This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Taylor, J. E. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Asherah, the Menorah and the Sacred Tree

Department of Religious Studies, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

Asherim were the cultic representations of the goddess Asherah found in association with mass ^ebôt at Canaanite high places. They are usually thought to have been wooden objects. However, new evidence may indicate that asherim were in fact living trees, cut and pruned into a particular cultic form. They were therefore both natural and artificial, both planted and made. If asherim were living trees they would have been fitting symbols for a goddess who personified the life principle. The shape of the Temple menorah, which appeared like a cut and pruned almond tree, may have been based on the form of an asherah, perhaps one associated in particular with Bethel.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?