59. Louise Pryke: Ishtar then and now

Louise discusses Ishtar, one of the most enigmatic and fascinating deities of the ancient Middle East. What characteristics were assigned to her, and what stories were told about her? What happened when Ishtar met Gilgamesh? Louise also discusses the reception of Ishtar and Gilgamesh. What do people find interesting about them now? She explains how being based in Australia influences her research.1:56 how many Ishtars are there?3:20 male or female?5:11 Ishtar in myths7:38 Ishtar as the archetypal or impossible woman 10:52 Ishtar and the king12:34 popular reactions to Ishtar14:03 hot take on Gilgamesh17:00 Australian context for research19:08 sharing research widely20:12 what's popular about assyriology?23:42 sources for the popular Ishtar26:13 what's new for you?Louise's university pageLouise's book on IshtarLouise's book on GilgameshLouise's book on WindLouise's Academia pageLouise's Instagram: @louloveshistoryMusic by Ruba HillawiWebsite: http://wedgepod.orgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSM7ZlAAgOXv4fbTDRyrWgwEmail: [email protected]: @wedge_podPatreon: http://Patreon.com/WedgePod

Om Podcasten

Thin End of the Wedge explores life in the ancient Middle East. There are many wonderful stories we can tell about those people, their communities, the gritty reality of their lives, their hopes, fears and beliefs. We can do that through the objects they left behind and the cities where they once lived. Our focus is on the cultures that used cuneiform (“wedge-shaped”) writing, so mostly on ancient Iraq and nearby regions from about 3000 BC to about 100 AD. Thin End of the Wedge brings you expert insights and the latest research in clear and simple language. What do we know? How do we know anything? And why is what we know always changing? Why is any of this important today? We won’t talk to you like you’re stupid. But you won’t need any special training to understand what we’re talking about. This is an independent production by me as an individual. It is not supported by my employer or any other organisation I am involved with, and the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect theirs.