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Asherah was an ancient West Semitic goddess of motherhood and fertility, consort to the chief god El in Ugaritic texts, and a deity worshipped by ancient Israelites and their Canaanite neighbors. The term "asherah" (or "asherim" in plural) in the Hebrew Bible can also refer to cultic, tree-like wooden objects associated with the goddess. These "asherah poles" were used in her worship, which was frequently prohibited and condemned by biblical prophets.
The goddess Asherah
Role: A mother goddess, wife of the chief god El, and mother of 70 gods in Ugaritic mythology.
Associated symbols: Sacred trees, lions, and serpents.
Worship: Worshipped in Canaanite and other Northwest Semitic cultures, sometimes also identified as the consort of the Israelite God Yahweh.
The Asherah pole
Description: A carved, wooden cult object, often in the shape of a tree or stylized woman.
Biblical context: The Bible frequently commands the destruction of asherah poles, which were symbols of pagan worship.
Controversy: Some scholars debate whether the biblical term "asherah" refers solely to the goddess, solely to the pole, or to both, as they are often intertwined in the text and associated imagery.
Evidence and interpretation
Archaeological evidence: Excavations in Israel and Judah have uncovered numerous female figurines from the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, which archaeologists interpret as depictions of Asherah.
Textual evidence: Passages in the Bible explicitly mention Asherah as a goddess with prophets and temple objects, such as 1 Kings 18:19, which notes that she had prophets in Tyre.