I. Name
The personal name ʾašḥûr, Ashhur (1 Chron. 2.24; 1 Chron. 4.5)—traditionally construed as a derivation from the root šḥr, ‘to be black’ (HALAT 91)—has been interpreted by Cassuto (1947:472) as “belonging to Išḫara”. Išḫara is known as a Babylonian goddess.
II. Identity
Išhara, dIš-ḫa-ra, also written Aš-ḫa-ra and Eš-ḫa-ra, is one of the names for Inanna/Ishtar. In Atr. I 301–304 and Gilg. II ii 35–50 mention is made of a ‘bed laid for Išhara’. From this it can be inferred that Is…