Inanna

Inanna is a major deity of ancient Mesopotamia, primarily in the Sumerian city-states, where she was worshipped as a goddess of love, sexuality, procreation, and political power, as well as a goddess of war and justice. She is commonly identified with the Akkadian goddess Ishtar, and the two are often treated as the same deity in later periods. Her name in Sumerian is often translated as “Lady of Heaven” or “Queen of Heaven.” She is associated with the planet Venus.

Her cult center was the city of Uruk, home to the Eanna temple precinct, though her worship was widespread across Sumer and Akkad, including Ur, Lagash, Nippur, and Babilonia. Temples, ritual texts, and liturgies attest a persistent and influential cult, with festivals and rites tied to fertility, kingship, and warfare. She is frequently depicted as a powerful, often martial figure who could grant or withdraw royal authority.

In Mesopotamian myth, Inanna features in several well-attested narratives. The Descent of Inanna tells of her journey to the underworld, her death or demotion, and her eventual return, aided by divine beings. In other stories, she is paired with her consort Dumuzi (Tammuz), a figure linked to the seasonal cycle of vegetation, whose fate is interwoven with the goddess’s own powers. The myths reflect themes of death, renewal, and the sovereignty of the goddess.

Iconography associates Inanna with the eight-pointed star, the lion, and symbols of sensual and royal power; she is also linked with Venus in the heavens. The Ishtar Gate and other art from the wider Mesopotamian world testify to her enduring presence.

Scholars view Inanna as one of the most important figures in ancient Mesopotamian religion, reflecting the integration of love, war, and political legitimacy in Mesopotamian kingship. The Ishtar name continued to appear in later Mesopotamian periods, and the goddess’ myths influenced subsequent Near Eastern literature.