The issue of obtaining official documents and legal recognition for a third gender category outside the male-female binary is now one of the biggest challenges facing transgender individuals in many countries, including Syria and others in the Middle East. Reports describe this region as “difficult” for transgender people, with Syria labeled as particularly dangerous for LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially those who are visibly gender-nonconforming. Meanwhile, many countries are now beginning to embrace the idea of adding categories in national identification to recognize individuals outside this binary. This contrast becomes all the more striking when we consider that ancient Syria and Iraq were historically at the forefront of recognizing gender diversity and fluid gender roles.
Gender transition is not new…
There are cultures around the world that have recognized a third gender for thousands of years, such as the hijras in India or the māhū in Tahiti.”
Transgender Individuals in the Myths of the Sumerian Goddess Inanna/Ishtar:
Clay tablets inscribed in cuneiform from Sumerian mythology tell the story of Ishtar’s descent into the underworld. This is one of the world’s oldest literary texts, and within it, the god “Enki” creates a third gender, beyond male and female, to accompany Ishtar in the earthly realm. Later, in the Assyrian and Akkadian periods, Ishtar transcends the traditional boundaries of masculinity and femininity. In the Kingdom of Mari (Deir Ez-zor), she was described as a female with masculine traits. In one of her texts, she stated, “I am a woman, I am a man,” revealing aspects of life among our ancient ancestors, where transgender individuals played a central role.
In addition to her evolution from being the goddess of love and fertility as Inanna among the Sumerians, to the goddess of justice, peace, war, beauty, and sexuality as Ishtar among the Akkadians and Syrians (or Astarte among the Phoenicians), Inanna/Ishtar granted permission for gender transition in her temples. This form of transition, once referred to as “gender transformation,” is a term that transgender individuals have moved away from using in recent years.
“To destroy, to create, to tear down, to build up are yours, Inanna.
To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna.”
— Enheduanna, the Sumerian, The Hymn to Inanna
The Sumerians and One of the Oldest Stories of Gender Transition:
Did you know Enheduanna, the Sumerian? She is the world’s earliest known female poet, and in one myth, she held the position of high priestess of the mother goddess Ishtar, as she was sometimes called. Enheduanna is known for her poem *Passionate Inanna*, in which she says the following:
“To destroy, to create, to tear down, to build up are yours, Inanna.To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna.”
Specialists might debate the translation and the ambiguous meaning of the original text inscribed in cuneiform, but the interpretation related to gender transformation within the temples of Ishtar aligns with her character and the stories that history has preserved about her. These stories describe the rituals of her worship and her priests, who in several accounts were portrayed as having dual or entirely non-binary gender identities, separate from conventional masculinity and femininity.
Kurgarra and Galatur:
Both *Kurgarra* and *Galatur* might be seen today as a direct challenge to the prevailing gender norms in the Middle East. The former was a title given to male priests of Ishtar who transitioned from male to female, while the latter referred to women who transitioned to male. In their time, they were considered embodiments of divine recognition, and they enjoyed symbolic and social status, receiving full rights that were separate from the traditional binary rules of masculinity or femininity.
Kurgarra and Galatur: These are the names that Enki gave to the guardians and priests of Ishtar, according to the story of Ishtar’s descent into the underworld. Studies indicate that both Kurgarra and Galatur played an important role in assisting Ishtar during her descent to the human world.
Raising Awareness about Transgender Individuals: The Middle East as a “Difficult” Region:
Currently, many countries around the world designate a week or more during the year to raise awareness about gender issues. The dates for this event vary from country to country, and some nations have long been choosing the month of November to raise awareness about transgender individuals and gender transition.
Due to various factors, many countries are absent from this event, especially those where homosexual acts are criminalized, such as in the Middle East and Iran, which Human Rights Watch has described as a “difficult” region for transgender individuals. However, any occasion for raising awareness about the rights of individuals under the umbrella of gender transition is always an important opportunity to express support and solidarity, as well as to highlight the challenges and difficulties faced by organizations and activists working in human rights, particularly in the areas of acceptance, discrimination, and individual freedom.
Gender Transition: This term refers to individuals who experience a mismatch between their gender identity and the physical characteristics that typically align with societal standards of masculinity or femininity. For example, a person who is physiologically female might identify as male, and vice versa, stemming from an internal sense of gender. Some individuals may choose to fully transition and change their gender later on, while others may decide not to. Gender transition also includes people with biologically indeterminate gender identity, who may define their gender later. This might apply to those born with both male and female characteristics, which could be evident through genitalia or internal and chromosomal traits; this condition is known as *intersex*. Additionally, those who feel they do not fit within the binary categories of male and female (non-binary individuals) may also use the term *gender transition* to describe themselves. Thus, gender transition is a broad term encompassing various gender identities.
Certainly! The roots of gender transition in our region, including people’s choices to make such transitions or undergo gender-affirming surgeries, stretch back thousands of years. This is not a passing trend or a desire associated with modernity, progress, or so-called “Western” or “Eastern” values. On the contrary, history shows us that ancient Syrian and Iraqi civilizations were beacons of thought that illuminated the world. In these civilizations, same-sex relationships and the existence of a third gender were clear, accepted aspects of society.
Therefore, can ancient Syrian and Iraqi civilizations be considered pioneers in documenting gender transition and recognizing the existence of a third gender?
