ABSTRACT
Ishtar inhabits multiple roles in her association with Mesopotamian kings; she is represented as spouse, lover, sister and mother, sometimes within a single composition. The special relationship between Ishtar and the king connects both aspects of the goddess that are most commonly attested, her powerful competency in the fields of love and battle. This chapter explores several general features of the relationship between Ishtar and the Mesopotamian king, and also considers the symbolism used to elucidate this connection. The variability of divine imagery across historical periods reflects broader diachronic fluctuations in the conception of the Mesopotamian kingship, as well as illuminating the changing primary concerns of different periods. The changeable nature of the king's links with the divine undoubtedly adds further complexity and depth to the intricate relationship between monarch and goddess. Marriage in the Ancient Near East was a cultural institution which existed within defined legal boundaries.
