New Evidence for Asherata/Asherah

Bibliographic Data

ID3211476
AuthorsRichard S He (0000-0002-9488-6767, Denver Seminary, 6399 S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120, USA), Richard S Hess (Denver Seminary, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume16
Issue4
Pages397
Publication date2025-03-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel16040397
OpenAlexW4408690195
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited32

This paper examines the appearance of published West Semitic spellings of the name of the deity commonly referred to as Asherah. In light of new evidence from the Bronze Age Amorite sources, as well as the complete publication of the inscriptions at Kuntillet ʿAjrud, a review of the analysis and discussion concerning the identification of the deity is undertaken. The purpose will be to ascertain the significance of the witness of epigraphic Hebrew texts at Kuntillet ʿAjrud and Khirbet el-Qom in light of earlier Bronze Age evidence, the biblical attestations, the conceptualization of deity, and the understanding of Iron Age epigraphic Hebrew spellings of the feminine singular suffix, as well as pronominal suffixes. The more complete availability of textual witnesses provides a foundation on which to argue the degree of continuity across more than a thousand years of the appearance of the deity in the West Semitic world

Ancient Near East History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Psychology

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