Please view full size! It's a huge image loaded with detail. This is for Dave, Magnus, just because he is such a great guy and always gives such thoughtful comments, not only in my gallery but in so many others. He also never hesitates to write personal notes and just check in on his friends. Well after months of struggle I have finally come up with the new incarnation of Ishtar. As Isthtar was a Mesopotamian Goddess of both love and war I needed a model that looked middle eastern, had the ability to look strong and yet was also quite sensual. This is her 4th incarnation although only two were used in the Ishtar series. She is Maxine by Frad, but I have morphed her facial features to have a stronger jawline, I broadened her nose to look more Eurasian and I heightened her cheekbones. I also gave her eyes by Gypsyangel just because they are so striking. I changed her hairstyle from a 50's Jane Russell look to one more typical for women of the ancient middle east. I also found an outfit that included a lion motif, her totem animal. This completes my set of four characters that will star in my next series "Ishtar and the Quest for Knowledge." Check my last three images in my gallery for the rest. Start with Enki for all the links.
"Enki"
Ishtar was the greatest and one of the most ancient Goddesses of the Mesopotamian world; she originated in the city of Uruk. Stories of Ishtar go back to at least 5000 BC. Originally known as Inanna by the Sumerians, she became Ishtar to the Assyrians and Babylonians in the second millennium BC. Later she became Astarte to the Phonecians and Atergatis to the Syrians. Her name is actually pronounced "Easter" and as we saw in the last series, her story of the Descent into the Underworld is the origin of the Christian tradition of Easter. No matter her incarnation, Ishtar was a complete Goddess, embracing both the dark and light side. She was the Goddess of war but also the Goddess of Love. This is reflected in her wide sweep of lovers, husbands, consorts and brothers. As the Goddess of War she was the daughter of the moon God Sin and the lover of the slayer God, Reshef. As the Goddess of Love she was the daughter of the sky god Anu and the fertility Goddess Anat. Her grandfather was Enki, the God of wisdom. It is clear that Ishtar had a very respectable lineage. Previous V4 Ishtar and details on the diety. Conclusion of Ishtar in the Underworld series

"Easter"
Previous V3 Ishtar. Start of Ishtar in the Underworld series

"Ishtar- II"