Asherah

Names:

• Queen of Heaven
• Mother of the Gods
• Athirat, especially in Ugaritic texts
• Assyria

Asherah in Ancient Near Eastern Religion:

Origins and Associations:

Asherah is a prominent goddess in the ancient Canaanite religion, where she is often considered the consort of the chief god, El.

She is associated with fertility, motherhood, and the nurturing aspects of nature, symbolized by trees and groves.

She is sometimes called Athirat, especially in Ugaritic texts, where she is portrayed as the wife of El and the mother of seventy gods.

Link: Ad-, Atl-, At-, Atlantis

Iconography and Worship:

Asherah was represented by wooden poles or trees, known as Asherah poles (Hebrew: אשרה), which were often placed near altars.

Her worship included rituals and offerings aimed at ensuring fertility and prosperity.

Asherah in the Hebrew Bible:

Biblical References:

The Hebrew Bible mentions Asherah several times, often in a negative context. She is associated with idolatry and foreign worship practices that the prophets condemned.

Asherah poles are frequently mentioned as objects to be destroyed in efforts to purify Israelite worship (e.g., Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 16:21, Judges 3:7).

King Solomon and Asherah:

King Solomon is said to have built high places for Asherah and other deities due to the influence of his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:5).

This inclusion of Asherah in Israelite worship was seen as a departure from exclusive worship of YHWH.

Reforms of Kings:

Kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah are noted for their religious reforms, which included the destruction of Asherah poles and other elements of polytheistic worship (2 Kings 18:4, 23:4-7).

Relationship with Yahweh:

Possible Consort Relationship:

Some scholars propose that Asherah may have been considered a consort of Yahweh in early Israelite religion, based on archaeological findings and ancient inscriptions.

Inscriptions from Kuntillet Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom (8th century BCE) mention “Yahweh and his Asherah,” suggesting that she might have been venerated alongside Yahweh.

Syncretism and Cultural Influence:

The presence of Asherah in Israelite worship reflects the syncretism that occurred as Israelite religion evolved, influenced by surrounding Canaanite and other Near Eastern cultures.

As monotheism became more firmly established, efforts were made to eradicate these syncretic elements and focus exclusively on the worship of Yahweh.

Prophetic Condemnation:

Prophets such as Jeremiah and Hosea condemned the worship of Asherah and other deities, calling for a return to the exclusive worship of Yahweh.

These condemnations often highlight the conflict between the older polytheistic practices and the emerging monotheistic faith.

Archaeological Evidence:

Artifacts and Inscriptions:

Numerous artifacts, such as figurines, inscriptions, and temple remains, provide evidence of Asherah’s worship in ancient Israel and Judah.

These findings illustrate the widespread nature of her veneration and the complexity of early Israelite religion.

Asherah	YHWH
Worshiped alongside Baal	Worshiped as the sole deity of Israel
Associated with fertility	Associated with law, justice, and covenant
Represented by Asherah poles	Represented by the Ark of the Covenant
Condemned by prophets	Supported by prophets
Rituals involving trees and groves	Rituals involving altars and sacrifices
Venerated as the “Queen of Heaven”	Called the “Lord God” or “YHWH”
Influenced by Canaanite religion	Central to Israelite monotheism
Linked to consort imagery with El	Emphasized as singular, without consort
Destroyed during King Josiah’s reforms	Centralized worship in Jerusalem Temple
Found in Ugaritic texts as Athirat	Found in Hebrew scriptures
Female figurines and idols	Prohibition against idols (Second Commandment)

Conclusion:

Asherah represents a significant aspect of ancient Near Eastern religion and highlights the complex relationship between polytheistic practices and the development of monotheism in ancient Israel.

Her association with Yahweh, though controversial and often suppressed in later religious reforms, provides insight into the syncretic nature of early Israelite worship and the cultural transitions that shaped the Hebrew Bible and later Jewish and Christian traditions.

Asherah is mentioned in several places in the Hebrew Bible, often in the context of condemning her worship or associated practices. Here are some key references:

“Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.”

Exodus 34:13

“Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 16:21

“The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.”

Judges 3:7

“And the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the Lord’s anger by making Asherah poles.”

1 Kings 14:15

“Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.”

1 Kings 16:33

“Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 18:19

“But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.”

2 Kings 13:6

“He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)”

2 Kings 18:4

“The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Asherah and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. He did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts. He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the Lord to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people. He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the temple of the Lord, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.”

2 Kings 23:4-7

“The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger.”

Jeremiah 7:18

These references provide a picture of Asherah worship within ancient Israel and the efforts by various leaders and prophets to suppress it in favor of exclusive worship of Yahweh. For further reading, you might also look into scholarly works on ancient Israelite religion and archaeology, such as:

• “The Hebrew Goddess” by Raphael Patai
• “Did God Have a Wife?: Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel” by William G. Dever

These works delve deeper into the archaeological and textual evidence surrounding Asherah and her place in ancient Israelite religion.

Channeling Asherah

Mercury

exploration of Ashira (also known as Asherah), focusing on her significance in ancient Canaanite religion and her legacy. Here’s a summary of the key points:

Identity and Significance:

Ashira is referred to as the Queen of Heaven, mother of creation, and consort to the storm god Baal.

She is also known by several titles including Mistress of All Lands, Mother of Gods, Mother of the Sea, and Mistress of War.

Role in Canaanite Religion:

Worshiped as a mother goddess and protector, she played a crucial role in the Canaanite pantheon.

Ashira was considered the consort of the chief god El and was seen as the mother to 70 gods.

Her worship was widespread among the Canaanites and Israelites, with her symbols and images found in various temples and artifacts.

Archaeological and Textual Evidence:

Mentioned in ancient Ugaritic texts dating back before 1200 BC, which were discovered in Ugarit, Syria.

Evidence from Kuntillet Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom (archaeological sites in Israel) indicates her association with Yahweh, suggesting she was worshiped as his consort.

Ashira is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in connection with sacred trees or poles, indicating her integration into Israelite worship.

Biblical References and Suppression:

Ashira is referenced 40 times in the Old Testament, often negatively, as part of efforts to suppress her worship in favor of monotheism.

Kings Hezekiah and Josiah led campaigns to eradicate her worship by destroying her symbols and altars.

Despite these efforts, Ashira’s worship persisted for a considerable time, reflecting her deep-rooted significance in the culture.

Cultural and Religious Practices:

Her worship included ritual prostitution, which was condemned by Israelite priests and contributed to her marginalization.

Sacred prostitution was a part of fertility rites in the ancient world, believed to bring blessings and fertility to the land.

Connections to Other Cultures:

Ashira’s worship extended to ancient Egypt, where she was identified with the goddess Qetesh, known as the Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the Gods.

Legacy and Modern Relevance:

The transcript emphasizes Ashira’s enduring legacy and the importance of recognizing her role in history.

It challenges dominant narratives and patriarchal biases, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of the divine feminine.

Modern rituals for connecting with Ashira involve invoking her epithets, lighting candles, burning incense, and offering cakes.

Pleiadian connection?

Paul Wallis discusses the figure of Asherah in ancient religious contexts, particularly within Hebrew and surrounding ancient cultures. Here’s a summary of the key points related to Asherah:

Role in Hebrew Texts:

Asherah appears in ancient Hebrew texts alongside other powerful entities like Baal.

These texts had to be edited to present a seamless narrative of Yahweh as the sole God.

Archaeological Evidence:

Excavations at Tell el-Farah revealed artifacts, including carvings and figurines, indicating the worship of Asherah.

A significant find was a carving of a naus (doorway) flanked by symbols of Asherah, suggesting a portal for advanced beings.

Attributes and Representation:

Asherah is depicted as an emphatically female entity with attributes like bare breasts, a vulva, and bouffant hair.

She is shown in carvings holding lions by the ears, emphasizing her power.

Cultural Significance:

Asherah was honored for teaching ancient humans agronomy, contributing to the Great Leap Forward in human civilization.

She was associated with nurturing and tutelage, credited with advancing agricultural knowledge.

Comparisons to Other Cultures:

Similar figures in other cultures include Zulu’s Barb Wanawarisa, Sumerian Shamhat, and Mesoamerican deities.

Asherah’s contributions are likened to those of other female deities across different ancient cultures.

Names and Symbols:

Asherah was known by various names, such as Astarte, Hathor, and the Lion Lady.

She is also associated with symbols like the olive tree, which persisted in Eastern Orthodoxy.

Historical Context:

Kings Hezekiah and Josiah reformed Judaism by removing worship practices related to Asherah and other deities.

These reforms aimed to centralize worship around Yahweh and eliminate other priesthoods.

Paleo Contact Theory:

The transcript suggests that Asherah and other deities represent advanced beings from other worlds who interacted with ancient humans.

This theory is supported by symbolic interpretations of archaeological findings and ancient texts.

Astronomical Connections:

Asherah is linked to the Pleiades star cluster, indicated by symbols found at Tell el-Farah.

This connection aligns with similar narratives in other cultures that attribute advanced knowledge to beings from specific star systems.

Impact on Jewish Memory:

Despite reforms, memories of Asherah persisted in Jewish practices and texts.

Jeremiah and other biblical writers provide glimpses into the pre-reform religious landscape, where Asherah was widely venerated.