== 起源と発展 ==
イナンナは、他のどの神よりも明確で矛盾した側面を持つため、古代シュメールの多くの研究者に問題を提起してきた<ref>Vanstiphout, 1984, pages225–228</ref>。彼女の起源については、大きく分けて2つの説がある<ref>Vanstiphout, 1984, page228</ref>。
Inanna has posed a problem for many scholars of ancient Sumer due to the fact that her sphere of power contained more distinct and contradictory aspects than that of any other deity. Two major theories regarding her origins have been proposed.{{sfn|Vanstiphout|1984|page=228}} The first explanation holds that Inanna is the result of a [[syncretism]] between several previously unrelated Sumerian deities with totally different domains.{{sfn|Vanstiphout|1984|page=228}}{{Sfn|Brandão|2019|p=43}} The second explanation holds that Inanna was originally a [[Semitic deity]] who entered the Sumerian pantheon after it was already fully structured, and who took on all the roles that had not yet been assigned to other deities.{{sfn|Vanstiphout|1984|pages=228–229}}
As early as the [[Uruk period]] ({{circa}} 4000 – {{circa}} 3100 BCE), Inanna was already associated with the city of [[Uruk]].{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=108}} During this period, the symbol of a ring-headed doorpost was closely associated with Inanna.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=108}} The famous [[Uruk Vase]] (found in a deposit of cult objects of the Uruk III period) depicts a row of naked men carrying various objects, including bowls, vessels, and baskets of farm products,{{sfn|Suter|2014|page=551}} and bringing sheep and goats to a [[female figure]] facing the ruler.{{sfn|Suter|2014|pages=550–552}} The female stands in front of Inanna's symbol of the two twisted reeds of the doorpost,{{sfn|Suter|2014|pages=550–552}} while the male figure holds a box and stack of bowls, the later [[Cuneiform script|cuneiform]] sign signifying the [[EN (cuneiform)|''En'']], or high priest of the temple.{{sfn|Suter|2014|pages=552–554}}