Inana, Innin, Ennin, Ninnin, Ninni, Ninanna, Ninnar, Innina, Ennina, Irnina, Innini, Nana, Nin
- Ancient Sumerian goddess of sexual love, lust, fertility, and warfare.
- Inanna’s name is commonly taken from Nin-anna “Queen of Heaven” (from Sumerian NIN “lady”, AN “sky”).
- She is connected with female sexuality, and her priestesses were often sacred prostitutes and would offer themselves to the Goddess in worship.
- She is married to the vegetation god Dumuzi, the most significant of her many consorts.
- She is also the younger sister (and possibly twin) of the underworld goddess Ereskigal.
- Many shrines and temples were dedicated to Inanna along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. She was the patron goddess of the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk.
- Inanna took on many forms over the ages as civilizations grew and evolved; Ishtar, Astarte, Aphrodite/Venus.
- Her symbology is a hook-shaped twisted knot of reeds, an eight-pointed star (symbol of Venus) or a rosette.
- She is associated with lions, and was frequently depicted standing on the backs of two lionesses or on top of a mountain.
- She is perceived as the goddess of the Morning Star and Evening Star (Venus).
- Inanna descended into the underworld adorned with Lapis Lazuli, but was kept there by her sister/twin Ereskigal and subsequently turned into a corpse. After three days she was saved, however she chose Dumuzi to take her place in the underworld as he failed to properly mourn her. Dumuzi’s sister, feeling sorry for him, offers to take his place six months of the year.
- For the six months Dumuzi is in the underworld, Inanna loses her power of fertility and joy, hence, this represents the dark half of the year and the changing of the seasons.
- Her descent into the underworld represents the lighter and darker halves of deity (Inanna vs Ereskigal), as well as represents death and rebirth (similar to the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection).
Sources: Wiki Inanna and others…
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