Ashtoreth

Ashtoreth, also known as Astarte or Ishtar, is an ancient goddess associated with fertility, sexuality, and love in various Near Eastern cultures, including Canaanite and Phoenician religions. She was often worshiped through rituals that emphasized fertility and the renewal of life. In the Hebrew Bible, Ashtoreth is mentioned as a pagan deity whom the Israelites were warned against worshiping, as her worship practices often involved sexual rites and idol offerings. She symbolizes both feminine power and the dangers of idol worship in ancient religious history.