Ishtar the Babylonian goddess of war, sex, love, and fertility, was the guardian spirit of life, and creator of wisdom. She was a powerful, fearsome, often violent deity, sometimes known as the "Lady of Battles," by her own people, or the "Whore of Babylon" in the Old Testament. Unlike later, male-dominated pantheistic systems, Ishtar's powers reached beyond what were later to be classified as "female" and "male" roles. Myths attributed to her involve sacrifice and resurrection, and both political and sexual power for women. Her priestesses were the most influential in ancient Babylon, and her temples (where sexual acts were part of worship) were the most sacred. 


Music: Catherine Capozzi and Christine Zufferey 

Film: Andrea Wolanin

Original Art and background on Ishtar: Nina Schiarizzi                          Dancer: Porcelain Dalya

Lyrics: Christine Zufferey
Sister
Open up  your kingdom
Sister
You know I will come
To rescue my lover
Even if you lock up all the doors


Sister
Are you not listening
My sister
Can’t you hear my warning
I’ll shatter
Every single gate of your underworld

I’ll strip down
I’ll take down
My crown
And every piece I own
I’ll stand bare
I’m not scared
To fall


I will bring up the dead to eat the living
And the dead will outnumber the living
Will you let me
I will do anything
Look through my eyes
Let me in

I’ll strip down
I’ll take down
My crown
And every piece I own
I’ll stand bare
I’m not scared
To fall