Gilgamesh Ishtar – Queen of the Night

Gilgamesh Ishtar – QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

A large and robust relief in painted carved teak wood thought to depict Erishkagel Ishtar or Lilith.Loosely based on a Mesopotamian terracotta plaque on display in Room 56 of The British Museum London England, this marvellous piece was removed following the closure of the Gilgamesh Restaurant in Camden Market which closed in January 2018.

The full frontal nudity of the figure excites and the horned crown, wings, rod and ring symbol are well documented iconography from Neo-Sumarian times.There are no known examples from the old Babylonian period of Nude Goddesses with human feet and these bird feet do not disappoint.Prominent talons and scutes adorn three long separated toes on each foot that rests upon two prone lions.The male maned cats have closed mouths that are mostly depicted open in Mesopotamian art. One explanation is that the worshipper would be uncomfortable faced with gaping jaws.

The lion is the symbol of Babylon.

It represents Ishtar, the Goddess of fertility ,love and war.

For further information search The Epic Of Gilgamesh.