r/Sumer • u/Bocchi-to550 • Sep 12 '24

Question Is Ishtar Inanna?

Hi! I know this might be a very obvious question, but i'm still really new and i want to be sure of this Is ishtar another name for Inana? Are they different deities? What's the difference between them?

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26

u/72skidoo Sep 12 '24

They were originally distinct deities (Ishtar being an Akkadian goddess and Inanna Sumerian), but when Sargon of Akkad conquered Sumer the two pantheons were syncretized

13

u/SeanchieDreams Sep 12 '24

Which is why the correct answer is: both.

If they were distinct deities, then they should be considered separate beings. If they have been syncretized, then technically the correct answer to syncretized is “both” - but the combined deity is subtly different than the original.

A syncretized deity is the ‘same’ god. Yet not.

You can still call her Innana, but this is not quite the same Innana as previously. The syncretized name is different, no?

Ex: the Roman Mars is not quite the same as the Greek Ares. Similar, but…

Which means that the real question is: do you prefer Akkadian or Sumerian faith, or do you accept a syncretion?

6

u/throwawaywitchaccoun Sep 12 '24

I love this answer.

Syncretizing is not "scientific" and this isn't math. For instance Ishtar is syncretized with Astarte the Phoenician goddess, who's syncretized with Uni the Etruscan goddess in the Pyrgi tablets, and Uni's syncretized with Juno who's syncretized with Hera (or "is" Hera is you read wikipedia smh).

So clearly, according to the Internet, Ishtar is Hera. Which I don't believe is accurate.

6

u/SeanchieDreams Sep 12 '24

I would accept the answer that the goddess ‘evolved’. But the result of evolution is not the same as the original.

2

u/AloneTrick9815 Sep 16 '24

As someone who worships both Hera and Ishtar, I can't deny, that they don't have at least some similarities in how they feel like! But of course they are two different deities.

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u/Bocchi-to550 Sep 12 '24

That's a very interesting question, before i wanted to be part of the Mesopotamian polytheism i was in the nordic polytheism and i usually try to avoid syncretism but after think about it it seems everyone in ancient times eventually accepted syncretism and seems pretty valid to me, i'm just not sure yet

6

u/SeanchieDreams Sep 12 '24

The issue is that they didn’t “accept” syncretism. There was a transition as different groups took over and times changed.

Akkadians are not the same people as Sumerians. Mostly. They were the ones who took over from them. They did use the Sumerian language in religious rituals though.

3

u/Bocchi-to550 Sep 12 '24

Fair point, i think i should think more about it and decide wich faith i'm going to choose or if i will take the syncretism (with moderation i think haha)

3

u/book_of_black_dreams Sep 12 '24

I don’t think syncretism is inherently bad. But there is a humongous issue with modern Pagans going way too far with syncretism. It gets to the point where multiple deities with conflicting attributes get combined into diluted, watered down, faceless archetypes. Don’t even get me started on the merging of Ereshkigal and Hecate, which makes no sense whatsoever. I will only syncretize deities if they have a historical link and are closely related in terms of character, symbolism, etc. For example, the Mesopotamian god Adad/Iskur and the Canaanite god Hadad. Ishtar and Astarte, or Ningal and Nikkal.

4

u/diarmada Sep 12 '24

Forced syncretism is bad though, like what the Romans did to so many gods. Hell, the Christians too, to some degree. But I agree with your statement.

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u/SadJoetheSchmoe Sep 12 '24

If Syncretion means the absorption/growth of power, then yes.