In the sixth tablet of the Izdūbar series, we find an Ishtar whose characteristics are so different from either the goddess of love or the goddess of war, that we are constrained to believe that it must refer to Ishtar of Erech. She here appears as the queen of witchcraft, resembling the Hecate of the Greeks in her funereal abode. Indeed, Hecate was fabled to be the daughter of Asteria, which is merely the Greek form of the name Ishtar, and Pausanius[99] mentions an Astrateia whose worship was brought to Greece from the East. LEGEND OF ISHTAR AND IZDŪBAR. COLUMN I. “1. He had thrown off his tattered garments, 2. his pack of goods he had lain down from his back. 3. (he had flung off) his rags of poverty and clothed himself in dress of honor. 4. (With a royal robe) he covered himself, 5. and he bound a diadem on his brow. 6. Then Ishtar the queen lifted up her eyes to the throne of Izdūbar— 7. Kiss me, Izdūbar! she said, for I will marry thee! 8. Let us live together, I and thou, in one place; 9. thou shalt be my husband, and I will be thy wife. 10. Thou shalt ride in a chariot of lapis-lazuli,[100] 11. whose wheels are golden and its pole resplendent. 12. Shining bracelets shalt thou wear every day. 13. By our house the cedar trees in green vigor shall grow, 14. and when thou shall enter it 15. (suppliant) crowds shall kiss thy feet! 16. Kings, Lords, and Princes shall bow down before thee! 17. The tribute of hills and plains they shall bring to thee as offerings, 18. thy flocks and thy herds shall all bear twins, 19. thy race of mules shall be magnificent, 20. thy triumphs in the chariot race shall be proclaimed without ceasing, 21. and among the chiefs thou shalt never have an equal. 22. (Then Izdūbar) opened his mouth and spake, 23. (and said) to Ishtar the queen: 24. (Lady! full well) I know thee by experience. 25. Sad and funereal (is thy dwelling place), 26. sickness and famine surround thy path, 27. (false and) treacherous is thy crown of divinity. 28. Poor and worthless is thy crown of royalty 29. (Yes! I have said it) I know thee by experience. COLUMN II. 1. Wailings thou didst make 2. for Tarzi thy husband, 3. (and yet) year after year with thy cups thou didst poison him. 4. Thou hadst a favorite and beautiful eagle, 5. thou didst strike him (with thy wand) and didst break his wings; 6. then he stood fast in the forest (only) fluttering his wings. 7. Thou hadst a favorite lion full of vigor, 8. thou didst pull out his teeth, seven at a time. 9. Thou hadst a favorite horse, renowned in war, 10. he drank a draught and with fever thou didst poison him! 11. Twice seven hours without ceasing