Black Rock City, Nevada -- Burning Man 1999

The Temple of Ishtar is a project born out of the northern California sacred sexuality community (Tantra, Polyamory, Pagans...). We created an actual, operating Temple of Ishtar at Burning Man 1999. It was, according to participants, a great success. Many visitors commented that it was the most inviting space on the playa. The Temple even hosted a real wedding one evening! Here are some initial images, many more are forthcoming. Photos by Cinnamon Sky. Temple Vision by Glenn Meader. We thank all of the Temple family - Our Priestesses and Erection Priests!

This image is the "Goddess Frequency Band" playing on the Temple stage, with priestess dancers.

This is a side view of the main Temple structure. The canopy covers a 50 foot by 50 foot area.
The tents surrounding the white canopy are priestess trysting chambers.

A view of the main Temple at sunset.

A side view of the Temple showing the carpeted floor,
with flowing water footbath stream leading from greeting dome.

Front view of the Temple showing lighting instruments and stage.

Dancing in the Temple.

What is Ishtar?

Ishtar was the main goddess worshipped by Mesopotamians and Sumerians dating back to about 5000BC. She was the goddess of love and sexuality in Babylonia. In the Bible, she is referred to as the Great Whore of Babylon.

Temples to Ishtar were inhabited by priestesses dedicated to the service of the Goddess. The original meaning of the word "prostitute" was "to stand in behalf of", that is to represent the power of the Goddess. Sexuality, as the vehicle by which life both physical and psychic was brought into the world, was considered a sacred act.

Worshippers of Ishtar took the roles of priest and priestess and had intercourse as incarnations of the "Divine". Priestesses would share sacred sexuality with any worshiper who wanted union with the "Goddess". The person, whom the priestess had not met before, spent the night with her in the temple. Their intercourse would put him in contact with the rejuvenating energy of the Goddess, mediated through her priestess who would bestow upon him an ecstatic experience. For the priestess, the sexual act represented a ritual offering to the Goddess. (see links below for more historic information)

Burning Man

Burning Man is a community and artistic event held each year in the Black Rock Desert, which is 120 miles north of Reno, Nevada. This year 23,000 people attended. Burning Man is always held the week prior to and including Labor Day weekend. This year it was held from Monday, August 30th to Monday, September 6th, 1999

No commercial activity is allowed at the site, no money - you can only barter. Burning Man tenets: "Leave no trace" and "No spectators". For more complete info on Burning Man: http://www.burningman.com

Temple pre-Burning Man construction:

More Pictures

The Historic Background of the Temple of Ishtar What happens in the Temple? What is Burning Man? Constructing the Temple Site Plan  (Camp location was at 3:20 Earth at Burning Man) Huge map of Black Rock City 1999 Costumes Community Discussion Forum The Vision of the Contemporary Temple of Ishtar

Another group with similar (but also differing) interests is: The Society of Ishtar (thanks to them for info and text relating to the history and meaning of Temple of Ishtar).

E-mail: ishtar@ishtartemple.org

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http://www.ishtartemple.org