In the ancient Near East, Ishtar was an important and widely worshiped mother goddess for many Semiticrelating to people of the ancient Near East, including Jews, Arabs, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Phoenicians peoples. The Sumerianspeople of Sumer called her Inanna, and other groups of the Near East referred to her as Astarte.

A complex deity,god or goddess Ishtar combined the characteristics—both good and evil—of many different goddesses. As a benevolentdesiring good for others mother figure, she was considered the mother of gods and humans, as well as the creator of all earthly blessings. In this role, she grieved over human sorrows and served as a protector of marriage and...