The title 'belit matati,' 'lady of the lands' is evidently introduced in imitation of 'bel matati,' 'lord of lands,' belonging to Bel and then to Marduk.
[160] Sayce's view (_Hibbert Lectures_, p.

186), according to which Anu was originally the local god of Erech, is erroneous.
[161] VR.

pl.33.
[162] Delitzsch, _Die Kossaer_, pp.

25, 27.
[163] The omission of Ramman here, though invoked at the close of the inscription, is noticeable.

Ishtar takes the place that in the more developed system belongs to the god of storms, who with the moon-god and sun-god constitutes a second triad.