- ルガル=キサルシの碑文<ref>Maeda, 1981, p8</ref>。</blockquote>
アッカド帝国のサルゴンによる征服後のアッカド時代(前2334年頃〜前2154年頃)には、イナンナともともと独立していたイシュタルを広範囲に融合させ、事実上同一視されるようになった<ref>Leick, 1998, page87</ref><ref>Collins, 1994, pages110–111</ref>。 アッカドの詩人エンヘドゥアンナはサルゴンの娘で、イシュタルと同一視したイナンナへの賛美歌を数多く書いている<ref>Leick, 1998, page87</ref><ref>Collins, 1994, page111</ref>。
During the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadian period]] ({{circa}} 2334 – 2154 BCE), following the conquests of [[Sargon of Akkad]], Inanna and originally independent Ishtar became so extensively syncretized that they became regarded as effectively the same. The Akkadian poet [[Enheduanna]], the daughter of Sargon, wrote numerous hymns to Inanna, identifying her with Ishtar.{{sfn|Leick|1998|page=87}}{{sfn|Collins|1994|page=111}} As a result of this,{{sfn|Leick|1998|page=87}} the popularity of Inanna/Ishtar's cult skyrocketed.{{sfn|Leick|1998|page=87}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=108}}{{sfn|Wolkstein|Kramer|1983|pages=xviii, xv}} Alfonso Archi, who was involved in early excavations of Ebla, assumes Ishtar was originally a goddess venerated in the Euphrates valley, pointing out that an association between her and the [[desert poplar]] is attested in the most ancient texts from both [[Ebla]] and [[Mari, Syria|Mari]]. He considers her, a moon god (e.g., [[Nanna (Sumerian deity)|Sin]]) and a sun deity of varying gender ([[Shamash]]/[[Shapash]]) to be the only deities shared between various early Semitic peoples of Mesopotamia and ancient Syria, who otherwise had different not necessarily overlapping pantheons.<ref>A. Archi, ''The Gods of Ebla'' [in:] J. Eidem, C.H. van Zoest (eds.), ''[https://www.nino-leiden.nl/publication/annual-report-nino-and-nit-2010 Annual Report NINO and NIT 2010]'', 2011, p. 3</ref>
==Worship==