090 Goddess Ishtar

Museum Description: Bronze Amulet of Ishtar

Room: 56/Case: None/Number: ME 119437

Scripture: Jeremiah 44:19

Supposedly both the goddess of war and the goddess of love, Ishtar was called the 'Holy Virgin' and 'Virgin Mother' by her worshippers, who would pray directly to her.  Astarte (Ishtar) is even the origin of the word Easter. 

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a humble Jewish woman, calling herself Jehovah's slave girl.  How, then, did she become worshipped, prayed to, and called "Madonna - the Mother of God"?  Mother goddesses have long been a feature of false worship, for example Isis, Astarte, Ishtar, Cybele, Artemis and Diana.  The similarity of the 'mother and child' pose used for these false gods and the composition of the so-called Madonna and Child are striking. Members of Christendom have even worshipped these images in ignorance, not realising they were actually the pagan versions!  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.

Not Currently On Display