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; 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

That self-styled reputation for being with it is amply justified by the success of such signature works as the multimedia Astarte and Trinity, still the best and brightest of rock ballets.

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

Ashtoreth is Ishtar or woman, the Star in more senses than one; the Phœnicians call her Astarte, but the ‘present Mendean form is Ashtar,’ and the plural Ashtaroth.

From Fishes, Flowers, and Fire as Elements and Deities in the Phallic Faiths and Worship of the Ancient Religions of Greece, Babylon, by Anonymous