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.

---

Ishtar British  

/ ˈɪʃtɑː /

noun

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

---

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

See Examples For:

Ishtar

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

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2023

Now, researchers sifting through the rubble have unearthed previously unknown artifacts from a ruined temple dedicated to Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and war.

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

"Can we get on with the story? Nergal's in town, looking for the flower, and I teamed up with Ishtar and her daughter to stop him."

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---