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Ishta is the leader of the Amazon-like female Jaffa warriors, also known as the Hak’tyl Resistance, who rebelled against the Goa'uld Moloc. She is also a temple high priestess of Moloc and is responsible for keeping records of births and presiding over the Ceremony of Fire, where all newborn girls under Moloc's rule are burned to death. Unlike women on other Jaffa planets, women on Ishta's home world did not have great respect from men. Ishta was mistreated by her husband and was one of several of his wives before his death in battle.
Unable to preside over the deaths of innocent female children without action, Ishta formed the Resistance to save the Jaffa girls. Many of the babies were sneaked off world to safety. However, without ready access to symbiotes, when the girls reached the Age of Prata (puberty) the older women took to attacking Moloc's Jaffa and stealing their symbiotes to save their lives.
After learning of the Tau'ri, she readily proposed an alliance with them, exchanging their fighting forces for food and supplies. Samantha Carter suggested an alternative to stealing symbiotes. Although she was reluctant, at first, to accept their offer of tretonin, ("Birthright") Ishta agreed to allow a test hoping to save her young sister, approaching puberty.
She reappeared one year later. During this time she planned to finally kill Moloc. Teal'c, however, did not like her plan because he believed they should first strengthen the rebel Jaffa. During this time one of the female Jaffa disappeared and so the female resistance was forced to evacuate to Stargate Command, while they searched for a new home world. Ishta and Teal'c then went to a meeting with the Rebel Jaffa but they were attacked by Moloc's Jaffa and Ishta's Tretonin went missing. She was kidnapped by Moloc's First Prime and brought before Moloc himself, who then proceeded to torture her. She was rescued by Teal'c, while Moloc was killed by SG-1. At last the Hak'tyl found a new homeworld. ("Sacrifices")
Possible name origin
Ishtar
The Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Sumerians worshiped her in various incarnations. She is the Akkadian Goddess of War, Fertility, and Sexual Love. Mainly worshiped in the city of Babylon and the Region of Akkad (Agade). Her title is "Queen of the Universe." She forms an astral triad with Shamash (Sun God), and Sin (also called Su'en; God of Moon). She is the daughter of An (also called Anu; Sky God) and Antu (Anatum/Antum; a goddess of creation), although her father is sometimes Sin. She is the sister of Shamash (Sun God) and Ishkur. She is also the younger sister of Ereshkigal (Supreme Goddess of the Underworld). She is sometimes An’s second consort, other times she is the wife of Tammuz (Akkadian Vegetation-God; and (like Osiris) a symbol of death and rebirth in nature; sometimes referred to as a mortal Shepherd-King). She is associated with the planet Venus (The Morning and Evening Star). She was also the patroness of the alehouse and the protectress of prostitutes. Her sacred object is a star with six, eight, or sixteen rays surrounded by a circle. Her temple in the city of Uruk was called Eanna (Translation: "House of An" i.e. the sky). Compared to Hathor, Aphrodite, the Hittite/Hurrian Goddess Shaushka, and the Canaanite Goddesses Astarte and Anat. She is often described as an evil, heartless, woman who destroys her lovers. Her sacred number was 15 and her sacred animal was the lion.
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