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Updated: June 23, 2025
It was dedicated especially to the worship of the Syrian goddess, Ashtoreth or Venus, sometimes called Beltis or Baaltis, whose orgies were of so disgracefully licentious a character that they were at last absolutely forbidden by Constantine. At present there are no remains on the ancient site except one or two ruins of edifices decidedly Roman in character.
Her words seemed to come of themselves, and she almost physically felt herself withdraw from the responsibility of what this other material Rosella Beltis was saying. "I don't know," said the other Rosella. "I should not care to say so soon. You see there are so many manuscripts. I generally trust to the first impression on the second reading."
Strength of the religious sentiment among the Phoenicians Proofs First stage of the religion, monotheistic Second stage, a polytheism within narrow limits Worship of Baal of Ashtoreth of El or Kronos of Melkarth of Dagon of Hadad of Adonis of Sydyk of Esmun of the Cabeiri of Onca of Tanith of Beltis Third stage marked by introduction of foreign deities Character of the Phoenician worship Altars and sacrifice Hymns of praise, temples, and votive offerings Wide prevalence of human sacrifice and of licentious orgies Institution of the Galli Extreme corruption of the later religion Views held on the subject of a future life Piety of the great mass of the people earnest, though mistaken.
Beltis, indeed, in Babylonia, was distinct from Ishtar; but this fact must not be regarded as any sufficient proof that the case was the same in Phoenicia. The Phoenician polytheism was decidedly more restricted than the Babylonian, and did not greatly affect the needless multiplication of divinities.
On a plain square pedestal about two feet in height was raised a solid block of limestone cut into the shape of an arched frame, and within this frame was carved the monarch in his sacerdotal dress, and with the sacred collar round his neck, while the five principal divine emblems were represented above his head. Another temple built by this monarch was one dedicated to Beltis at Nineveh.
Ishtar, a goddess of war and of love, was worshiped also under the name Beltis, the Greek Mylitta. This deity embodied the generative principle, the spring of fertility, whose beneficent agency was seen in the abundant harvest. She was clothed with sensual attributes, and propitiated with unchaste rites.
May Beltis of Gebal bless Jehavmelek, king of Gebal, and grant him life, and prolong his days and his years over Gebal, because he is a just king; and may the lady Beltis of Gebal obtain him favour in the sight of the Gods, and in the sight of the people of foreign lands, for ever!
Sometimes the relationship alleged is confused, and even contradictory, as in the case of Nin or Ninip, who is at one time the son, at another the father of Bel, and who is at once the son and the husband of Beltis. It is evident that the genealogical aspect is not that upon which much stress is intended to be laid, or which is looked upon as having much reality.
It was an especially holy city, devoted in the early times to the worship of Beltis, and in the later to that of Adonis. The position is marked beyond all reasonable doubt by the modern Jebeil, which retains the original name very slightly modified, and answers completely to the ancient descriptions.
But otherwise her epithets are vague and general, insomuch that she is often scarcely distinguishable from Beltis. She is called "the mistress of heaven and earth," "the great goddess," "the queen of all the gods," and again "the goddess of war and battle," "the queen of victory," "she who arranges battles," and "she who defends from attacks."
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