Astarte

Astarte was a middle-eastern deity known by a variety of names throughout the region, with the biblical Ashtaroth literally meaning "goddesses" due to the sheer number of different versions of her. She was a goddess of sex, war, fertility and motherhood, and was associated with cattle. Her association with cattle also led some to consider her a moon goddess due to the association between cattle horns and the crescent moon.Unknown. (1972). "Astarte, Ashtart, or Ashtoreth", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. p.84
== Legends ==
In early times, Astarte was offered sacrifices of fruits, new-born animals, and first-born children in an attempt to promote fertility. 
Worship of Astarte spread to Israel after the conquest of Canaan, as mentioned in the biblical Book of Judges and Books of Samuel, and the Philistines also adopted her worship. 
Worship of her spread from Phoenicia across the Mediterranean, to Greece, Rome, Malta, and Sicily, and even beyond the Mediterranean as far as Britain. The cult of Atargatis was a powerful religious entity in Syria, and seems to have subsumed worship of other aspects of this deity in the area. Her overall influence and the spread of her religion throughout the classical world has led to her being identified with a number of other fertility goddesses, such as Aphrodite, Danu, Freya, Hathor, and Indrani.
As well as the cow being her sacred animal in Phoenicia, in Mecca the gazelle was considered sacred to her, and in Eryx the dove and myrtle were considered sacred to her.
== Appearance ==
In Arbela, she wore a robe of flames, and was armed with a sword and bow. In Assyria and Babylonia, she is often depicted caressing or blessing a child held in her left hand. 
== See Also ==
* Ishtar
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Gods