Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 13 October 2014
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Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription Download Full Size Image

This large and partially broken clay tablet tells us how Ishtar, goddess of love and war, decided to descend and enter the underworld. During her long journey, she was gradually stripped of her attributes, therefore, she lost all of her divine powers. She was pronounced dead by Ereshkigal, the queen of the underworld. Ea, god of wisdom, eventually intervened and resurrected Ishtar. The story had a Sumerian origin but the text was written in Akkadian.

From the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (modern-day Ninawa Governorate, Iraq), northern Mesopotamia. Neo-Assyrian period, 7th century BCE. (The British Museum, London).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2014, October 13). Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3130/ishtars-descent-into-the-underworld-inscription/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 13, 2014. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3130/ishtars-descent-into-the-underworld-inscription/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld Inscription." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 13 Oct 2014. Web. 22 Feb 2025.

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