No, Easter is not Connected to Ishtar
Even though they may sound the same, there is no connection between the Mesopotamian goddess and the Christian holiday.
(Author’s note: this is not an attempt to proselytize any religious traditions. Nor is it a debate on the validity of the Christian traditions. I am working with the assumption that many scholars agree that Jesus was a historical figure, regardless of religious beliefs).
For many people, this weekend is the celebration of the Easter holiday. The day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus following his crucifixion. This event is the cornerstone of Christianity and is marked by people worldwide.
However, this is also the time of year when some people spread a recent misconception about the celebration of Easter. This theory can be traced back to the 1853 book The Two Babylons by Rev. Alexander Hislop.
You may see posts on social media claiming that Easter derives its name from the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar. This theory posits that similarities in the names as the primary support for this theory.
However, much as I explained in an earlier article about how AD does not stand for “after death,” this is a false claim. While some pagan/pre-Christian traditions are associated with Easter…
