(II)[1]
A “PRAYER OF THE RAISING OF THE HAND” TO ISHTAR
I pray unto thee, lady of ladies, goddess of goddesses,
O Ishtar, queen of all men, directress of mankind.
O Irnini[2], O exalted one, mistress of the Igigi,
Thou art mighty, thou hast sovereign power, exalted is thy name!
Thou art the light of heaven and earth, O valiant daughter of Sin.
Bearing arms, establishing battle!
Framing all decrees, wearing the crown of dominion!
O lady, majestic is thy rank, exalted above all the gods!
Star of lamentation, who makest hostility among brethren who are at peace,
Making them abandon friendship,
For a friend. O lady of defeat, who disturbs my peace,
O Gushea, who art girt with battle, who art clothed with terror,
Thou dost perfect destiny and decision, the law of earth and heaven.
- ↑ The text is published and translated by L. W. King, The Seven Tablets of Creation, vol. i., pp. 222 f., ii., Plates 75 f.; Zimmern, Hymnen, pp. 19 f; Dhorme, Choix de Textes Religieux Assyro-Babyloniens, pp. 356 f.; Jastrow, Die Religion Babyloniens und Assyriens, ii., pp. 66 f.; Ungnad in Gressmann, Altorientalische Texte und Bilder, i., pp. 85 f.; and most recently by R. W. Rogers in his monumental work, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament, pp. 153 f.
- ↑ Ishtar, to whom the prayer is offered, is identified here with Irnini, and later on with Gushea. In course of time the Babylonians and Assyrians acquired the habit of identifying Ishtar with other goddesses, whose attributes and titles she assumed, and whose independent importance she tended to eclipse. Other examples of goddesses with whom Ishtar was identified are: Nanâ, Anunitum, and Bêlit.
