/Astarte is also known as Astarte and Astoreth. She is an
incarnation of Ishtar and Inanna. This Semitic Goddess was
worshipped by the Syrians, Canaanites (today called Palestinians),
Phoenicians, Egyptians and other Semitic Tribes. King Solomon
built a Temple to Her as Astoreth, near Jerusalem. /


/Astarte was worshipped as many things, to the Egyptians, She was
honored as a Goddess of War and tenacity, to the Semites, She was
a Goddess of Love and Fertility. Among the Greeks She was
transposed into the Goddess of Love Aphrodite. In the Bible, She
is referred to as "the abomination". Considering Her widespread
devotion, this is not surprising. /

/

Great Bountiful Goddess of Antiquity

Your sacred fires are again lighted

Your name is again spoken with reverent awe

The High Places are no longer abandoned

Your Sacred Altars are again tended

Earth is re-awakening to your voice

/

/The Bull and the Dove are especially sacred to Astarte and
Astoreth. The Goddess is often pictured wearing horns. Astoreth is
sometimes pictured wearing the head of a Bull. The Dove is
associated with many Middle-Eastern Goddess rites. A Dove perches
atop many Asheras, (tall moon poles) that marked the "High Places"
were outdoor Goddess rituals were frequently held. /

/The bountiful qualities of the Great Goddess are reflected in all
the principle Goddesses of the Meditteranean and Middle-East.
Homage was paid to the Goddesses in the form of honey, beer, wine,
incense, and animals. These offerings were an important part of
honoring the Goddess and insuring future blessings. /

//

/The Egg is a sacred symbol of Astarte, representing fecundity,
new life and the powers of the Goddess. The Pomegranate, the
"fruit bearing eggs" is an important part of Her sacred rites.
Pomegranate is also central to the rites of Kore-Persephone, as
well as other Goddesses.

/

/The worship of Astarte spread far and wide, and in time, She was
worshiped by the Philistines, the Greeks, the Romans, the
Sicilians, and in many parts of Europe and Africa. The Great
Goddess Astarte was also worshiped as Freya by the Norse, Indrani
by the Hindus, by the Celts as Danu, and by the Egyptians as Hathor.

Like Artemis Diana, She often carries a bow and arrows, and is the
center of many millenia of devotion.
/


SOURCE(S)
"EmeraldHarley"


PRIDUCT(S)

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