Astarte

Astarte - chief female deity of the ancient Phoenicians, Syrians, Carthaginians.  Astarte was a Syrian moon goddess of fertility.  As Ashteroth she was worshipped by the Jews in times when idolatry was prevalent in Palestine: "Ashtoreth, the abomination of the Zidonians" (II Kings, 23:13), the Zidonians being the Phoenicians.  Jeremiah called Ashtoreth the "queen of heaven."  The Greeks borrowed their Aphrodite from Astarte.  Finally, Astarte shows up, in occult lore, as the demon for the month of April.  In Paradise Lost (I, 438), Astarte is a fallen angel, equated with Astoreth.  [Rf. Redfield, Gods/A Dictionary of the Deities of All Lands; De Plancy, Dictionnaire Infernal IV, 138; and near-Eastern mythologies.] (a)

Astoreth - in Paradise Lost I, 438, Astoreth is a fallen angel.  She is equated with Astarte. (a)

Astarte - grand duke, and treasurer, of Hell (c)

Astarte: (as-star'-tee) (also Ishtar) the spouse of Baal; a symbol of fertility.  The biblical writers denounced the worship of "Astartes" (Judg 2.13), which translates the Hebrew word Ashtoreth, a plural form of the goddess' name. (d)

Astarte, which seems to be derived from "sheepfold" or "flock, herd," is the name of a goddess of the Sidonians, who was worshipped by Solomon [1 Kings 11; 2 Kings 23].  Many think her to have been Sidonian Venus. (w)

(a) "The Dictionary of Angels" by Gustav Davidson, © 1967

(c) "Fallen Angels...and Spirits of the Dark" by Robert Masello ©1994.  (p. 224)

(d) The Access Bible.  New Revised Standard Version.  Oxford University Press.  ©1999

(w)  "Witches, Devils, and Doctors in the Renaissance.  Johann Weyer, De praestigiis daemonum" General Editor: George Mora, M.D.  Translated by:  John Shea.  Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies.  Binghamton, New York.  ©1991  Original text written in 1583.

***I made photocopies of portions of this text but neglected to photocopy the footnotes.  If I can find another copy of the book I will add the footnotes.*****