Descent of the Goddess Ishtar into the Lower World

by Morris Jastrow Jr.

Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. Ishtar was above all associated with her cult involved sacred prostitution, her holy city Uruk was called the "town of the sacred courtesans"; and she herself was the "courtesan of the gods". Ishtar herself had many lovers.

One of the most famous myths about Ishtar describes her descent to the underworld. This edition is specially formatted for e-readers. 

Genres: Mythology, Poetry

7 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2011

About the author

Morris Jastrow Jr. was an American orientalist and librarian associated with the University of Pennsylvania.
He was educated in the schools of Philadelphia, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1881. His original intention was to become a rabbi. For this purpose, he carried on theological studies at the Jewish Seminary of Breslau in Germany while pursuing the study of Semitic languages at German universities. He traveled to Europe and studied at the University of Leipzig, where he received his Ph.D. in 1884. He then spent another year in the study of Semitic languages at the Sorbonne, the Collège de France and the École des Langues Orientales Levant Vivantes.

Reviews

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful description of the Underworld, though a proper knowledge of the Babylonian pantheon is needed.

[Beth Cavin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh?

Didn't know it was a poem. Bought this book to read about Ishtar and how she was a pagan goddess.

[Alyssa Lynn]

amaze

[Yuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the oldest writing ever recorded and survived for thousands of years. As old as, or even older than, The Epic of Gilgamesh.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a different version and it was the second time I read this myth.

[Mr Shahabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Know your gods, shah n shah!