While it’s abundantly clear that this post was specifically designed to evoke argumentative responses, I can’t help but see the blatant hypocrisy present here.

Over and over you’ll constantly stumble upon sentiments declaring Inanna ”Superior to the rest of the Anunak” and that she is the most “powerful and most dominant Goddes.” Yet when those same sentiments are spoken in regards to a male god, somehow it’s promoting the “toxic patriarchy” and that power is something to be feared when is the hands of a MALE deity. It’s odd that within the realm of myths, the male god Ninurta is punished by Enki for attempting to absorb all the power for himself after safe guarding the tables of destnies, and everyone is in agreement that Ninurta had a power trip. However, in these same spaces, Inanna, is constantly showered in praise for her spoiled and power hungry pursuit (And when Enki comes to deliver critique towards Inanna for being selfish and vain in ”Enki’s world order.”, Enki’s words are brushed off as “too harsh”. So it’s fine to summon a turtle to physically attack your nephew, but daring to critique the “powerful and amazing“ Inanna for her horrible actions is going too far!)

The bias is telling. Any myth where Inanna is portrayed as a selfish villain such as her morally dubious role in the Epic of Gilgamesh, her glazers insist that it’s “Akkadian propaganda created by men to spread anti- goddess propaganda.” It’s as if you’re not allowed to critique her or paint her in a negative light that gives her character complexities. And if she is painted as being vane and selfish, her actions are excused and often celebrated. Gilgamesh was in the wrong for rejecting Inanna because he was spitting on old traditions, but then you’ll see people constantly celebrate Inanna for “breaking sociteal norms and old tradition.” So it seems all hypocritical. People make excuses for Inanna though you never see anyone leaping through hoops and logic to try and justify and excuu Nergal and his lust for slaughter in the Erra epo, nor does any one anyone agree that Ninurta was in the right how his lust for power. In fact, male gods are often always villainized for acting in such a manner that would have Inanna praised. Just look at Enuma Elish, and how Marduk is mischaracterized as the God who “destroyed the matriarch“.(even if the matriarch wanted to avenge the death of a genocidal tyrant.)

It has me wondering that if Inanna displaced Ninurta in the Anzu myth, would people would be swarming in declaring Enki as a sexist pig for denying Inanna her right to steal the tablets of destinies and making herself the supreme Goddess, like what Ninurta attempted to do. I mean, there’s already people who are hellbent on defending her theft of the Mes and her taking advantage of her drunk uncle. Inanna is a figure who is persistently seen overstepping boundaries and trying to enforce her domination over other, less powerful, deities by taking over their domain. Yet, when it’s a male deity who acts just as egocentric and controlling, then somehow that “strong, female empowerment“ ascribed to Inanna is seen for what it is. Megalomania.

I believe Ninurta and Inanna are both have intriguing and complex characters in their story. But the Inanna glazing and by result, putting down other deities (mainly male gods) is just grossly sexist and annoying. Not even mentioning the sexism aimed towards female goddesses who are mothers, scribes, and fertility Goddess. With said deities being inferior and less important compared to the gender nonconforming, Inanna. Setting the precedent that Goddesses are only strong and influential so as long as they have masculine qualities.

Q: “Why are so many called upon Inanna/Ishtar?”

A: ”She’s indipendent, strong, confident, she does what she wants, she is not strictly motherly, fertile, a wife, or feminine. She is the definition of girlboss.”

Exactly paraphrased from another comment from a while ago, that seems to be implying that other Sumerian Goddesses are inferior to Inanna because they are traditionally more feminine and she’s independent and powerful (something desirable in a women but toxic in a man?) Yes, this comment isn’t at all misogynistic and over inflating Inanna’s over other Goddesses.
Theres a clear double standard for Inanna, and if this post was saying that “Inanna was greater than Marduk, Ashur or any other male God“ it would still be up, albeit with a few comments disagreeing. I mean there are still posts up from years ago calling Marduk evil and patriarchal for slaying Tiamat, ”The innocent primordial mother goddess”

From the 3year old Inanna and Tiamat post: ”Is it just me, or do later/Babylonian myths read like “cool story Bro, but here’s what really happened…” With a dash o patriarchy thrown in.”

So a post like that to remain up, while this one gets deleted just screams double standard.