3:6,13; Ezek. Readers will also find plenty of valuable book reviews and courses which may prove to be helpful for obtaining greater knowledge. Easter is celebrated on a day specified only by the Roman Catholic Church, and not the Bible, and is fixed based on the sun and the Spring or Vernal equinox. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art: "Although there existed no single state theology, the major gods reflect local geographical concerns about the fertility of the earth and the importance of water as well as relationships to the sky and the underworld." The Egyptians had a religion of duality and Seth was the opposite of three other major gods; Osiris, Horus and Ra. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. Yet Paul used none of those available words, goddess of Canaan and Phoenicia prostitution was practiced in her name and she was served with immoral rites by bands of men and women.. When Epigeius was overthrown by the god Elus, a virgin daughter was sent. In Islam, Mo-lech is called Malec or Malik (meaning King), believed to be the principle angel in charge of Djahannam, the Islamic version of hell. Astarte (also Ashtart, Ashtoreth) In ancient Phoenicia, the great Goddess of fertility, motherhood and war. It was a city that was situated in Bashan, which was in the eastern part of the Jordan River. . Therefore, it should be taken with the utmost seriousness. See you on the other side! In this manifestation her symbol is a star with 6, 8, or 16 rays within a circle. Cleitarchus, an ancient historian, around 315 BC, gives this description of a fire god at Carthage. Although the horns of the bull that she wore represented fertility, they could appear fearsome, In her fearful aspect she was the mistress of horses and chariots, which might have been an Arabian variant of the god Athtar, known as the terrible god who tried to oust Baal, History, Worship, origin and Cult of Astarte, Astartes name was first recorded about 1478 BC. She guards womens reproductive health. Recite an invocation. The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley Copyright 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc. Astarte was worshipped by Canaanites, Egyptians, Hebrews, Philistines, and Phoenicians, but exactly who is she? Ishtar, (Akkadian), Sumerian Inanna, in Mesopotamian religion, goddess of war and sexual love. ), Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah thundered that Yahweh alone deserved the people?s allegiance. Tammuz is identified as her son/consort, as he is with Ishtar. ASTARTE WORSHIP AMONG THE HEBREWS - JewishEncyclopedia.com Historical Background of HoseaBaal and Idolatry Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. xxxi. The issue with God was shrine prostitution and pagan worship of false gods. on the ancient Syrian and Egyptian rituals of celebrating Astartes rebirth of the solar god on December 25th, that the Virgin had brought forth a newborn child, which, No doubt the Virgin who thus conceived and bore a son on the twenty-fifth of December was the great Oriental goddess whom the Semites called the Heavenly Virgin or the Heavenly Goddess, in Semitic lands she was a form of Astarte, The theory that credits Astarte as being a prototype of the Virgin Mary made. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). Rituals and Ceremonies Wiccans and Pagans have a number of rituals and celebrations. Hear the prayer of Your servant and friend! Instead, God intended to forbid Israel, His people, from practicing the same sex religious rites with which the ancient Canaanites worshiped their fertility goddess. Sit in a lotus meditation pose on the floor, Meditate until your mind is empty and relaxed, Visualize a large, dark citadel, monastery or cathedral, Walk around it seven times counter-clockwise (notice the walls, windows, any special features, the main gate..) while silently repeating Hail Astaroth, As you reach the main gate on your seventh circle, enter inside, You will find yourself on a dark stairway spiraling downwards, As you go down the dark stairway you will notice a fiery, infernal light emanating from below the stairway, Go through the portal and you will find yourself in a peaceful, green, endless field, Astaroth will be on the field, approach him while visualizing yourself keeping the silver ring under your nose and greet him humbly, Now is your chance to ask Astaroth all you wanted to know and to receive his well-informed answers. In Sumer and later in Babylon, religious rituals involved sacred sexuality in the form of the Sacred Marriage or hieros gamos, an act simulating marriage between the fertility goddess Inanna/Ishtar and the shepherd god, Dumuzi. side by side, while in Upper Egypt the Hebrews considered the goddess the divine consort still in the fifth century BC, The same as in the temples of Ishtar and Inanna, the sacred marriage and temple prostitution were prominent features of the cult, of which Yahweh also complained, Astarte was a beautiful goddess as well as a dangerous one. By the time of Ahab and Jezebel, the fertility cults appeared to have the official sanction of Israel's leaders. "You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God.". A comprehensive historical view of the whole subject helps to understand the fascination of Astarte worship as a seductive and formidable obstacle to the service of Yahweh. The center of her cult was in Tyre, but also included Carthage, Malta, Eryx (Sicily), and Kition (Cyprus). According to legend, Astarte descended to earth as a fiery star. God intended to prevent His people from practicing the shrine prostitution of the Canaanites, which He warned against in Leviticus 18:3 and 20:23. Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry? The cult spread westward from Phoenicia into Greece, Rome, and as far as the British Isles. Astaroth loves to complain to those who are willing to listen about how he was unjustly punished by God along with other Fallen Angels. It is said that in Corinth alone, there were more than 1,000 prostitutes in Aphrodite's temple. Dagon, Baal, Astarte, and other Modern Idols - The Harvard Ichthus All of the following may be true: Astarte is the title of the Cypriot goddess whose Greek name is Aphrodite. The NET Bible, not considered gay friendly by anyone, takes a strong anti-gay position on Leviticus. Over the years, Baal became the dominant deity, and the worship of El faded. Astarte, goddess of war and sexual love, shared so many qualities with her sister, Anath, that they may originally have been seen as a single deity. The people of Israel developed their faith in the wilderness. She was associated with the moon and called the Mother of the Universe, giver of all life on Earth. ancient Canaanite fertility cults used same sex rituals to worship their false gods. Sacred Marriage Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the bible But let our friendship extend beyond the limitations oftime and space. The priests and male prostitutes, who were consecrated to her cult were called qadesh, qedishim or sodomites, Deuteronomy 23:18; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46. The pantheon in Phoenicia was generally ascribed to the Sanchuniathon. When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astarte's temple as tribute and thanks. As for the land of Carthage, the goddess Tanit was worshipped along with Astarte. 5, 33; II Kings xxiii. Inanna, an important goddess in the Sumerian pantheon, came to be identified with Ishtar, but it is uncertain whether Inanna is also of Semitic origin or whether, as is more likely, her similarity to Ishtar caused the two to be identified. ), the king "tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes, which were in the temple of the Lord and where women . He is one of the three supreme evil Demons, with Beelzebub and Lucifer, in the Grimoire Verum and Grand Grimoire, which date from about the 18th century. The Catholic Church slowly and gradually grafted these pagan customs on to the name and resurrection of Christ . The word translated Mo-lech or Moloch (the spelling varies), occurs multiple times in the Bible, in Leviticus 18:21, 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 32:35, Amos 5:25-26, Acts 7:42-43. Astarte may be Anat, Aphrodite, and/or Tanit. Regardless of your primary motivations, you can now hire me for a consultation and to do the difficult part of the equation for you, while you reap the rewards. Gay Christian 101 - Affirming God's glorious good news for all LGBTs. earthstOriez | CYPRUS: Myth and Cult of Aphrodite on Cyprus As with many deities, offerings are an important component of honoring Astarte in ritual and prayer. In the Lemegeton, he appears as either a beautiful or an ugly angel, riding a dragon and holding a viper. She was known in Arabia as "Athtar," and inBabylonia as "Ishtar." Her name appears in the Old Testament (I Kings xi. The first recorded mention of Astartes name dates back to 1478 B.C.E., but her cult was already well established by then. It is listed on the Biblical Timeline Chartaround 1754 BC. Some devotees may have found the presence of a female divine figure compelling in an otherwise male-dominated religious environment. Astaroth is often invoked in necromantic divination rituals for this purpose. In Phoenicia, several states including Byblos, Tyre and Sidon were among the centers of worship for Astarte. Rameses III called Anat and Astarte his shields. Among the triad of Semitic sex/love/war goddesses worshipped in Egypt, Astarte was the favourite (over Anat and Kadesh). Since Bathin can be very helpful with acquiring knowledge and travelling faster and more safely, its no wonder that many magicians wish to contact him at one point or another. The worship practices of his followers were no different. He also has terrible breath. Omissions? Employing both material and textual evidence, it is argued that her worship at sea and at port required a degree of religious competency of seamen that served as crew and combatants on trading vessels and military vessels, respectively. Lilies, roses, sweet cakes, honey. Scripture describes this practice as "passing through the fire to Molech," Leviticus 18:21. Eventually, Astarte and Hadad were given the right by Elus to reign over the land. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech. The priestess or a female members of the community represented Asherah. Jeremiah (vii. Inanna, who later transformed into the Akkadian goddess Ishtar, the Phoenician Astarte and later still as the Greek goddess Aphrodite, is the goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. When Ashtoreth is mentioned in scripture, she is linked to Molech, (also called Milcom in the Bible). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. . the lady of the mountain. Astarte is the counterpart of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Several other centers of worship were located in Malta, Eryx and Cythera. Freemasonry, Wicca and Easter - Their unified connection The cult of Astarte spread westward from Phoenicia into ancient Greece, Rome and as far as the British Isles. But, the mother goddess in the Ras Shamra texts appears as Anat, Athirat, and Athtart, or Astrate. Baal is portrayed as a man with the head and horns of a bull, an image similar to that in biblical accounts. 3:7). 133-165, x. "Who Is Astarte?" 12). Rituals connected to the worship of Ishtar/Inanna include a Sacred Marriage in which a male ruler is identified with Dumuzi. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. This reflects the strong anti-gay beliefs of Dallas Theological Seminary (which trained some of the folks associated with the NET Bible). (See Isa. Astaroth is a great and a strong duke, coming forth in the shape of a foul angel, sitting upon an infernal dragon, and carrying on his right hand a viper, who also claimed to rule 40 legions, and had to be approached by the conjurer with a magical ring on account of his stinking breath. Ishtar is the Akkadian counterpart of the West Semitic goddess Astarte. The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca, Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses. There was in their city a bronze image of Cronus extending its hands, palms up and sloping toward the ground, so that each of the children when placed thereon rolled down and fell into a sort of gaping pit filled with fire.. Easter Traditions Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote that every Babylonian woman had to attend the temple of Ishtar/Inanna and agree to sex with any male that asked her. Although historical and archaeological communities still debate Moloch's identity and influence, he seems to have been a god of the Canaanites, which was a religion born out of a combination of ancient Semitic faiths.. What's known about Moloch largely comes from Judaic texts outlawing the worship of him and the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors. up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a That the Hebrew God is the best known of all gods worshiped in the world today needs no explanation. According to before-mentioned grimoires, the best time for summoning Astaroth is on Wednesdays between 10 and 11 pm. A shrine of this goddess was found also in the city of Askelon in Philistia (Herodotus, i. The Molech idol was a large hollow brass statue with the head of a bull and the bulging belly of a man. Sacred Marriage and Sacred Prostitution in Ancient Mesopotamia. Any information pertaining to them may pertain to her as well. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. A child sacrifice laid on the hands, would roll into the fire in the belly cavity. The Feast of Astarte began by welcoming and celebrating the sunrise on the Vernal Equinox. Solomon is said to have built a high place to her near Jerusalem, which was removed during Josiah's reform (I Kings xi. Deuteronomy 22:5 is prohibiting a specific kind of transvestism, one in which men dressed as women and women dressed as men would identify themselves as servants of Asherah, prostitute themselves in the temple of Yahweh, and thus bring ritual impurity to the worship of the God of Israel. The pagan goddess behind the holiday of 'Easter' - The Times of Israel Cake molds in the shape of horned Astarte dating from the seventeenth century BCE have been found near Nahariah, Israel. Seeker of Wisdom and Keeper of Time! Ive been conducting rituals for clients for many years. Offerings to Astarte typically included libations of food and drink. He is one of the three supreme evil demons along with Beelzebub and Lucifer in Grimoire Verum and Grand Gimoire, which date from about the 18th century. Shrine Prostitutes used sex to worship pagan gods, From Molech, Return To Gay Christian 101 Home Page. There appears to have been only one Baal, who was manifested in lesser Baals at different places and times. Asherah was worshiped in various ways, including through ritual sex. . He is also the keeper of secrets throughout time, knowing past, present and the future. In her role as a warrior goddess, one who is dominant and fearless, she is sometimes portrayed wearing a set of bull horns. Regardless their opinion, notice that even anti-gay Christians admit Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Case closed, or at least that's how Hislop presents iteggs appear in different cultural traditions, so they must all be tied to a single earlier tradition, and the goddess Astarte is said to have emerged from an egg, so surely all instances of sacred egg traditions must really be instances of Astarte worship. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Baal, Tammuz, Ashtoreth, Astarte and Ishtar are all connected with pagan sun worship. Light a candle and turn off all the other lights, Stare into the candlelight and quiet your mind. Some scholars hold Astarte was a prototype of the Virgin Mary. Her traditional Phoenician offerings included clothing stained with menstrual blood. Astarte is the title for a completely independent spirit, perhaps Anats sister. Astarte was a goddess honored in the Eastern Mediterranean area, before being renamed by the Greeks. How should modern Christians interpret Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Learn Religions, Sep. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/who-is-astarte-2561500. When summoning Astaroth, its important to hold a silver ring in front of your face to protect yourself from his vile breath, which can otherwise cause serious physical ailments. One that Ive used successfully is: Hail Astaroth! 72-91; Budde, "Religion of Israel," ch. Documents from the thirteenth century BCE indicate the Egyptians considered Anat and Astarte to be two allied war goddesses. The ensuing generations forgot the God who had rescued them from Egypt ( Judges 2:10-12 ). Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. Separating Fact from Myth: Asherah and Idol Worship. One can readily see why God and Moses called this pagan religious practice and the sexual rites associated with it, abomination. However, the work was all Louys own, and included a stunning prayer honoring Astarte: Mother inexhaustible and incorruptible,Creatures, born the first, engendered by thyself and by thyself conceived,Issue of thyself alone and seeking joy within thyself, Astarte! No wonder God's anger burned against his people and their leaders. Most stories about him refer to sexual affairs. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. KJV, Jeremiah 3:6, "When Josiah was king of Judah, the LORD said to me, "Jeremiah, you have However, even among those who . Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Astaroth also encourages slothfulness and laziness so be sure to thank him and finish the ritual properly. She is everywhere the great female principle, answering to the Baal of the Canaanites and Phoenicians and to the Dagon of the Philistines. Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses Written by Judika Illes Copyright 2009 by Judika Illes. Discover the Bible in light of its historical and cultural context! We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. JPS Tanakh 1917 My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available! Yet in spite of being so anti-gay, the NET Bible links the Mo-lech worship of Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2-5, 13, with sexual sin and with spiritual prostitution, "I will cut off from the midst of their people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, to commit prostitution by worshiping Molech (Hebrew - to commit harlotry after Molech)." Ashtoreth was the goddess of war and fertility, called Ishtar by Assyrians and Babylonians, called Astarte by Greeks and Romans and called Tanith by North Africans. She holds a bowl beneath her breasts, which are pierced so that milk placed in the statuette flowed from her breasts into the bowl. Jesus provided the ultimate solution to resisting the seductiveness of pagan idol worship. As early as 1450 BC, as they wandered in the wilderness, Israel was worshiping Moloch, even before they entered the land of Canaan. Although she was believed to be Baal's mother, she was also his mistress. The Phoenicians called her Astarte, the Assyrians worshiped her as Ishtar, and the Philistines had a temple of Asherah ( 1 Samuel 31:10 ). The issue with God was not committed faithful non-cultic sexual relationships or gay marriages between two men or two women. Her popularity was universal in the ancient Middle East, and in many centres of worship she probably subsumed numerous local goddesses. Both of these sacred sexual practices existed for thousands of years in Mesopotamia. A nude woman holding lilies or sometimes wearing a Philistine helmet. In a twelfth-century BCE hieratic papyrus, the goddess Neith ordered that Set be given Anat and Astarte as wives. When his time is up and he returns from the underworld in springtime, he joyously mates with Inanna and the land reawakens. Your email address will not be published. Astarte: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive A Phoenician statuette uncovered near Granada, Spain, dating to the seventh or sixth centuries BCE, depicts Astarte enthroned, flanked by sphinxes. The leader of the gods, Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans), took on the role of Baal, the god of weather or storms. I conduct summoning rituals for clients - https://occultist.net/product/ritual-for-hire/, To learn more about practical magick, get my latest book "The Psy-Mage Compendium" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ouvops, If youre into ceremonial magick, youve seen plenty of grimoires and other magic books describing various demons. Ancient Assyrians and Babylonians portrayed her caressing a child. How to Summon Astaroth: 2 Most Effective Rituals (Full Guide) - Occultist When the flames fall upon the body, the limbs contract and the open mouth seems almost to be laughing until the contracted body slips quietly into the brazier.. Ashtoreth was the goddess of war and fertility, called Ishtar by Assyrians and Babylonians, called Astarte by Greeks and Romans and called Tanith by North Africans. Many, if not all, of the Old Testament gods had disappeared, at least in name, by the time of Jesus. But regardless of the appearance of the demon, the behavior, benefits and the dangers associated will the demon will be similar in every case. Or would the fertility god of Canaan have to be honored? Once she performed this ritual, the male visitor gave her money to donate to the temple. Lit." She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Unique Circular Format see more in less space. But not by those who do not believe this was the date of Christs birth, and say the exact date is unknown. Deuteronomy 16:21. Bibl. Idolatry always included sex worship of false gods. Lit." Astarte is a spirit of abundance, prosperity, love, sex, and war. Inanna was also a fertility figure, and, as goddess of the storehouse and the bride of the god Dumuzi-Amaushumgalana, who represented the growth and fecundity of the date palm, she was characterized as young, beautiful, and impulsivenever as helpmate or mother. Devotion to the goddess Tanit/Tinnit, a permutation of Astarte, took place in Mediterranean cave sanctuaries and on Phoenician ships. Some scholars believe that the Canaanites also sacrificed pigs and that God prohibited his people from eating pork in part to prevent this horrible cult from being established among them. Asherah | Semitic goddess | Britannica 18; xliv. Occultists still refer to the astral body as the invisible double. Her other counterparts are Isis and Hathor of Egypt, Kali of India and Aphrodite and Demeter of Greece. And it was through he flattery of, to build a house on Saphon, a mountain situated in the sides of the north, In spite of her maiden and mother titles Anat was an aggressive goddess who slew Baal enemies. Participation in these sects was highly secretive, and few details of their ceremonies survive. That Molech worship was already common among the Canaanites when Israel entered the land is evident from the fact that, before Israel entered the land, God warned them against Molech worship as an abomination the Israelites were forbidden to practice, Leviticus 18:21, 20:2, 3, 4, 5. Astarte Worship Rituals The worship rituals of Astrate include making offerings to the goddess at her temple, which is located in the city of Babylon. When the Israelites entered Canaan, they found a land of farmers, not shepherds, as they had been in the wilderness. Sects that worship Dionysus and Aphrodite may be entirely hedonistic and include orgiastic rituals (such sects are often considered cults even by Neopagan standards). The Bible indicates that she was worshiped near trees and poles, called Asherah poles (Deut. 14) attest various forms of this worship in their time, which may refer to a direct importation from Babylonia. 40-year journey in the wilderness, their Lord accompanied them, protected them, fed them, and guided them to the Promised Land. Canaanite religion, a fertility or nature religion, reflected the major concerns of the populace - increase and productivity. Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech - God's Old Testament rivals. These names all refer to the same false god. And desired to, In Egypt, where the Hyksos invaders introduced her, the cow horns of Hathor became part of her iconography, Athirat, the lady of the sea, appears to be the consort of El, the equal of the Hebrew god Yahweh.