Astarte

American  

[a-stahr-tey, -tee] / æˈstɑr teɪ, -ti /

noun

1. an ancient Semitic deity, goddess of fertility and reproduction worshiped by the Phoenicians and Canaanites.

2. Also called chestnut clam.  Also called chestnut shell.  (lowercase) any of several marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Astarte, having a somewhat triangular, chestnut-brown shell.

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Astarte British  

/ æˈstɑːtɪ /

noun

1. a fertility goddess worshipped by the Phoenicians: identified with Ashtoreth of the Hebrews and Ishtar of the Babylonians and Assyrians

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Etymology

Origin of Astarte

First recorded in 1590–1600 Astarte for def. 1; from Latin Astartē, from Greek Astártē, from Hebrew ʿashtōreth, from Phoenician ʿashtart; cf. Ashtoreth ( def. ), Aphrodite

Example Sentences

These include the veneration of El, the head of the pantheon and often associated with Yahweh, and of Yahweh’s consort Asherah, the storm god Baal, the fertility goddess Astarte, and many others.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Bik spent so much of her spare time on duplicated images that last year she decided to leave her job as director of science at Astarte Medical in Foster City, California.

From Nature • May 12, 2020

This ascendant moment in Robert Joffrey's ballet Astarte appears on the cover of this issue almost exactly as it is seen by audiences.

From Time Magazine Archive

Though such ancient goddesses as Isis or Astarte are often invoked, most worship occurs in the name of a vague generic "Goddess," often depicted as Mother Earth or Gaia in line with environmental awareness.

From Time Magazine Archive

The inhabitants in the surrounding regions, however, still keep up many of their ancient customs and superstitions, and, in a modified way, Baal and Astarte are still worshipped.

From Turkey Peeps at Many Lands by Millingen, Julius R. Van