Ishtar

The name Ishtar derives from the Akkadian "Ištar," which itself likely originates from the Sumerian "Inanna." The ultimate Proto-Semitic root is debated but may relate to concepts of "god" or "divine." The name has been transliterated and recognized across various Mesopotamian dialects.

The Babylonian Venus. Ccdled "the eldest of heaven and earth", and daughter of Anu, the god of heaven. She is the goddess of love and beauty. The planet Venus, as the evening star, is identified with Ishtar, and as the morning star with Anunit, the goddess of the Akkads. There exists a most remarkable story of her descent into Hades, on the sixth and seventh Assyrian tiles or tablets deciphered by the late G. Smith. Any Occultist who reads of her love for Tamrauz, his assassination by Izdubar, the despair of the goddess and her descent in search of her beloved through the seven gates of Hades, and finally her liberation from the dark realm, will recognize the beautiful allegory of the soul in search of the Spirit. 146 TirKasoi'iiicAi. Isiac table. A true inominifiit of Kj^yptian art. It ivprcscnts tile ^oildt'ss Isi.s iiiuliT many of luT a.spects. Tiie Josuit Kireher describes it as a table of copper overlaid with black enamel and silver incrustations. It was in the pos.ses.sion of Cardinal Heinbo, and therefore called "Tabula Bembina sive Mensa Isiaea". Under this title it is described by W. Wynn Wescott. M.li., who jrives its "History and Occult Si^rnificance" in an t-xtreniely interesting' and learned volume (with photoj^raphs and illustrations). The tablet was believed to have been a votive oflFering to Isis in one of her numerous temples. At the sack of Rome in 1525, it came into the possession of a soldier who sold it to Cardinal Bembo. Then it pa.ssed to the Duke of Mantiia in IHIW. when it was lo.st. Isis. In E<]ryptian Issd, the {goddess Vii-j^in-Mother ; pi'rsonified nature. In E};yptian or Koptic Uasi, the female reflection of Uasnr or Osiris. She is the "woman clothed with the sun" of the land of Chemi. Isis-Latona is the Roman Isis. Isitwa fSk.). The divine Power.

Ishtar, the radiant queen of heaven and earth in Mesopotamian lore, offers a potent lens through which to examine the perennial human quest for meaning, particularly as it intersects with the realms of desire, transformation, and spiritual ascent. Blavatsky astutely recognized in her myth of descent into Hades a profound allegory for the soul's struggle and eventual triumph. This narrative, etched onto ancient clay tablets, speaks to a universal experience: the soul, like Ishtar, must confront its own underworld, its shadows and attachments, to reclaim its beloved, which in esoteric terms, can be understood as the divine spark or ultimate truth.

The goddess's journey through the seven gates of the underworld, shedding garments and regalia at each threshold, is a powerful metaphor for the stripping away of egoic identification and worldly adornments. This resonates with the practices of many mystical traditions that emphasize detachment and self-abnegation as pathways to inner liberation. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, often highlighted the transformative power of death-and-rebirth motifs, and Ishtar's myth fits squarely within this paradigm. Her love for Tammuz, his death, and her desperate search for him can be interpreted as the soul's yearning for union with the divine, a longing that propels it through the darkest passages of existence.

In the Hermetic tradition, Venus, with whom Ishtar is identified, governs not only physical beauty and attraction but also the higher aspirations and the harmonious ordering of the cosmos. Ishtar's dual nature as goddess of love and war further complicates and enriches her archetype, suggesting that true spiritual attainment often involves confronting and integrating opposing forces within oneself. The occult significance, as hinted at by Blavatsky referencing the "Isiac table," points to ancient symbolic systems designed to convey profound spiritual truths through visual and narrative means. The modern seeker can find in Ishtar's story a compelling invitation to explore the depths of their own psyche, to embrace the challenging journey of self-discovery, and to recognize the divine potential that lies dormant even in the face of despair. The path to liberation is often paved with descent.