Astarte — Goddess of Love & War
Love and war might seem like conflicting concepts to us mere mortals. But not to the Canaanite goddess, Astarte. Today we explore her historical roots and the depiction of her fictional counterpart in the YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe.
Who is Astarte and What Are Her Origins?
Astarte, known as Ashtart in Phoenician and Ashtoreth in Hebrew, originated from Near Eastern mythology. She was a prominent deity associated with love, war, and fertility. Astarte is often equated with the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar due to their similar attributes of sensuality, fertility, and combat prowess. Her worship spread across the Levant, including cities like Sidon, Tyre, and Byblos, making her one of the most significant goddesses in the ancient Near East
Astarte’s Integration into Egyptian Mythology
Astarte's integration into Egyptian mythology occurred during the New Kingdom period, particularly from the 18th Dynasty onwards. Egypt's interactions with Canaan and other Levantine cultures facilitated this cultural exchange. Pharaohs like Amenhotep II mentioned Astarte in inscriptions, highlighting her protective role in battles, especially regarding chariots and horses. Over time, she was syncretized with Egyptian deities such as Isis and Hathor. By the time of Ramesses II, Astarte had become a prominent goddess in Egypt and even earned herself a main temple in the new capital city of Per-Ramesses.
Astarte’s Role & Significance in Egyptian Culture
In Egyptian mythology, Astarte was revered as a warrior goddess, often depicted riding a horse and wielding weapons. She was associated with the protection of pharaohs in battle and was sometimes seen as a consort to the god Set, especially in tales like The Contendings of Horus and Set. Although her sexual aspects were less emphasized compared to her Canaanite origins, she retained her roles connected to love and fertility.
Astarte in Treasures of Egypt
Spoiler Warning: This section contains minor world-building spoilers!
In Treasures of Egypt: The Spear and the Scythe, Astarte’s portrayal is influenced by her depiction in Egyptian mythology. For example, she is acknowledged as a former wife of Set, causing tension with his main wife Nephthys. She is also presented as a formidable warrior with whom Set fell in love during his time in Canaan because of her might and ferocity. Additionally, she is recognized as a goddess of love, introducing her as a being who views the passion of love and the violence of war as two sides of the same coin.
The novel also introduces the concept of a “divine essence,” which is a god’s ability to extract a part of their soul and transform it into an animal that can act on behalf of the god. Astarte’s divine essence in the book is a horse called Ishtar, which is both a nod to her mythological ties to horses and to her Mesopotamian name.
Conclusion
Astarte's journey from Canaan to the Egyptian pantheon illustrates the fluidity and interconnectedness of ancient cultures that I hope I was able to represent in my YA fantasy debut, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe.
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