伊斯塔露的英语（The Story of Ishtar）

The Story of Ishtar

The Birth of Ishtar

Ishtar is a goddess who was worshipped by the ancient people of Mesopotamia. She was the goddess of love, fertility, and war, and was believed to have the power to control the destiny of men and women. According to legend, Ishtar was born to the god Anu and the goddess Ki. Her beauty was legendary, and she was known to be both capricious and passionate.

The Descent of Ishtar

One of the most well-known stories of Ishtar is her descent to the underworld. In this story, Ishtar becomes angry with her lover, the god Tammuz, for not showing her enough attention. She decides to go to the underworld to confront her sister, Ereshkigal, who is the queen of the underworld. Despite warnings from other gods, Ishtar proceeds with her plan and travels to the underworld, passing through seven gates. At each gate, she is forced to remove a piece of her clothing until she is finally naked and powerless.When Ishtar reaches the underworld, she confronts Ereshkigal, but Ereshkigal is angry and orders her to be punished. Ishtar is then forced to remain in the underworld, which causes chaos on earth. Without the goddess of love and fertility, crops refuse to grow and animals refuse to mate. The gods eventually decide to send a messenger to rescue Ishtar, which he does, but only after she agrees to release her lover Tammuz to spend six months with her and six months in the underworld.

The Legacy of Ishtar

Ishtar remained an important goddess in Mesopotamian mythology for thousands of years. She was worshipped by the Babylonians and the Assyrians, who built temples and altars in her honor. Over time, she also became associated with other goddesses, such as Aphrodite and Venus, as her attributes of love and fertility were similar to theirs.Ishtar's story has been retold in art, literature, and music for centuries. Her journey to the underworld has been compared to the myth of Persephone in Greek mythology, and her powerful and capricious nature foreshadowed the goddesses of later religions, such as Hera and Athena.In conclusion, Ishtar remains an important figure in mythology and history. Her story speaks to the power of love and the consequences of letting anger and passion rule our lives. From her birth to her descent to the underworld, Ishtar's story continues to captivate and inspire to this day.