ištar the elevated, she who brightens the (four) edges, Creator of mankind, She who firmly establishes the settlements, Giver of the crown (s) to kings, She who puts in order the lame
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Lady, you who wander among sweet-voiced cows and gentle-voiced calves in the cattle-pen; young woman, no sooner will you arrive there, Inana, than the churn should sound! May the churn of your spouse
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Worthy of An, ……, …… unsurpassed in ladyship, a throne …… a man in the house, a throne …… a woman in the shrine, a gold ornament …… on the dress, a …… pin …… the niĝlam garment. Let me …… on your ……
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A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana R)
Maiden, glossy mane, lovely beauty, Inana, glossy mane, lovely beauty! Maiden, mane of the ibex, …… red deer, …… red deer, Inana, mane of the ibex, …… red deer, …… red deer! Maiden, colourful as a pil
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