Ishtar

American  

[ish-tahr] / ˈɪʃ tɑr /

noun

1. the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of love and war, identified with the Phoenician Astarte, the Semitic Ashtoreth, and the Sumerian Inanna.

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Ishtar British  

/ ˈɪʃtɑː /

noun

1. the principal goddess of the Babylonians and Assyrians; divinity of love, fertility, and war

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Etymology

Origin of Ishtar

First recorded in 1800–10; from East Semitic (Akkadian), corresponding to West Semitic (Phoenician) Astarte; cf. Ashtoreth ( def. ), Astarte ( def. ), Aphrodite ( def. )

Example Sentences

She likely originated in the Babylonian kharimati, singing priestesses of bull-riding goddess Ishtar.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2023

One fragment, which depicts the goddess inside a star, is the first known representation of Ishtar Sharrat-niphi, an aspect of the deity associated with the planet Venus.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 21, 2023

Gillick also attached a shining blue light above the museum’s renowned Ishtar Gate from the ancient city of Babylon with its characteristic blue-glazed bricks and depictions of lions, bulls and dragons.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2023

That accelerated the erosion of the mudbricks and the numerous engravings that once adorned the walls next to the Ishtar Gate, a colossal structure that towered over Babylon's main thoroughfare.

From Reuters • Oct. 28, 2022

"Ishtar has a daughter?" he asked between chews.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda