Atargatis
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Atargatis in the Bible?
Atargatis was a major deity worshipped in Syrian cities such as Hierapolis (Karnion) and Membij, and in Phoenician Ashkelon, typically depicted with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish. She functioned as a syncretic figure, equated by Greek observers with Aphrodite Urania and by Assyrian scholars with Ishtar.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Atargatis clarifies the complex religious landscape of the ancient Near East, illustrating how local deities were integrated into broader imperial pantheons and how foreign cults influenced the religious practices of neighboring regions, including those encountered in biblical narratives.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Atargatis in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Atargatis clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.