Although Ishtar's permanent residence on earth was in the city of Uruk, her temples rose up throughout the Babylonian Empire. During the neo-Babylonian period her cult was at its height in the city of Babylon.
Commencing the annual New Year Festival, the king announced in his speech that, "Ishtar goes forth, aromatic herbs burn with fragrance. By the side of Ishtar of Babylon, while her servants play the flute, goes all Babylon exultant." (1)
Ishtar Goddess of Love
Statues of the goddess frequently depict Ishtar standing naked and supporting her breasts with her hands. Principally the goddess of love, she was associated with reproduction, the exciting partner of man in the sexual act. She was considered the perfect woman; a seductive and voluptuous beauty, alluring and ardently sensual.
It is not surprising then that the goddess was a participant in a mysterious love triangle. Marduk, patron god of Babylon, frequently abandoned his wife Sarpanitum for an assignation with his 'silvery girl', the goddess Ishtar.
Lovers prayed to Venus, the planet of Ishtar and were instructed as follows:"You set up a reed altar before Ishtar-of-the-Stars, you make offerings", and, having prepared six times two figurines, "you burn them before Ishtar-of-the-Stars." (1)
If a woman's husband was angry with her she called on Ishtar to assist her in seducing her husband to return. The ritual often employed objects that were magically enhanced with the power of love. When brought into physical contact with her husband, the desired effect would be accomlished and marital relations restored.
Ishtar Goddess of War
In her aspect as goddess of war, Ishtar was called "the valiant one", "the lady of battles". She was said to march at the head of armies to lead and protect kings who had gained her favor. In this role she is usually pictured standing on a lion holding a bow or brandishing a curved dagger.
Oracles frequently delivered prophetic messages from the goddess to kings about to do battle. The oracle repeated his message to the priest of Ishtar who in turn passed it on to the king. The oracle's vision might begin with a vivid description of the goddess standing before the king, sword drawn and prepared for battle. Her instructions followed. The king might be told to wait where he was and the goddess would go in his place to defeat his enemies while he remained behind to worship her. The oracle would then speak of seeing her go out to defeat the king's enemies.
When the gods of political enemies became the enemies of Ishtar, the oracle would again be favorable, assuring the king of victory. Some kings ascribed their prowess in war to personal training from the goddess herself.
The Temple of Ishtar
In Babylon, Ishtar's temple was uncovered by archaeologists adjacent to the processional way used in the annual New Year Festival. Situated in the north east quarter of the city, the temple precinct was the resting place for flocks of white doves, the personal birds of the goddess. The doves were fed by worshippers who purchased sacred cakes from the temple confectioner then crumbled and left them for the birds. In temples of the late period, dovecotes were built on the tops of her temples.
Ishtar's sacred prostitutes welcomed men who came to worship the goddess by engaging in sexual intercourse with the women. Cultic prostitutes also played a part in fertility ceremonies.
One Babylonian custom required that once in her life a woman sit in the shrine of Ishtar to offer her body to a stranger in the temple of the goddess of love. A stranger walked among the women, made his choice and then threw money into the lap of the woman he selected. It was against the law for her to refuse him as the money was considered sacred. Afterward, her duty to the goddess discharged, she was free to go home. Tall, pretty women were able to leave soon but ugly women might have to wait a long time as they could not leave until they had fulfilled the law.
The temple was designed like a royal palace with a kitchen, reception suite for receiving visitors, a courtyard, bedrooms and additional suites for the family and servants of the goddess. One special bedroom was reserved for the high priestess and her part in the Sacred Marriage Rite performed during the New Year Festival. The renewal of nature in spring was portrayed through the Divine Union in which the king became the divine bridegroom and the high priestess his divine consort, the goddess incarnate.
Further Reading: Food in Ancient Babylonia - Written evidence from the 3rd millenium provides us with the oldest system of tastes and traditional means of transforming raw materials into delectable dishes.
(1) Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia by Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat Hendrickson Pulishers, 2002
Additonal Resources:
Everyday Life in Babylon and Assyria by Georges Contenau
St. Martin's Press, 1966
Babylon by Joan Oats
Thames & Hudson, 2002
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