When Ashtoreth is mentioned in scripture, she is linked to Molech, (also called Milcom in the Bible). Melech, Mo-lech, Milcom, Melkom, Moloch, Molek, Malec, Malik, Melek, Malkum, Melqart, Melkart, Milk, Melqarth, Kronos, Cronus. 4, 18, where the lambs are called the "ashtarot" of the flock. When Epigeius was overthrown by the god Elus, a virgin daughter was sent. 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. Astarte is the Hellenized form of the Middle Eastern goddess Ashtoreth, a form of Ishtar, worshipped from the Bronze Age through classical antiquity. This is proved by the fact that Baalim and Ashtaroth are used several times (Judges x. Most stories about him refer to sexual affairs. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband. One of the most unusual practices Herodotus details is the that of sacred prostitution, which he observes in the ancient city of Babylon. The people of Israel developed their faith in the wilderness. 5 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod; 2 then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon. These demons can help with all sorts of problems, provide assistance in reaching your goals and becoming more powerful in magic. Many of the ancient pagan deities lived on, however, now identified with the gods of the Greeks and Romans, the nations who controlled the people of Israel before and during New Testament times. As long as youre respectful to demons and take the preliminary precautions as mentioned here, you have nothing to fear as their primary intent is never to harm the summoner. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. It is listed on the Biblical Timeline Chart around 1754 BC. 17, 18) and Ezekiel (viii. (2021, September 8). With Shamash, the sun god, and Sin, the moon god, she forms a secondary astral triad. His mistress, the fertility goddess Asherah, gave birth to many gods, including a powerful god named Baal ("Lord"). As the practice was recounted only in literature, it is unclear whether it was purely symbolic or an actual reenactment. After all, secular prostitutes plied their trade in Mesopotamian cities as well. We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. Sects that worship Dionysus and Aphrodite may be entirely hedonistic and include orgiastic rituals (such sects are often considered cults even by Neopagan standards). This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Erotic temple rites and sacred prostitution were central to her veneration. Please note: A child sacrifice laid on the hands, would roll into the fire in the belly cavity. 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. Hail Astaroth! Astaroth also encourages slothfulness and laziness so be sure to thank him and finish the ritual properly. JPS Tanakh 1917 Baal's victory over death was thought to be repeated each year when he returned from the land of death (underworld), bringing rain to renew the earth's fertility. Molech, fire-god of ancient Canaan (62-86 , Copenhagen . Rituals connected to the worship of Ishtar/Inanna include a Sacred Marriage in which a male ruler is identified with Dumuzi. But her cult. Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. . The name astarte means the queen of stars. Fertility rites were practiced at the numerous shrines which dotted the land, as well as at the major sanctuaries A characteristic feature of the fertility cult was sacral sexual intercourse by priests and priestesses and other specially consecrated persons, sacred prostitutes of both sexes Child-sacrifice was also a feature of the rites. The Bible does not actually describe the goddess, but archaeologists have discovered figurines believed to be representations of her. Astarte ruled all spirits of the dead residing in heaven, visible from earth as stars; hence came her name Astroarche, Queen of the Stars, the mother of souls in heaven, the Moon surrounded by her star-children, to whom she gave their astral (starry) bodies. In the figure of Inanna several traditions seem to have been combined: she is sometimes the daughter of the sky god An, sometimes his wife; in other myths she is the daughter of Nanna, god of the moon, or of the wind god, Enlil. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! Leviticus 20:5. Updates? . 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. She was ruler of all spirits of the dead, who lived in heaven in bodies of light and were visible on earth as stars. Over the years, Baal became the dominant deity, and the worship of El faded. "Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? xiii. With this preliminary information in mind, here are the 2 best rituals for summoning Astaroth: Astaroth is a powerful demon with a significant historical influence. Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. NET Bible, Jeremiah 3:6. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? As goddess of Venus, delighting in bodily love, Ishtar was the protectress of prostitutes and the patroness of the alehouse. Some scholars have proposed that these figurines were dedicated by women desiring to be pregnant or nursing children. They exercised a very real power over the primitive Canaanites. 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. Definitions. In the myths concerning Inanna and Dumuzi, due to some of Inannas less exalted behavior, Dumuzi must spend half the year in the underworld. When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astartes temple as tribute and thanks. Despite God's repeated warnings, many Israelites continued engaging in worshiping a pagan god called Asherah as . "Who Is Astarte?" creditability by many who accept that Christ was born on December 25th. Baal worship was all about using ritual to control . It is not appropriate here to discuss all the gods and goddesses of the Greco-Roman pantheon; however, a few of them were significant in the first century, and some are even mentioned by name in the Bible. There were even Pyrgi tablets that contained bilingual inscriptions, which dated back to 500 BC. 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. Scripture describes this practice as "passing through the fire to Molech," Leviticus 18:21. The general name, used throughout Palestine and in the Bible, for this type of fire god, was Baal. The Bible called this practice "detestable" (Deut. ancient Canaanite fertility cults used same sex rituals to worship their false gods. The Hebrews knew her as the goddess of the Sidonians, whom they worshiped. Astarte's cult in the fourth-century bce Kition tariff text likely involved offerings of cakes as did that of the Queen of Heaven in Jeremiah . Recite an invocation. In later myth she was known as Queen of the Universe, taking on the powers of An, Enlil, and Enki. Through the sexual act, divine fertile energy was released on the land ensuring good crops and productive herds. 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. Make sure to stay in control at all times instead of subjugating yourself to the demon. Ishtar, (Akkadian), Sumerian Inanna, in Mesopotamian religion, goddess of war and sexual love. . Christians turned Astarte into a male Demon, Astaroth. Practicing occultist and writer with a particular interest in summoning magic. It is easy (and seductive) to honor possessions, fun, relationships, fame, money, and a host of other potential "gods.". Your email address will not be published. How Long Was Joseph In Potiphars House? Jesus provided the ultimate solution to resisting the seductiveness of pagan idol worship. She is the counterpart to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar and is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the Goddess, dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Repeat for as many times as you think is necessary. Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. God placed the Holiness Code prohibitions of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in the context of worshiping false gods, 18:3, 21-22 and 20:2-5, 13, 23. Alternatively, she is horned. As goddess of Venus, delighting in bodily love, Ishtar was the protectress of prostitutes and the patroness of the alehouse. 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. Astarte (from Greek (Astrte)) is the name of a major goddess as known from Northwestern Semitic regions, cognate in name, origin and functions with the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian texts. Astarte may be Anat, Aphrodite, and/or Tanit. Phone Toll Free: 877-966-7300 or 816-584-3077, [This article continues after a message from the authors], These Articles are Written by the Publishers of, Amazing Bible Timeline with World History 2023. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. Corrections? Please confirm you want to block this member. A shrine of this goddess was found also in the city of Askelon in Philistia (Herodotus, i. Her name appears in the Old Testament (I Kings xi. The Assyrians and Babylonians pictured her caressing an suckling a smallchild. It "compels every woman of the land to sit in the temple . See you on the other side! Be respectful and considerate when invoking him and you will reap the benefits. Easter egg activities . ECUSA recommences Astarte-worship. Gay Christian 101 - Affirming God's glorious good news for all LGBTs. Rituals for summoning the, Read More My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available!Continue, What is Black Magic? Ahab, with his wife's encouragement, built a temple to Baal at his capital, Samaria. Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) :. In the Hebrew Bible, the worship of Astarte is repeatedly condemned, an indication that for at least some ancient Israelites, the cult of Astarte held great appeal. "Who Is Astarte?" Priestesses of this goddess, at least one order of them, performed as sacred prostitutes, lying with males who desired their services in ritual sexuality. 40-year journey in the wilderness, their Lord accompanied them, protected them, fed them, and guided them to the Promised Land. In art and texts, Ishtar is depicted supporting favored rulers in battle. Erotic temple rites and sacred prostitution were central to her veneration. lxv. Devotion to the goddess Tanit/Tinnit, a permutation of Astarte, took place in Mediterranean cave sanctuaries and on Phoenician ships. 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. 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. By the eighth century Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ's resurrection.". In Israel, several figurines of the goddess were discovered, and she was presented has having two horns. Hail Astaroth!. x. These female figurines are associated with domestic religious rituals. more. Astarte (also Ashtart, Ashtoreth) In ancient Phoenicia, the great Goddess of fertility, motherhood and war. Moreover, Ashteroth was a fertility goddess from Canaan, and the horns were used as a symbol of the mountain peaks in the land. She was associated with the moon and called the Mother of the Universe, giver of all life on Earth. Cleitarchus, an ancient historian, around 315 BC, gives this description of a fire god at Carthage. 6:13). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. No wonder God's anger burned against his people and their leaders. This is the site where the original Tammuz died. A deity of fertility and sexuality, Astarte eventually evolved into the Greek Aphrodite thanks to her role as a goddess of sexual love. KJV, Jeremiah 3:6, "When Josiah was king of Judah, the LORD said to me, "Jeremiah, you have What Are The Names of the Thieves Crucified With Christ. Abraham lived in the Negev desert, where God made his covenant of blood with him and sealed it with circumcision. Jeremiah (vii. When youre done, end the ritual along these lines: Thank you mighty Astaroth for lending me your powers and knowledge. In this act, the high priestess of Inanna would have intercourse with either the high priest or the king of the city. The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. This order of priestess was called Nin-Gig in Sumeria. The Israelites neglected to heed the Lord's warning not to compromise with idolaters. Basics Rituals and Ceremonies Sabbats and Holidays Wicca Gods Herbalism Wicca Traditions Wicca Resources for Parents Cake molds in the shape of horned Astarte dating from the seventeenth century BCE have been found near Nahariah, Israel. Wigington, Patti. Her traditional Phoenician offerings included clothing stained with menstrual blood. In Judges 2:13 & 10:6, 1 Samuel 7:3 & 4, 12:10 & 31:10, Ashtaroth refers to the ancient Canaanite fertility goddess, with a slightly different spelling than Ashtoreth. In a twelfth-century BCE hieratic papyrus, the goddess Neith ordered that Set be given Anat and Astarte as wives. But some demons have more power than others, and its often not clear what a certain demon, Read More 13 Best Demons to Summon (Summoning Rituals Included! Under the kings, this spiritual battle continued. In the book of Jeremiah, there is a verse referencing this female deity, and Yahwehs anger at the people who honor her: Among some fundamentalist branches of Christianity, there is a theory that Astartes name provides the origin for the Easter holiday which should, therefore, not be celebrated because it is held in honor of a false deity. She was also flanked by several sphinxes, and there was a bowl held just underneath her pierced breasts. ), Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah thundered that Yahweh alone deserved the people?s allegiance. It landed near Byblos in a lake at Alphaca. Sacred Marriage and Sacred Prostitution in Ancient Mesopotamia. We would do well to remember the complete powerlessness of the pagan gods, from Baal, Canaan's bloodthirsty fertility god, to Hades, Greek god of the underworld, to prevail against the one true God and his Son, Jesus Christ. In modern NeoPaganism, Astarte has been included in a Wiccan chant that is used to raise energy, calling upon Isis, Astarte,Diana,Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna.. 10:20-21), we can be sure these practices continued and were a temptation to many. 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.. Sometimes my clients are also not comfortable dealing with the spiritual world on their own or lack the necessary items and solitude to even conduct these rituals. It took the Assyrian destruction of Israel and the Babylonian Captivity of Judah to convince the Israelites that there is only one omnipotent God. 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. For many centuries before Israel entered the land of Palestine, 3:7). . Blame it on a woman and no ordinary woman at that a goddess. The Egyptians had a religion of duality and Seth was the opposite of three other major gods; Osiris, Horus and Ra. 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. The NET Bible on Leviticus 18:21, Note 30, says: "It could refer to either human sacrifice or a devotion of children to some sort of service of Molech, perhaps of a sexual sort (cf. He also has terrible breath. Blow out the candle and go into another room. Astarte is the Phenician name of the primitive Semitic mother-goddess, out of which the most important of the Semitic deities were developed. Like her Akkadian counterpart Itar, she is an astral deity and is associated with the evening star. 28, note). Hebrew culture viewed the sea as evil and destructive, so Baal?s promise to prevent storms and control the sea, as well as his ability to produce abundant harvests, made him attractive to the Israelites. Herodotus, however, is an unreliable reporter, which is why scholars debate the historicity of this practice. Astarte means the womb, the conceiving womb, or full womb and is a title for the goddess Anat, but it may also be a title for other goddesses associated with fertility or possibly a name for a completely independent spirit. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? Johanna H. Stuckey, University Professor Emerita, York University, says of Astarte. With this preliminary information in mind, here are the 2 best rituals for summoning Astaroth: The Candlelight Invocation Light a candle and turn off all the other lights Stare into the candlelight and quiet your mind Recite an invocation. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Possibly, their desert origins led them to question God's sovereignty over fertile land. It can be very difficult to distinguish between West Semitic spirits because of their tradition of addressing spirits by both a personal name and an honorific. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. 21.". One that I've used successfully is: "Hail Astaroth! But this didn't happen immediately. But, the mother goddess in the Ras Shamra texts appears as Anat, Athirat, and Athtart, or Astrate. Dionysus was worshiped in the pagan Decapolis across the Sea of Galilee from the center of Jesus' ministry. There stands in their midst a bronze statue of Kronos, its hands extended over a bronze brazier, the flames of which engulf the child. Astarte was worshipped from the Bronze Age through classical antiquity, and her name is particularly associated with her worship in the ancient Levant among the Canaanites and Phoenicians, though she was originally associated with Amorite cities like Ugarit and Emar, as well as Mari and Ebla. In Cyprus she was an ancient divinity with origins linked to the worship of the powers of life; a goddess of fertility who was worshiped on the island since the Iron Age, and whom the Cypriots presumably did not at that time call Aphrodite. Bibl. She guards women's reproductive health. English: Astarte, a Semitic goddess whose name appears in the Bible as Ashtoreth. When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astarte's temple as tribute and thanks. In Ashtoreths worship services, male worshipers had anal sex with priests and priestesses of the goddess. Shrine Prostitutes used sex to worship pagan gods, From Molech, Return To Gay Christian 101 Home Page. Clearly, though the names of the gods had changed, the people?s worship practices had not. We should remember that the early church was started in a culture soaking in the cults, rituals, and worship of pagan deities. My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available! Learn about covens and degree systems, initiation, Sabbat and Esbat rites, and other milestones such as handfastings, birth, and death. Close your eyes and let the energy youve received visualize itself as Astaroth. Ancient Assyrians and Babylonians portrayed her caressing a child. What Did Mesopotamians Eat In Ancient Civilization? Groves, hilltops, and caves; she had important temples in Beirut, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Malta, Cytherea, and Eryx (now Mount Erice, Sicily). [Scroll to the top] Israelite goddess worship The veneration of Asherah or asherah poles seems to have been fairly widespread in ancient Israel and Judah, and sometimes it was officially sanctioned.The Bible reports that during the days of King Josiah (sixth century B.C.E. To show her sovereignty, Astarte decided to place a bulls head on her own. The name "Baal" shows up seven times in Hosea (2:8, 2:13, 2:16, 2:17, 9:10, 11:2, 13:1); four of those ins . They may represent the goddess Asherah and were used, especially by women, in a "popular" form of worship distinct from the official worship of Yahweh. Instead, God intended to forbid Israel, His people, from practicing the same sex religious rites with which the ancient Canaanites worshiped their fertility goddess. Plutarch, AD 46-127, senior priest of the oracle at Delphi, gives this description of the fire god. Once youre ready to end the ritual, go back into the portal, up the stairways and walk around the dark citadel/cathedral CLOCKWISE 7 times, less or more. Many ancient peoples practiced magic. She is portrayed as a nude female, sometimes pregnant, with exaggerated breasts that she holds out, apparently as symbols of the fertility she promises her followers. Immense knowledge, power, protection from harm (invisibility) and hidden treasures are all within reach of those who form a good relationship with this unique entity. As early as 1450 BC, as they wandered in the wilderness, Israel was worshiping Moloch, even before they entered the land of Canaan. It was designed like an old fashioned pot-bellied stove, with the belly as the firebox. Tammuz also is her son/consort as he is with Ishtar. Tammuz is identified as her son/consort, as he is with Ishtar. Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry? In Phoenicia, several states including Byblos, Tyre and Sidon were among the centers of worship for Astarte. Artemis, the goddess of childbirth and fertility, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, continued the Asherah cults under a new name (Acts 19:35), but with worship practices that were as immoral as ever. 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. Deuteronomy 16:21. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Astaroth is particularly ambiguous since hes evolved from an ancient goddess, providing him/her with multiple forms of manifestation. 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. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. Phoenician religion was inspired by the powers and processes of nature. Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech - God's Old Testament rivals. She was, the ancient Phoenician great goddess of fertility, motherhood, and war, Astarte is the counterpart of the Babylonian goddess, And it is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the great. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 simply do not address modern gay and lesbian relationships. The Canaanites attributed this fertility to their god Baal,and that is where the Israelites problems began. Ive been conducting rituals for clients for many years. She is sometimes referred to as the Lady of the Date Clusters. It was discovered that Astarte was linked with the Uni-Astre of the Etruscans. Participation in these sects was highly secretive, and few details of their ceremonies survive. 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. Demon possession was a topic of much fascination. Amazing Bible Timeline with World History, http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/arc/profilecoin/html/religion.html>http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/arc/profilecoin/html/religion.html, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Astarte_(goddess)#mediaviewer/File:Dama_de_Galera_(M.A.N._Madrid)_01.jpg, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Astarte_(goddess)#mediaviewer/File:The_worship_of_Ashtoreth.jpg. According to TourEgypt.com, "In her Levantine homelands, Astarte is a battlefield goddess. When the Israelites entered Canaan, they found a land of farmers, not shepherds, as they had been in the wilderness. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. ( The first is the Assyrian crisis, discussed here. ) Canaanite religion, a fertility or nature religion, reflected the major concerns of the populace - increase and productivity.