Star of Ishtar facts for kids
The Star of Ishtar or Star of Inanna is a very old symbol from Mesopotamia. It represents the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna and her later East Semitic counterpart, Ishtar. The owl was also an important symbol for Ishtar. Ishtar is often linked to the planet Venus, which people also call the morning star.
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A Symbol from Ancient Times
The Star of Inanna usually had eight points, but sometimes the number of points changed. Stars with six points also appeared often, but their exact meaning is not known. The eight-pointed star was the most common symbol for Inanna. Later, it became the main symbol for the goddess Ishtar, who was similar to Inanna.
The Star's Meaning and Shape
This star symbol first seemed to represent the heavens in general. However, by the Old Babylonian Period, it became specifically connected to the planet Venus. Ishtar was identified with Venus. Around this same time, the Star of Ishtar was usually shown inside a circular disc.
Other Important Symbols
On special boundary stones called kudurrus and on cylinder seals, the eight-pointed star sometimes appeared next to the crescent moon. The crescent moon was the symbol of Sin, the god of the Moon. It also appeared with the rayed solar disk, which was a symbol for Shamash, the god of the Sun.
The rosette was another key symbol for Ishtar. It had also belonged to Inanna before. During the Neo-Assyrian Period, the rosette might have even become more important than the eight-pointed star as Ishtar's main symbol. For example, the temple of Ishtar in the city of Aššur was decorated with many rosettes.
The Star in Modern Iraq
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Flag of Iraq 1959–1963 with the star of Ishtar in the middle
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Emblem of Iraq 1959-1965, based on ancient symbols of Shamash and Ishtar
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In Arabic, this symbol is known as (Arabic: نجمة عشتار, romanized: najmat eshtar). The stars of Ishtar and Shamash were part of the coat of arms for the Kingdom of Iraq from 1932 to 1959.
A simpler version of the star, with red rays and a yellow center, was used in the flag of Iraq from 1959 to 1963. It also appeared with the sun of Shamash on the national emblem of Iraq between 1959 and 1965.
See also
- Lion of Babylon
- Dingir ⟨𒀭⟩
- Octagram
- Star of Lakshmi
- Kagome crest
- Shamsa
- Rub el Hizb
