”The ever-shining star”

Legend has it that Astarte came down to Earth as a fiery star, landing near Byblos in a lake at Alphaca. Astarte is one of the most ancient of the Middle-Eastern goddesses, and can be traced as far back in time as the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. She is closely identified with the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, Hathor and Isis in Egypt, Kali and Irdrani in India, Aphrodite and Demeter in Greek mythology, and Frøya in Norse mythology. The Hebrews worshipped her as goddess of the Sidonians.

Astarte was associated with the Moon and was called Mother of the Universe and the source of all life on Earth. She reigned over the light spirits, which people on Earth recognised as stars. From this we derive the name Astroarche: Queen of the Stars. It is also claimed that the word ”Easter” is derived from her name.

Syrian and Egyptian legends link Astarte to «The Black Madonna», and the celebration each year on 25 December of the virgin birth of the sun in preparation for the New Year. Astarte was often called ”The Heavenly Virgin.”

She is represented by many different symbols, reflecting her many characteristics:

The Star: Venus (represented by a star within a circle), a symbol of the Goddess of Light.
Crescent Moon: Femininity
Cow horns and the Sun: Symbol of the Great Mother
An Ox’s head: Symbol of fertility and sovereignty
Lotus: The lotus is held by the Great Mother by virtue of her embodiment as Moon Goddess. It is the flower of light, since the flower itself appears like fiery rays of sunlight, and the stem represents the umbilical cord. It possesses powers of fertility and creativity.
The Dove: The bearer of sacred wisdom