Inanna: Supreme Goddess Worshipped in the Ancient Lands of Mesopotamia
Inanna, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess who ruled along the Euphrates rivers, is a goddess of the Sumerian pantheon. Her Sumerian name "Inanna" is probably derived from the word, "Nin-an" meaning "Lady-Sky" or the "Queen of Heaven" which gives mention to her in the bible. Many know Her by the other name of Ishtar. The name Ishtar was the name given to Her by neighboring Babylonians, Semites, Assyrians and Akkadians.
Her Lore and Her People
The goddess Inanna ruled the people of Sumer, and as so doing their communities prospered and thrived. As daughter of the Moon and sister of the Sun, Inanna is the Morning and Evening star. Inanna was famously written about by Enheduanna, daughter of Mesopotamian ruler Sargon of Akkad (circa 2285-2250 BCE). Enheduanna was the Chief High Priestess of Inanna at Uruk, and the composer of many hymns and songs written to Her. Enheduanna wrote dedication poems to the planet Venus, but called it Inanna. Venus was called Inanna during that time, and this is why She was also seen as the bright star of the morning and evening. There were many well-known stories and myths about Inanna. Among them were, The Descent of Inanna, Inanna and the God of Wisdom, The Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi, and The Huluppu Tree.
Goddess of Love and Sexuality
Worshipped as the goddess of Love, Sexuality, Passion, Fertility, Sensuality, Procreation and Prostitutes. She was the progenitor of Venus, Aphrodite and Astara. There are ancient myths of how She materialized in pubs dragging soldiers and attractive men out by their hair to have sex with them. Many of the stories concerning Her, depicted her as highly sexual, and able to "turn men’s heads with uncontrollable passion.
Goddess of War
Because She was worshipped as the goddess of War, She was often invoked for protection, victory in battle, for guidance, and She was known as the special protectress of kings. She is often depicted wearing a horned headdress with wings and with weapon cases at Her shoulders. She has also been shown in the company of a lion, denoting pure courage, and sometimes even riding the lion as a sign of Her power and supremacy.
The Underworld Travel of Inanna
One of the most popular myths of Inanna is when She travels to the realm of the dead or Underworld also known as Kurnugia, to visit Her sister Ereshkigal. Ereshkigal ruled this Underworld and it is said that Inanna was concerned for Her sister, even-though they were not on good terms. In order to get to the underworld Inanna needed to pass through seven gates. At each gate She had to relinquish one piece of garment or possession. By the time She passed through the seventh gate She stood naked and vulnerable before Ereshkigal.
In one version of the myth Ereshkigal feared that Inanna came to take Her kingdom. In another Ereshkigal was angry with Inanna for taking so long to visit Her. At any rate Ereshkigal, the Queen of Death, turned Her sister into a corpse. But, before leaving for the Underworld Inanna left orders for Her Earthly Spirit, Ninshubur, that if She did not return in three days that the Spirit would contact Her father, Enki, the great god of Wisdom, to rescue Her. Enki sent Ninshubur with food of life and water of life to Kurnugia to feed to Inanna. Once She was revitalized Inanna requested that She be allowed to return to the upper-world.
Eriskegal consented, but only on the condition that someone would return to take Inanna’s place part of the year, to keep Eriskegal company. When Inanna returned, She was unhappy with Her husband’s, Dumuzi, apathetic behavior toward Her absence, and decreed that he be carried off to the netherworld for six months of each year at the Autumnal Equinox, which marked the beginning of the Sumerian new year. Then Dumuzi returned to the Earth during the Spring Equinox. His reunion with his wife caused all animal and plant life to be revitalized and made fertile once again. The goddess Inanna represents the many facets of being a woman and of roles they play. She is an example of the feminine courage, of not being afraid to face the changes, and the challenges, that are required during the course of a woman’s life. Her courageous travel, into the dark places of the soul, is a guide for spiritual perseverance in times of tribulation. But, most of all, Her travel into the Netherlands to face the Dark Self mirrors our own trip into death and rebirth, shedding the veils of the previous world and baring our souls to any Universal judgement, or self judgement, that is destine. Her travel to the underworld could also be a metaphor for “shadow work” and looking deep inside the Self and finding the meaning of the shadow-self within.
Eriskegal consented, but only on the condition that someone would return to take Inanna’s place part of the year, to keep Eriskegal company. When Inanna returned, She was unhappy with Her husband’s, Dumuzi, apathetic behavior toward Her absence, and decreed that he be carried off to the netherworld for six months of each year at the Autumnal Equinox, which marked the beginning of the Sumerian new year. Then Dumuzi returned to the Earth during the Spring Equinox. His reunion with his wife caused all animal and plant life to be revitalized and made fertile once again. The goddess Inanna represents the many facets of being a woman and of roles they play. She is an example of the feminine courage, of not being afraid to face the changes, and the challenges, that are required during the course of a woman’s life. Her courageous travel, into the dark places of the soul, is a guide for spiritual perseverance in times of tribulation. But, most of all, Her travel into the Netherlands to face the Dark Self mirrors our own trip into death and rebirth, shedding the veils of the previous world and baring our souls to any Universal judgement, or self judgement, that is destine. Her travel to the underworld could also be a metaphor for “shadow work” and looking deep inside the Self and finding the meaning of the shadow-self within.
Aspects of Inanna
Inanna is the progenitor of most known goddesses, which is why many of Her aspects can be found in ancient goddesses in the Middle East and Europe. She is a goddess of War and Wisdom, much like Athena and Minerva. She is the goddess of Love like Astara, Venus and Aphrodite. She was a fertility goddess much like Demeter and Persephone delving into the Underworld as Persephone, and being recognized as the goddess of Agriculture, and the goddess of Spring as Astara.
Inanna’s parental origins are uncertain. In some myths she is the daughter of Enki, the god of wisdom, fresh water and magic. In other myths she is the daughter of Nanna, god of the Moon and of Wisdom. At any rate, it is obvious that Her heritage is wisdom. Because She is a goddess of Fertility Her earliest symbol is a bundle of reeds knotted and tied in three places. Later Her symbol changed to an eight-pointed star or a rose. She is also often associated with a lion, snake, owl, dove, and the Morning or Eastern Star which is otherwise known as the planet Venus.
The Altar of Inanna
For Our Offering Today We Submit This Spirit.