Gilgamesh: Tablet VI

Ishtar, the newest character in the story, seems to be the Babylonian version of Aphrodite with the same pride and vengeful personality, as well as representing "love" and fertility. Ishtar was outraged when Gilgamesh rejected her, she probably thought of him as his equal. Gilgamesh in this tablet is described as looking "as beautiful as a bridegroom" (page 29) when he cleans up after his battle with Huwawa and in my interpretation of Ishtar's personality, that's when she realized he was her next victim. Gilgamesh, not as wild as Enkidu, but not stupid, knew what might happen to him if he decided to be with Ishtar: he could end up like her last conquest. So Gilgamesh refused her. Ishtar in all her rage, her pride hurt by the king, talked to her father, Anu, and demanded he sent the Bull of Heaven to Gilgamesh. Anu, at first, refused, but when his daughter threatened him, he finally agreed. Ishtar is insane. She is like one of those crazy ex-girlfriends (even though she was never with Gilgamesh) who seeks vengeance and ruins her boyfriend's life. I, personally, picture her as Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body. Megan Fox portrays a cheerleader who becomes possessed by the devil and starts eating high school boys to keep herself alive and good-looking, if she spent too long without eating, she looked ugly. Ishtar, like Jennifer, used her physical appeal to lure men (or in this case, Tammuz the slain, Ishullanu, and Gilgamesh) in, only to torture them afterwards. Ishtar, perhaps, saw Gilgamesh as someone she could be "fed" on, but when he rejected her she felt surprised and angry.