Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech - God's Old Testament rivals Reveal yourself in the flames before me! 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. In the Lemegeton, he appears as either a beautiful or an ugly angel, riding a dragon and holding a viper. Asherah was worshiped in various ways, including through ritual sex. 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. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech. Lucid dreaming most often occurs between 3 and 5 AM. The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca, Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses. As with many deities, offerings are an important component of honoring Astarte in ritual and prayer. "Archaeological and Inscriptional Evidence for Phoenician Astarte" pp The Akkadian Ishtar is also, to a greater extent, an astral deity, associated with the planet Venus. It is now unknown exactly how the Phoenicians comprehended her identity, which is unfortunate as they are most closely associated with herthe ones, as traders and master navigators, who carried her veneration (and statues) to their colonies in Europe, Africa, and islands in between. Now available on Amazon. 17, 18) and Ezekiel (viii. Symbols of Astarte include the dove, the sphinx, and the planet Venus. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. 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. Sacred prostitution involved temple priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar having ritual sex with male visitors to the temple, again releasing the divine fertile energy. 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 . Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in scripture, in 1 Kings 11:5 & 33, 2 Kings 23:13. 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. The pantheon in Phoenicia was generally ascribed to the Sanchuniathon. Raphael Patai, author of The Hebrew Goddess, suggests that these molds were used to form goddess-shaped cakes either to be burned on an altar or eaten by celebrants (perhaps an ancient precursor of the Catholic host). A few Biblical passages make a reference to the worship of a Queen of Heaven, who may have been Astarte. Astarte (or Ashtarte), Queen of Heaven Baal, El, Ruler of the . As with many deities, offerings are an important component of honoring Astarte in ritual and prayer. Throughout the Israelites? Hail Astaroth! 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. This is proved by the fact that Baalim and Ashtaroth are used several times (Judges x. Some devotees may have found the presence of a female divine figure compelling in an otherwise male-dominated religious environment. Sects that worship Dionysus and Aphrodite may be entirely hedonistic and include orgiastic rituals (such sects are often considered cults even by Neopagan standards). Moloch, The Ancient Pagan God Of Child Sacrifice - All That's Interesting Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the bible The history of Israel was inextricably linked to pagan worship, which God abhorred and prohibited his followers from having anything to do with. We should remember that the early church was started in a culture soaking in the cults, rituals, and worship of pagan deities. Astarte, Asherah and Ba alat Gebal, who were sent to Elus, eventually became his wives. When the Israelites entered Canaan, they found a land of farmers, not shepherds, as they had been in the wilderness. Rituals connected to the worship of Ishtar/Inanna include a Sacred Marriage in which a male ruler is identified with Dumuzi. 12). Sacred prostitution - Wikipedia Herodotus, however, is an unreliable reporter, which is why scholars debate the historicity of this practice. Good News Translation He worshiped Astarte, the goddess of Sidon, and Molech, the disgusting god of Ammon. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Astarte | Encyclopedia.com Her traditional Phoenician offerings included clothing stained with menstrual blood. Philip Schaff: New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge This is always a good rule to follow, regardless of the demon youre trying to summon. Astaroth is particularly ambiguous since hes evolved from an ancient goddess, providing him/her with multiple forms of manifestation. This was a trick that Epigeius made to Elus, although it failed to work. Ashtart, the Phoenician Great Goddess - Thalia Took a deeper walk-What were the child sacrifices, high places and Occultists still refer to the astral body as the invisible double. Moses met God in a burning bush in the desert, where he learned the greatness of God's name and received his commission to bring the Hebrews out of Egypt. She is everywhere the great female principle, answering to the Baal of the Canaanites and Phoenicians and to the Dagon of the Philistines. (worship of the god Hercules), I made a voyage to Tyre in Phoenicia, hearing there was a temple of . We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. One can readily see why God and Moses called this pagan religious practice and the sexual rites associated with it, abomination. The Torah condemns the worship of false deities, and the Hebrew people were occasionally punished for honoring Astarte and Baal. Astarte is a spirit of abundance, prosperity, love, sex, and war. The Greeks had oracles, shrines where gods supposedly communicated the future to priests and priestesses. 3:6,13; Ezek. Could the God who had led them out of Egypt and through the wilderness also provide fertile farms in the Promised Land? When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astarte's temple as tribute and thanks. My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available! Transvestism in Ancient Israel. The goddess was worshiped with sexual rituals that were condemned by the prophets of the Old Testament. Mesopotamian Governments: How Were They Structured? In 1894, French poet Pierre Louys published a volume of erotic poetry entitled Songs of Bilitis, which he claimed were written by a contemporary of the Greek poet Sappho. Therefore, it should be taken with the utmost seriousness. She was known in Arabia as "Athtar," and inBabylonia as "Ishtar." Her name appears in the Old Testament (I Kings xi. Despite God's repeated warnings, many Israelites continued engaging in worshiping a pagan god called Asherah as . Astaroth also encourages slothfulness and laziness so be sure to thank him and finish the ritual properly. [6] more. By the time of Ahab and Jezebel, the fertility cults appeared to have the official sanction of Israel's leaders. As for the land of Carthage, the goddess Tanit was worshipped along with Astarte. . 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. God spoke to his people on Mount Sinai and reestablished his covenant with them in the Ten Commandments. The Catholic Church slowly and gradually grafted these pagan customs on to the name and resurrection of Christ . As in Beirut, some coins depicted Astarte, along with Poseidon and Eshmun being praised together. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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 pagan goddess behind the holiday of 'Easter' - The Times of Israel A trace of this among the Hebrews appears in Deut. WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN - Loren Davis 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. Wigington, Patti. Gay Christian 101 - Presenting accurate biblical and historical info defending LGBT Christians from those who rip verses out of context to condemn. This angered Yahweh who complained to the prophet Jeremiah. 10) like the Assyrian "ilani u ishtarati" for "gods and goddesses.". Ishtars primary legacy from the Sumerian tradition is the role of fertility figure; she evolved, however, into a more complex character, surrounded in myth by death and disaster, a goddess of contradictory connotations and forcesfire and fire-quenching, rejoicing and tears, fair play and enmity. 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. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! Who Is Astarte? Fire gods like Moloch and his fertility goddess consort, Ashtoreth, were not religious fantasies. Astarte is a fierce warrior goddess and the goddess of sexual love (eros) and fertility. Asherah was honored as the fertility goddess in various forms and with varying names (Judg. 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. 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. Astaroth is the teacher of all the sciences especially skilled in the liberal sciences. 5; II Kings xxiii. This is the site where the original Tammuz died. 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. What Did Mesopotamians Eat In Ancient Civilization? Answer Asherah, or Ashtoreth, was the name of the chief female deity worshiped in ancient Syria, Phoenicia, and Canaan. Because the Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, recognized the reality of the demonic world and condemned all of its practices (Deut. Hail Astaroth! Groves, hilltops, and caves; she had important temples in Beirut, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Malta, Cytherea, and Eryx (now Mount Erice, Sicily). Occultist.net shares information on magic, witchcraft and alternative spirituality. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). Johanna H. Stuckey, University Professor Emerita, York University, says of Astarte. a fire god worshiped throughout the ancient near East and North Africa, by Canaanites and Philistines, Arameans and Semitic peoples and later, Phoenicians. And their pagan worship snared some of the children of Israel. Instead, God intended to forbid Israel, His people, from practicing the same sex religious rites with which the ancient Canaanites worshiped their fertility goddess. Elath, literarily Lady, is a title for the spirit named Asherah. Baal, worship, worshipping, idols, fertility, cults, canaan, asherah, pagan, [Hebrew Mind], 1 Kings 14:23-24, 2 Kings 16:4, 2 Kings 17:10, Acts 13:6, Acts 19:35, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:2-3, Deuteronomy 12:20, Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:10, Ezekiel 6:13, Isaiah 65:1-5, Judges 3:7, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:13, Luke 8:31, Matthew 16:18, Numbers 3:11-13. Baal has also been portrayed seated on a throne, possibly as the king or lord of the gods. Astarte is a spirit of abundance, prosperity, love, sex, and war. The Ancient Pagan Origins of Easter | Ancient Origins Note that Lent is a moveable observance, connected to and preceding the festival of Easter. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? We need to learn from Israel's experience and respond to Jesus' command for total allegiance. According to the New Unger's Bible Dictionary: "The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. Gay Christian 101 - Affirming God's glorious good news for all LGBTs. The issue with God was not committed faithful non-cultic sexual relationships or gay marriages between two men or two women. vii. God repeatedly commanded the Old Testament. Two of the centers of Seth's worship were at Ombos and Avaris. Bibliography: J. Selden, De dis Syris, ii, 2, London, 1617; F. Mnter, Die Religion der Carthager, pp. 72-91; Budde, "Religion of Israel," ch. This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. She also wandered around the world, and she was noted to have picked up a fallen star or a meteorite and placed it at Tyre. Although she was believed to be Baal's mother, she was also his mistress. 65:1-5 for an example of Israel's participating in the pagan practices of the Canaanites.) As mother goddess she was widely worshiped throughout Syria and Palestine, although she was frequently paired with Baal, who often took the place of El; as Baal's consort, Asherah was usually given the name Baalat. . 1 Kings 11:5 - Bible Hub Some 1450 years after Leviticus, the Apostle Paul references pagan worship in Romans 1:26-27, when he blasts the same kind of fertility goddess worship in first century Rome. Separating Fact from Myth: Asherah and Idol Worship. 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. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/who-is-astarte-2561500. Place your hand with a silver ring under your nose. Cleitarchus, an ancient historian, around 315 BC, gives this description of a fire god at Carthage. Therefore, Astaroth has revealed himself to many magicians as a beautiful women instead. Cake molds in the shape of horned Astarte dating from the seventeenth century BCE have been found near Nahariah, Israel. One way we can accomplish this is to study the gods that attracted Yahweh's people 3,000 years ago. Baal, Ashtoreth and Molech - God's Old Testament rivals. God specifically appointed the tribe of Levi as his special servants, in place of the firstborn of the Israelites, so they had no excuse for offering their children (Num. The name astarte means the queen of stars. Dionysus was worshiped in the pagan Decapolis across the Sea of Galilee from the center of Jesus' ministry. But let our friendship extend beyond the limitations oftime and space. Pan was depicted as an ugly man with the horns, legs, and ears of a goat. 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. Moloch worship is essentially identical with worship of Chemosh of Moab, Cronus-Kronos of Carthage and Melkart-Melqart of Tyre. How Long In Prison? The problem is a difficult one, the references to the cult in the Old Testament being so few and so vague. Her other counterparts are Isis and Hathor of Egypt, Kali of India and Aphrodite and Demeter of Greece. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Hebrews first learned Baal worship from the agricultural Canaanites. mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot." She was also flanked by several sphinxes, and there was a bowl held just underneath her pierced breasts. But not by those who do not believe this was the date of Christs birth, and say the exact date is unknown. 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. Wigington, Patti. Remember that in Mesopotamia, agriculture held primary importance and keeping the land fertile required many religious observances. The general name, used throughout Palestine and in the Bible, for this type of fire god, was Baal. Omissions? Blind Spot: A Tale of Two Babylons Historical Blindness Astaroth often appears as either a beautiful or an ugly angel or prince, riding a dragon and holding a snake in his left hand. 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. prostitute to other gods." 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. Rituals and Ceremonies Wiccans and Pagans have a number of rituals and celebrations. the lady of the mountain. She was the consort of the chief deity El and the mother of 70 other gods. But regardless of the appearance of the demon, the behavior, benefits and the dangers associated will the demon will be similar in every case. Transvestism in Ancient . Tammuz is identified as her son/consort, as he is with Ishtar. 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! It is best to understand these rituals as a religious act of devotion to the goddess rather than as sex per se. In a twelfth-century BCE hieratic papyrus, the goddess Neith ordered that Set be given Anat and Astarte as wives. Pagan Rituals in Episcipal Church | Baptist Christian Forums Solomon followed Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians) and Milcom (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). Melech, Mo-lech, Milcom, Melkom, Moloch, Molek, Malec, Malik, Melek, Malkum, Melqart, Melkart, Milk, Melqarth, Kronos, Cronus. There is evidence that Ishtar and Astarte were worshiped at Paphos in the early Iron Age and were brought, so to speak, to the island by the Phoenicians along with the Egyptian cult of Hathor, who may also have been identified with Aphrodite (see Hatton-Brown, 1997 p.64-6). After all, secular prostitutes plied their trade in Mesopotamian cities as well. Phoenician Goddess of Fertility and Sexual Pleasure. Beelzebub, based on the Philistine god Baalzebul, had become a synonym for the prince of demons, Satan. 18; xliv. What did Paul mean when he used the Greek word arsenokoitai? Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577) :. When his time is up and he returns from the underworld in springtime, he joyously mates with Inanna and the land reawakens. Contains spam, fake content or potential malware. In their forty years of wilderness wandering and backsliding, wicked stony-hearted rebellious Israel chose the wrong god and the wrong tabernacle. There was no doubt that Yahweh was God of the wilderness. In Phenician Colonies. And if Astarte is not close . There stands in their midst a bronze statue of Kronos, its hands extended over a bronze brazier, the flames of which engulf the child. In the many myths and stories involving Inanna in ancient Mesopotamia, Inanna does not appear as either wife or mother. There is one thing they all have in common: the desire for fast or immediate results through magical means, rather than having to practice for weeks, months or even years before receiving the results through their own practice. Maybe, to be safe, they should worship both;Yahweh and Baal. This practice became the basis for religious prostitution (1 Kings 14:23-24). When youre done, end the ritual along these lines: Thank you mighty Astaroth for lending me your powers and knowledge. Idolatry always included sex worship of false gods. Many sorcerers claimed to have the ability to cast out demons (Acts 8:9-24, 13:6-12), as did some Pharisees. Under the kings, this spiritual battle continued. Astarte is mentioned nine times in the Jewish Bible. One of the most unusual practices Herodotus details is the that of sacred prostitution, which he observes in the ancient city of Babylon. No wonder God's anger burned against his people and their leaders. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). How to do Black Magic: Full Guide (Spells, Curses, Protection Circle..), Obtain knowledge and secrets on any topic that requires study and research. That's a great question because Paul could have used many words if he intended to blast gays and lesbians. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. , dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Asteroid Astarte Astrology - UPDATED 2023 - A Complete Guide A beautiful, sexy woman sometimes depicted with a Hathor-style hairdo. The book of Judges records the ongoing struggle: the Israelites attraction to, and worship of, the Canaanite gods; God's disciplinary response; the people's repentance; and God's merciful forgiveness until the next time the Israelites reached for Baal instead of Yahweh. Many of the gods they worshiped, however, were localized and are now known only under their local names. Repeat for as many times as you think is necessary. In Ashtoreths worship services, male worshipers had anal sex with priests and priestesses of the goddess. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. As the practice was recounted only in literature, it is unclear whether it was purely symbolic or an actual reenactment. The name Attart is a feminine form of the name Attar, a god known from Ugarit and South Arabian sources, and associated with the morning star. 28, note). For example, sects that worship Hera and/or Themis may include worship of Aphrodite, but encourage monogamy and stress her role in committed relationships and marriage. All the while, prophets like Elijah (which means ? Part of her cult worship probably included temple prostitution. In her earliest manifestations she was associated with the storehouse and thus personified as the goddess of dates, wool, meat, and grain; the storehouse gates were her emblem. 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. 10:20-21), we can be sure these practices continued and were a temptation to many. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 'Sacred Prostitution': An ancient tradition based on respect for the It is best to understand these rituals as a religious act of devotion to the goddess rather than as sex per se. 1-74; W. Robertson Smith, Religion of the Semites, Index. 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.. Light a candle and turn off all the other lights, Stare into the candlelight and quiet your mind. Sacred Marriage But, the mother goddess in the Ras Shamra texts appears as Anat, Athirat, and Athtart, or Astrate. After all, secular prostitutes plied their trade in Mesopotamian cities as well. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Is Easter a Revised Version of Baal and Ashtaroth Worship - Hedgerow Hire me to perform an Astaroth ritual for you: 13 Best Demons to Summon (Summoning Rituals Included! In Sicily, Astarte became popular as the Venus Erycina of the Romans. In this act, the high priestess of Inanna would have intercourse with either the high priest or the king of the city. Astarte Astarte was the fertility goddess of the Phoenicians, as well as the goddess of sexual love, war, and the evening star. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. In Phoenicia, several states including Byblos, Tyre and Sidon were among the centers of worship for Astarte. 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. The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. Eventually, Astarte and Hadad were given the right by Elus to reign over the land. up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a In 1974, the sociologist Peter Berger wrote what has come to be a well-known piece on the secularization of society, and the loss of the sacred. 105), in which the armor was hung after the battle of Gilboa (I Sam. The "Sunrise Service" is still an intragal part of Easter today. Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. Ashtoreth and the queen of heaven. 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. The people of Israel developed their faith in the wilderness. then. Obtain a deeper knowledge of magic with my latest book The Psy-Mage Compendium. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. In art and texts, Ishtar is depicted supporting favored rulers in battle. By the fourth century BCE, kings of the Phoenician city-state Sidon served as priests of Astarte; their wives were her priestesses. Astaroth is a grand duke and treasurer of Hell and commands 40 Legions of Demons. Astarte was very popular in Old Testament times and traveled far and wide, starting up in business all over the place with the help of her consort and . 4, 18, where the lambs are called the "ashtarot" of the flock. In this manifestation her symbol is a star with 6, 8, or 16 rays within a circle. Both of these sacred sexual practices existed for thousands of years in Mesopotamia. According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, "Ashtaroth, the plural form of the goddesss name in Hebrew, became a general term denoting goddesses and paganism.". Alternatively, she is horned. She guards womens reproductive health. The second major background factor that we need to grasp somewhat to read Hosea well is the worship of the Canaanite god Baal(s). In the Sacred Marriage, humans took the place of the gods in religious rituals devoted to fertility. Molech was a false god of ancient Canaan. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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.