Ishtar 101

Ishtar symbolizes a lot in Mesopotamian society. She is a goddess of love but she also transforms into a goddess of war. At first, she comes across as very inoccent when Gilgamesh turns her down and criticizes her of doing terrible things. Then she gets her revenge on Ishmael by sending a bull to attack him. Here she transforms into a goddess of war. I think that her being a goddess of love and transforming into a goddess of war shows that sometimes, with love, there is also conflict. Love doesn't necessarily create happiness, it can sometimes alter relationships with other people, or if it is unrequited love it can create lots of conflict. Her being a goddess of love and war symbolizes that love isn't perfect as it sometimes portrayed as and it has conquences, some good some bad.
When Ishtar descends into the lower world, she gives up her belongings along the way. After Ishtar's descent, problems in the society occur so she is released from the lower world and her belongings are returned to her. I think her descent symbolizes that when you do a bad deed, there are many consequences. Other than the obvious consequences, like the punishments (prison, etc.), there are also personal consequences. When you commit a bad deed, many emotions like guilt and self-hatred can follow, and slowly you began to lose your identity. When Ishtar descends, her belongings are taken away, but in reality, more than belongings are taken away when you descend to hell. You also lose your soul and your identity. When she is released from the underworld, I think this represents the significance of forgivness in the society. It shows that although they believed in good and bad and rewarding the good and punishing the bad, they also had some sense of forgivness of sins.

Ok...About me:

- my favorite food is macaroni and cheese (I'm a cheesehead)

- my favorite color is probably pink

- I listen to a lot of different kinds of music but I absolutely LOVE Maroon 5!

- I play field hockey

- I watch gossip girl and I love One Tree Hill

- I am over 5 feet!!! (nobody ever believes me...)

- I like vacationing in Florida

- My lucky number is 11

- I have never been to disney world or out of the country (you are not alone Graicey)

First Day Poem

Beeb.

The loud bell,

Buzzes,

In our ears,

As we fidget,

In the cold desks,

Waiting for class to start,

High school has began,

Finally.

Our minds churning,

Nervous,

Anxious,

Scared,

Yet,

Hopeful,

Excited,

Ready.

The classes go by,

Slowly,

Teachers lecturing,

And the shuffling,

Of papers being distributed, 

Is all that is heard,

In the silence,

Of the blank classrooms.

Until,

We are relieved,

By the bell,

And the the next bell,

And the next,

As we join our fellow students,

In the crammed hallways,

Our shoulders aching,

From the heaviness of the books,

Trying not to be trampled,

By the tall,

Intimidating,

Seniors.

Late,

We arrive at our next class,

as we repeat the same thing,

As the class before.

The day is never-ending,

Each class,

A century,

Dragged out.

Beeb.

The bell sounds,

Once again,

For a final time.

A weight is lifted,

Off of our shoulders,

We have survived one day,

Just one day,

Of many more to come,

But it already feels like home.

Excitement fills our thoughts,

As we anticipate,

Our great,

High school adventure.