(West Asian mythology)
In Assyria, Ashur took over the roles of Marduk and Enlil, and was also, as might be expected in this military civilization, the god of war. It was usual practice to parade through the capital, known as Ashur too, the chained captives vouchsafed by the warrior god. He was portrayed as a winged disc enclosing a stretched bow ready to let fly an arrow. His consort was Ishtar, who responded to the warlike temperament of her mate by sprouting a beard which reached to her breasts.
