Exploring the Life, Myth, and Art of the Ancient Near East

This book introduces readers to the epic legends and myths of Mesopotamia’s ancient civilizations. One such story tells of the rage of the goddess Ishtar. Spurned by the warrior-king Gilgamesh and seeking to wreak her revenge, Ishtar persuaded her father, Anu, to release the Bull of Heaven. When the Bull snorted, huge chasms opened in the ground, sending hundreds of young men tumbling to their deaths. Gilgamesh slew the Bull and took the beast’s horns as a trophy. This is only one of the many fantastic tales vividly retold in this fascinating book.