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Hebrew Goddesses
Ashtoreth (Astarte/Anath)


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Introduction

Astarte, or as she's often known in the Bible, Ashtoreth, was the daughter of Asherah. I know ... the names are so similar, you might think I'm talking about the goddess, Asherah, again.

Global Goddess

Astarte was a global goddess, worshipped by many people. The Egyptians made Astarte and Anath two separate goddesses, each served by her own priests. Astarte is mentioned in the Amarna letters (14th Century BCE). She was consort to Chemosh, the national god of Moab. Much later, she became the chief goddess of Sidon (see King Solomon story below).

Such a popular goddess was bound to reach the Hebrews, and her popularity carries over to the Bible, though not to the extent that her mother, Asherah, is mentioned (Astoreth is mentioned nine times, whereas Asherah is mentioned some forty times).

The Levite city, Ashtartu, is referred to several times ... being the capital of Og (legendary giant king of Bashan), who was defeated by Chedorlaomer.

In other cities, archaeologists have uncovered not only statues of Astarte of the Two Horns (Ashtoreth), but also molds from which statues could be mass produced.

King Solomon

Many scholars believe that it was none other than King Solomon who introduced Astarte (Ashtoreth) to the Hebrew people when he married his Sidonian wife. Whoever introduced her, however, she had a long reign among the Hebrews.

Samuel Purges Ashtoreth

Like her mother, Astarte was worshipped in the groves until the time of Samuel, when he purged Jerusalem of Baal and Ashtoreth (Astarte).


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