In ancient Mesopotamian religion, the Akkadian name for the Sumerian goddess Inanna was Ishtar.
Inanna was one of the most important deities in Sumerian religion, while Ishtar was her corresponding figure in Akkadian-speaking traditions. Their identities and myths gradually became closely connected as Mesopotamian cultures interacted and older Sumerian traditions were adapted into Akkadian literature.
Ishtar was associated with several powerful and sometimes contrasting areas of life, including love, sexuality, fertility, war, and political power. Her symbols included the eight-pointed star and the lion. She was worshipped in major cities including Uruk, where Inanna had an especially important cult.
This identification does not mean that every story about Inanna and Ishtar is identical. Sumerian and Akkadian versions often differ in wording, emphasis, and details, although the goddesses occupy broadly corresponding roles. Ishtar was also linked with the planet Venus, reflecting the deity’s connection with both morning and evening appearances of the planet.