Tower of Babel

[Gen. 11:1] And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
[11:9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
The whole earth was of one language. The descendants of Noah, united by the strong bond of a common language, had not separated, and notwithstanding the divine command to replenish the earth, were unwilling to separate. The more pious and well-disposed would of course obey the divine will; but a numerous body, seemingly the aggressive horde mentioned 10:10, determined to please themselves by occupying the fairest region they came to.
It was not built to reach the Father in heaven but to their idols. Seven layers, each layer a different color; and a top layer for a chapel.
1. Layer was black and called Saturn. Saturn is the most beautiful planet through a telescope and it is the 6th planet from earth, the number 6 being the number of man. A combination of 6’s represented satan. On this layer they worship chiefly the idol called Rephan which the Hebrews called an abomination. They were to carry small images on their journeys and into war of the idol.
2. Layer was orange and called Jupiter represented the light of the sky, worshiping Zeus that was represented as a thunder bolt. Garlands of flowers were place on the horns of animals used for sacrifices.
Jupiter’s father was Saturn, which he over throw and his sons were Pluto and Neptune. His family was known as Olympics, he was handsome, bearded man that was accompanied by an eagle.
In Acts 14:12-13 they thought Barabbas was Jupiter coming to pay them a visit, because he was a large, aged, bearded man.
3. Layer was red and called Mars which was represented by war.
4. Layer was golden and called the Sun this is where Marduk was worshiped who was a form of the sun-god who carried people to heaven. The main festival for him was at the new year.
5. Layer was yellow and called Venus which was known as the morning star because they worship the stars and astrology.
6. Layer was dark blue and called Mercury who the son of Jupiter and father of Pan. He wore a wing cap and winged sandals, known as the swift messenger, carrying a short sword. Is interest was the purse, merchandize. They thought Paul was Mercury because he was a small, young man with eloquent speech like Mercury.
7. Layer was silver and called Moon that worship deity was Ishtar who also was also known as Astarte to the Greeks, and Ashtoreth to the Jews, Iris to the Egyptians,, Aphrodite to the Grecians, and Venus to the Romans. Ishtar was a goddess of war as well as love, and was connected to both prostitutes’ and mothers. She was represented as a bearded Bi-sexual deity, and at other times a nude female. Her worshippers called her ‘the virgin,’ and ‘virgin mother’, not because she was pure; but simply meaning she was free from wedlock.
The top layer held the chapel that was for cult prostitution. There was a shrine containing a golden image 40 feet high accompanied by a golden table 40 feet long and 15 feet wide with 2 smaller images at its side.
Every woman in the country must take her seat in the shrine once in her life to have sex with a stranger…and only when she has been with him and done her service to the idol is she allowed to go home, if you were ugly you may had to wait your turn for 3-4 years. Offerings were divided among the prostitutes’ and the temple.
The earliest Mosaic Laws protected the Israelites against this practice by destroying the high places used for idolatry, and requiring the sacrifices to be made only at the door of the Tabernacle.
Babylon exercised greater influence upon religion ideas than Canaan or Egypt.
The daily life in Babylon and Assyria was perpetually overshadowed by the fear of many demons that took various strange forms. The only relief from these beliefs was obtained through the priest who specialized in these exorcism procedures. And there were at least 3 types of priest:
1. The priest who specialized in assisting the sick was the exorcist.
2. The priest who was in charge of divination was though to be able to interpret or predict the will of the idols. This determination was generally done by examining the liver of animals. Another form of divination was astrology base on the movements of the stars. Today we have many tables of astronomical data, which shows that these ancient people had advanced knowledge and accuracy in measuring the movements of the sun, moon and stars and could accurately predict the eclipses seven centuries before the time of the Messiah. (The Myam are known for this.) The names which they give the constellations were later used by the Greeks. The Babylonian knowledge of astronomy provided the basis for the calendar and formed the 12 lunar month. This all shows their knowledge of mathematics even before the time of Abraham.
3. The priest was charged with carrying out the funeral ceremonies and singing of dirges.
The city was laid out in the form of a square occupying both sides of the Euphrates River. It was surrounded by an astonishing brick wall 300 feet high, 85 feet wide, and 40-60 miles long. This wall included 200 square miles of territory and had a moat that ran along its outside. The mud from the moat was used to make the may brick used in the building program. This wall was guarded by 250 towers and was broad enough to allow for horse charts to turn around on top of it. With a fortress this complete it is not hard to understand why the L-rd sent the Medes and Persians under the city though the dried water tunnels to capture the city from within without an outward attack in Daniel 5.
A wall ran along each side of the Euphrates River with 25 brass gates on each wall totaling 100 brass gates in all. Wharfs were built from the gates to the water and ferry boats crossed the river form wharf to wharf. A roofed bridge of masonry crossed the Euphrates on stone piers and joined the center parts of the city. Babylon was defended by a royal palace at each end. The westernmost wall appeared t rise directly out of the Euphrates and provided both a defense against invading armies, and formed a water break to protect the city against floods. Above this western wall soared the Tower of Babel, and below it was one of the world’s oldest masonry bridges some 400 feet long providing access to the river’s opposite bank.
The hanging gardens of Babylon were considered one of the ancient wonders of the world. They had trees and flowers planted on terraces, one upon the other some 150 feet high. There was a special device built just for the purpose of watering these elevated gardens.
During the time of the excavations, the only structure that was even partially standing was the immense ceremonial gateway which guarded the main entrance to the city of Babylon. This gateway was built so solidly that it even survived the destruction of the city by Persians in the sixth century. This gate was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar and consisted of two portals, one behind the other, each flanked by massive towers that were built with bricks and cemented with pitch. These bricks were covered with a beautiful rock hard outer shell of enameled brick that was embellished with brilliantly colored artwork of bulls and dragons.
The broadway leading up to the Ishtar Gate was used for processions in the honor of the idol Marduk. This broadway was nearly 80 feet wide and was paved with slabs of limestone and pink marble. It ran between the two wall decorated with the colorful enameled figures of lions.
Because the temperatures in Babylon sometimes reached 130 degrees during the hot summer days, Nebuchadnezzar’s throng room was insulated against the heat by an elaborate frontage built 10 feet thick. Its three arched entrances faced the north so the direct sunlight rarely penetrated the white washing interior that was faced with a creamy-white plaster and colorful friezes of enameled brick.
The Tower of Babel, which was considered by some to have been the greatest architectural wonder of its day, was a huge many-leveled ziggurat with a chapel on top, each store of the tower was slightly smaller than the one below creating a step-like appearance. It was thought to have soared at least 300 feet above the countryside and rested on a courtyard a quarter of a mile square that was enclosed by storehouses and apartments for the priest. The original Tower of Babel, mentioned in Genies, was built hundreds of years before the reign of Nebuchadnezzar; through the centuries it was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
Remember this was a curse city that was to be destroyed and never again be rebuilt according to Jeremiah 20. There is much discussion among different scholars where this last rebuilding has already taken place or is the in the future. Babylon appears to be a literal city that will not be standing in the millennium (Rev. 14:8, 16:19, 18:1-24). Babylon will deceive all nations at the end of time and the orders for the martyrdom of saints will come from Babylon at the end of time. It will be destroyed by G-d’s supernatural intervention, including an earthquake with some reference to the method He used on Sodom, and it will be destroyed in one hour.
Whenever the final destruction happens, it is to NEVER be inhabited again, not even by the Arabs or the shepherds’. Today (1978) there is a city called Hillah of well over 300,000 population built just south of the old site of ancient Babylon. The soil in the area is still quite rich and engineers estimate that the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers could irrigate more than 7,000,000 acres in the winter and 3,000,000 in the summer to provide for a commercial city of Babylon again with the whole area rich in oil and other minerals.
Alexander the Great, who occupied the area of Babylon in 331 B.E. planned to rebuild it as a monument to his success, but estimated the cost would be too great. He calculated it would take 10,000 men 1 months just to clear the debris.
In 1987 from September 22 to October 22 Saddam Hussein held a Babylon International Festival featuring the similarities between Saddam Hussein and King Nebuchadnezzar. For this festival Saddam rebuilt the walls of to Procession Street leading to the Ishtar Gate. He also erected a half-size reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate, rebuilding the southern palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, and had his soldiers march on the Procession Street as Nebuchadnezzar’s warriors did in authentic Babylonian costume. Saddam reconstructed the Ninmach Temple, rebuilt the Greek Theater sitting 4,000 people, located his Saddam Hussein Guest House in the center of Babylon, and requested that the rock singer ‘Madonna’ be the ‘Queen of the Festival.” In ancient times Nimrod’s wife held the title ‘My Lady’ in Latin, which in Italian is the well known ‘Madonna’. The musical festival in 1987 was also held in accordance with the ancient musicians that prophecy predicts will one day ‘be heard no more in Babylon’ (Rev. 18:22).
The streets of Babylon were named after various idols. There was a Murduck Street and a Zababa Street on the left bank of the river. One inscription reads: ‘There were 53 temples to the chief idols, 55 chapels to Marduk, 300 chapels for earthly deities, 600 chapels for heavenly deities, 180 altars for the goddess Ishtar, 180 altars for the idols Nergal and Adad and 12 other altars for different idols.
The king of Babylon was limited in power by the law and by the priest. The king was really not king until he was invested with the royal authority of the priest or as they put it ‘took the hands of Baal.’ Taxation was in the name of the idols and the money went into temple treasuries. An official census of the idols of Babylon was taken in the 9th century before the Messiah and the count was 6500.

Diana of Ephesians

[Acts 19:24-35] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
The universal belief of the people was that they were gods, though the more intelligent regarded them only as habitations of Deity, and some, probably, as mere aids to devotion. It is exactly so in the Church of Rome.
So the masters of the poor Pythoness put forward the religious revolution which Paul was attempting to effect at Philippi, as the sole cause of their zealous alarm, to cloak the self-interest which they felt to be touched by his success (16:19-21). In both cases religious zeal was the hypocritical pretext; self-interest, the real moving cause of the opposition made.
The very appearance of a Jew (Paul) had the opposite effect to that intended. To prevent him obtaining a hearing, they drowned his voice in one tumultuous shout in honor of their goddess, which rose to such frantic enthusiasm as took two hours to exhaust itself.
Diana was a goddess of great renown amongst the Greeks. Her temple at Ephesus was a most magnificent structure. It was reckoned one of the wonders of the world. It was built about 550 B.C., of pure white marble, and though burned by a fanatic on the night of the birth of Alexander the Great, 356 B.C., was rebuilt with more splendor than before. It was four hundred twenty-five feet long by two hundred twenty broad, and the columns, one hundred twenty-seven in number, were sixty feet in height, each of them the gift of a king, and thirty-six of them enriched with ornament and color. It was constantly receiving new decorations and additional buildings, statues, and pictures by the most celebrated artists, and kindled unparalleled admiration, enthusiasm, and superstition. Its very site is now a matter of uncertainty. The little wooden image of Diana was as primitive and rude as its shrine was sumptuous; not like the Greek Diana, in the form of an imposing huntress, but quite Asiatic, in the form of a many-breasted female (emblematic of the manifold ministrations of Nature to man), terminating in a shapeless block. Like some other far-famed idols, it was believed to have fallen from heaven (verse 35), and models of it were not only sold in immense numbers to private persons, but set up for worship in other cities. What power must have attended the preaching of that one man by whom the death blow was felt to be given to their gigantic and witching superstition!
She is generally represented with many breasts, symbolizing the generative powers of nature and her ability to communicate fruitfulness in offspring. In the month of May, sacred to the goddess, immense numbers of models and shrines were sold to strangers, and thus carried all over the world. The Grecian goddess of the same name is not the Ephesian Diana; they differ in many respects.
Great is Diana of the Ephesians the civic cry of a populace so proud of their temple that they refused to inscribe on it the name of Alexander the Great, though he offered them the whole spoil of his Eastern campaign if they would do it.
They having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, it was in the house of Aquila and Priscilla that Paul found an asylum (1 Cor. 16:9), that would explain Romans 16:3, 4, where he says of them that "for his life they laid down their own necks".
They being certain of the chief of Asia, literally, "And certain also of the Asiarchs." These were wealthy and distinguished citizens of the principal towns of the Asian province, chosen annually, and ten of whom were selected by the proconsul to preside over the games celebrated in the month of May (the same month which Romanism dedicates to the Virgin). It was an office of the highest honor and greatly coveted. Certain of these, it seems, were favorably inclined to the Gospel, at least were Paul's "friends," and knowing the passions of a mob, excited during the festivals, "sent a message to him desiring him not to adventure himself into the theater.
[35] And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?Jupiter was known as the father of light or of the sky. This deity is not referred to in the Old Testament, but is referred to in 2 Macccabees 6:2; and in the book of Acts.
We might get a glimpse of Barnabas and Paul’s physical characteristics from these deities since Jupiter, who the people applied to Barnabas was supposed to have been a large and age man. Mercury, who they thought Paul was, is pictured as a small, young man, and eloquent of speech. Jupiter and Mercurius (14:12), Jupiter was the supreme heathen divinity; and supposed to have absolute control over all idols and creation. Mercurius was the 'god of speech or eloquence,' and the special messenger of Jupiter. Hence Barnabas, probably because of his venerable appearance or supposed likeness to their god, was named 'Jupiter' by the Lystrians; and Paul, because of his speech, 'Mercurius.'
The Roman name for Artemis is Diana, at Ephesus there was a large cult of Artemis. The Biblical Text mentions the worship of Diana and the image that fell from Jupiter. It was a popular shrine that became a major tourist attraction and economic asset to the city. We can easily see why the silversmiths were angry with Paul preaching against making idols.
In the early Christian times some of Diana’s traditions were carried over to the Virgin Mary. Often, this same deity is worshipped in many areas as the divine power of reproduction under various names: Istare (Babylon), Astarte to the Greeks, Ashtoreth to the Jews, Iris to the Egyptians, Aphrodite to the Grecians, and Venus or Diana to the Romans.
Who are the idols in your life?

Epicureans & Stoics

[Acts 17:18] Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Y’Shua, and the resurrection.
Certain philosophers of the Epicureans is a well-known school of atheistic materialists, who taught that pleasure was the chief end of human existence; a principle which the more rational interpreted in a refined sense, while the sensual explained it in its coarser meaning. These were the followers of Epicurus, who acknowledged no gods except in name, and absolutely denied that they exercised any government over the world or its inhabitants; and that the chief good consisted in the gratification of the appetites of sense.
The Stoics did not deny the existence of the gods; but they held that all human affairs were governed by fate. They did not believe that any good was received from the hands of their idols; and considered, as Seneca asserts, that any good and wise man was equal to Jupiter himself. Both these sects agreed in denying the resurrection of the body; and the former did not believe in the immortality of the soul.
Epicurus, the founder of the Epicurean sect, was born at Athens, about A.M. 3663, before the Messiah 341. The Stoics was a celebrated school of severe and lofty pantheists, whose principle was that the universe was under the law of an iron necessity, the spirit of which was what is called the Deity: and that a passionless conformity of the human will to this law, unmoved by all external circumstances and changes, is the perfection of virtue. While therefore the Stoical was in itself superior to the Epicurean system, both were alike hostile to the Gospel.
Zeno, the founder of the Stoic sect, was born in the isle of Cyprus, about thirty years before Messiah. His disciples were called Stoics from the a famous portico at Athens, where they studied. Besides these two sects, there were two others which were famous at this time; viz. the Academics and the Peripatetics. The founder of the first was the celebrated Plato; and the founder of the second, the no less famous Aristotle. These sects professed a much purer doctrine than the Epicureans and Stoics; and it does not appear that they opposed the missionaries, nor did they enter into public disputations with them. Against the doctrines taught by the Epicureans and Stoics, several parts of Paul's discourse, in the following verses, are directly pointed.
"The two enemies it has ever had to contend with are the two ruling principles of the Epicureans and Stoics--Pleasure and Pride".
What will this babbler say? The word, which means "a picker-up of seeds," bird-like, is applied to a gatherer and retailer of scraps of knowledge, a prater; a general term of contempt for any pretended teacher.
The epithet became applied to persons who collected the sayings of others, without order or method, and detailed them among their companions in the same way. The application of the term to prating, empty, disrespectful persons, was natural and easy, and hence it was considered a term of reproach and contempt, and was sometimes used to signify the vilest sort of men.
A setter forth of strange gods are "demons," but in the Greek (not Jewish) sense of "objects of worship." There was a difference, in the heathen theology, between god, and demon: the first, were such as were gods by nature: the second were men who were deified.He seemed to be a setter forth of strange gods. This distinction seems to be in the mind of these philosophers when they said that the missionaries seemed to be setters forth of strange demons, because they preached unto them Y’Shua whom they showed to be a man, suffering and dying, but afterwards raised to the throne of G-d. This would appear to them equivalent with the deification of heroes, services to mankind. They made these to be two divinities: the strange gods were Jehovah and the Risen Savior, ordained to judge the world.
In the twenty-first century it sounds like it is even truer of our own time. "This is a striking feature of the USA in the present day. The itch for news, which generally argues a worldly, shallow, or unsettled mind, is wonderfully widespread: even ministers of the Gospel, negligent of their sacred function, are become in this sense Athenians; so that the book of G-d is neither read nor studied with half the avidity and spirit as a newspaper . . . It is no wonder if such become political preachers, and their sermons be no better than husks for swine. To such the hungry sheep look up, and are not fed.”

List of deities

Adrammelech (2 Ki. 17:31). Assyrian 'sun' deity; king of fire. Children were offered in sacrifice to this idol.
Annammelech (2 Ki. 17:31). Assyrian deity supposed to represent the 'moon'; queen of fire. Children were offered as human sacrifices.
Ashima (2 Ki. 17:30). Worshipped by the people of Hamath; represented a 'goat.'
Ashtoroth (Astarte) (1 Ki. 11:33). Plural of Ashtoreth . Canaanite fertility goddess; sexual love; Queen of Heaven; represented by a female figure signifying the 'moon.'
Baal (1 Ki. 18:21). Canaanite deity; lord or master; sensual. This god is mentioned about 25 times in the Scriptures. Baal is often associated with Ashtoreth, the former connected with bloody rites, the latter with licentiousness. A male deity representing the sun and all nature. There are traces still extant of customs in Ireland, Wales, and parts of Scotland, which evidently show that Baal worship was practiced by our ancestors under the ancient Druids.
Baal-berith (Ju. 8:33). Lord of covenants; worship of Baal by the Shechemites.
Baal-peor (Nu. 25:3). Lord of the opening; worship of Baal by the Moabites. It was in Moab that the Israelites were seduced to the filthy form of idolatry.
Baal-Zebub (2 Ki. 2:16). The god of the Philistines, or 'god of Ekron.' Baal signifies 'lord,' and Baal-Zebub means the 'lord or god of flies.'
Bamah (Eze. 20:29). The word signifies an idolatrous 'high place.'
Bamoth (plural) means 'high places,' and refers to Baal worship in high and exposed places (Jos. 13:17).
Bel (Je. 50:2). Chief male deity of the Babylonians. It is uncertain what form of worship was represented by Bel. This deity had a most superb temple erected for its worship, said to have been 600 feet high, while its base covered a square of 200 yards.
Chemosh (Nu. 21:29). A principal god of the Moabites and Ammonites, worshipped by Solomon, but who or what was represented by 'Chemosh' is unknown; but human sacrifices were offered to him (2 Ki. 3:27).
Chiun (Am. 5:26). An idol worshipped by Israel in the wilderness, and regarded as a form of `star' worship. This is a solemn passage as intimating that in light of grace effecting deliverance from Egyptian bondage, they yet carried with them the idolatry of that land.
Dagon (1 Sa. 5:2). The Philistine national deity, in form partly a man and partly a fish. Ashdod and Gaza were the principal seats of its worship.
Diana (Ac. 19:24-35). A goddess of great renown amongst the Greeks. Her temple at Ephesus was a most magnificent structure. She is generally represented with many breasts, symbolizing the generative powers of nature and her ability to communicate fruitfulness in offspring. In the month of May, sacred to the goddess, immense numbers of models and shrines were sold to strangers, and thus carried all over the world. The Grecian goddess of the same name is not the Ephesian Diana; they differ in many respects.
Golden calf (Ex. 32:1-6). A form of idolatry borrowed from Egypt. By this low kind of image-worship man not only lowered his own glory (Ps. 106:20), but changed the glory of the Creator (Ro. 1:23) to that of the meanest of the creatures. Five centuries afterwards Jeroboam established this form of idolatry (1 Ki. 12:28), no doubt because of its familiarity to him when in Egypt (1 Ki. 11:40).
High Places (2 Ki. 15:35). These were generally built on very hilly and exposed situations, and specially appropriated to idolatrous purposes. Solomon and others of the kings erected these places for the express purpose of idol worship. It was a standing reproach even to the godly kings that they failed to exterminate this favorite mode of idolatry (2 Ch. 15:17).
Jupiter and Mercurius (Ac. 14:12). Jupiter was the supreme heathen divinity; and supposed to have absolute control over all gods and creation. Mercurius was the 'god of speech or eloquence,' and the special messenger of Jupiter. Hence Barnabas, probably because of his venerable appearance or supposed likeness to their god, was named 'Jupiter' by the Lystrians; and Paul, because of his speech, 'Mercurius.'
Merodach (Je. 50:2). The Babylonian god of 'war,' and of great repute in Assyria and Babylonia.
Milcom (1 Ki. 11:5). An Ammonite idol, same as Moloch.
Moloch (2 Ki. 23:10). The representative of fire, and an exceedingly cruel form of idol worship. The arms were made red hot, and human victims, especially children, placed upon them, while the cries of the agonized sufferers were drowned by the beating of drums. The idolatry practiced by the Moabites and Ammonites was both disgusting and cruel.
Nebo (Is. 46:1). Worshipped by the Assyrians and Babylonians, and regarded as the god of speech and learning, and thus equivalent to the 'Mercury' of the Latins. He seems to have been the tutelar deity of the royal race, as the name is incorporated in several of the kings' names. Nehushtan (2 Ki. 18:4). A word of contempt, meaning 'piece of brass,' applied to the brazen serpent (Nu. 21:8), which had been long worshipped by the Israelites.
Nergal (2 Ki. 17:30). An Assyrian deity of great repute; supposed to preside over the fortunes of 'war' and 'hunting.' In the monumental sculptures of the country, he is represented as partly lion and partly human.
Nibhaz (2 Ki. 17:31). One of the idols introduced into Samaria after the deportation of the ten tribes. A species of combined 'dog and man' worship. 'According to De la Roque, the colossal figure of a dog was found on the road to Tripolis, to which the inhabitants paid Divine honour.' Nisroch (2 Ki. 19:37). An Assyrian deity representing a 'great eagle.' In the Nineveh sculptures, `Nisroch' is a compound of man and bird--the face being eagle-like and the body human. Sennacherib was worshiping this idol when slain by his two sons (Is. 37:38).
Queen of Heaven (Je. 7:18). The 'moon' was worshipped as the 'queen of heaven,' under the title 'Ashtoreth,' and was generally associated with 'Baal,' the sun. The rites connected with these ancient forms of idolatrous worship were, by some nations, of the most indecent description.
Remphan (Ac. 7:43). The representation of a particular 'star,' and the same as `Chiun' mentioned in Am. 5:26.
Rimmon (2 Ki. 5:18). A Syrian idol supposed to represent the 'sun,' and worshipped by the king and nobles, who had a house devoted to its service.
Succoth-benoth (2 Ki. 17:30). Occurs but once in Scripture, and refers to booths or tents erected by the colonists sent to people Samaria in honor of the goddess of 'uncleanness.'
Tammuz (Eze. 8:14). This Syrian idol was worshipped in the very heart of Jerusalem itself. 'Women weeping for Tammuz' refers to their grief on the periodical absence of their god. The rites connected therewith were of the most filthy description.
Tartak (2 Ki. 17:31). Another of the heathen idols introduced into Samaria after the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel. Who or what 'Tartak' represents is not known. According to the uncertain teachings of the Rabbins, it had the figure of an 'ass.'
Teraphim (Ju. 17:5). Household gods in general as distinguished from national deities; consulted in daily matters as oracles (Zec. 10:2; Ge. 31:19,30).
Unknown God (Ac. 17:23). Athens was a city wholly given to idolatry, so that it has been termed 'the altar of Greece'; yet this highly-polished and intellectual people publicly proclaimed their ignorance of God and all true knowledge of God, by erecting an altar and inscribing thereon, 'to the unknown God.'

Apis/Golden Calve

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 40 different gods and goddesses.
Apis was a sacred bull worshipped as early as the fourth dynasty in Egypt (2575 B.E. possibly even to the first dynasty 2929 B.E., and as late as the time of Emperor Julian the apostate in 363 A.D.).
Apis was supposedly begat by a moonbeam, and was recognized by several characteristic marks. In Memphis, Egypt the Apis was associated with Ptah, a creator idol, as well as Osiris, the idol of the dead. It is thought that the Apis bull inspired the Golden Calve which the Israelites made at Mt. Sinai in Ex. 32:4-35, and the golden calves Jeroboam set up in the Northern Kingdom of Israel after visiting Egypt. Jeremiah 46:13-14, means in saying, why has Apis fled or been swept away? Various festivals were associated with Apis as a fertility idol. When the Apis bull died, his successor was diligently sought throughout Egypt requiring the specific characteristics of a black coat with a white triangle on the forehead, a white vulture on its back, and a scarab beneath the tongue.
The bull was taken to a colonnaded temple where it could be viewed. The temple even had an embalming chamber and a special room to house the mother of the current Apis. During the first millennium B.E. the average life span of an Apis bull was 16-19 years. During the late Egyptian period Apis worship took the form of a national cult. This was the emphasis of what Jeremiah meant as he referred to the fleeing Apis referring actually to the dissolving of the Egyptian Kingdom in 46:44-46

Adaddon

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 40 different gods and goddesses.
Abaddon a Hebrew word used in later Jewish Literature, especially the Wisdom literature that appears to be synonymous with the lowest division of Sheol devoted to the punishment of sinners. The name is derived from the Hebrew word abad = means to become lost, be ruined, destroyed, perish. The Greek equivalent is Apollyon which means destroyer. Apollyon is personified as the angel of the bottomless pit in Rev. 9:11, and the king of the demonic locust in Rev. 9. The term Adaddon occurs in parallel and in conjunction with Sheol in both Job and Proverbs, and in conjunction with death in Job and Psalms. The word Apollyon does not appear in its Greek form in later Rabbinic writings, and only here in the N.T. seems to be regarded as the equivalent to Asmodaeus, the king of demons in Judaisic mythology.
Apollyon is the Greek idol of death and pestilence as well as the sun idol, the idol of music, poetry, crops, ect. Although Apollyon is the correct reading, the name Apollo was used as a play on the word Apollo. In the N.T. we see the locust as a symbol of this destruction which poisoned his victims. In the book of Revelation the term Apollon is also used indirectly to refer to the Roman emperors such as Domitian, who like to be regarded as Apollo incarnate.

Adrammelech & Anammelech

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 4o different gods and goddesses.
Adrammelech was a idol of the Sepharvites (Assyria – Sabraim in East Central Syria), and was supposedly identical with Molech in 2 Kings 17:31. The name is derived from the phrase the lordship of the king. In 2 Kgs. 17 it is reported that the Babylonians how were resettled in Samaria burn their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the idols of the Sepharvaim. There is a close association of this name to one of the sons of Sennacherib, the Assyrian king in 2 Kgs. 19:37. Adrammelech and Sharezer are the two sons of Sennacherib who killed him while he was worshipping in a temple to his idol in Assyria after being disgraced in battle.
Anammelech was also a idol of the Sepharvites and was thought to have been in the form of a horse. Human sacrifices were also offered to it as in the case of Adrammelech

Ashima

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 4o different gods and goddesses.
Ashima – was the idol of Hamath mentioned in 2 Kgs. 17:30. This was a deity worshipped as a figure of a goat without wool. The goat is found among the sacred animals of the Babylonian monuments. Ashima corresponded with the Egyptian Mendes, the Greek Pan, and the Phoenician Esmun. Hamath was on the border of Israel in the north Assyria, and was occupied by the Hittites among other Canaanite peoples during the Biblical period. Hamath was one of the places where Solomon built storehouses (2 Chron. 8), and the Hamathites are listed as last in the table of Canaanite nations in Gen. 10. During the time of David, Toi was king of Hamath, and Amos mentions it as a great city in his writings. This was one of the spots where Israelites were exiled in Isa. 11, and when Sargon II deported the local inhabitants of Samaria, he imported the people of Hamath (modern Hama in Syria) to live in Samaria (2 Kngs. 17). The most widely accepted interpretation of the word Ashima is that it is an Aram form meaning the Name. The only other possible reference to Ashimain in the Bible is found in the unclear statement of Amos 8:14.

Ashera/Groves

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 4o different gods and goddesses.
Asherah – was the name of a goddess, but is also used to identify her wooden cult symbol. She is mentioned as groves, poles, or wooden standards that are erected near holy spots usually on high places. The Mishnah mentions Asherim to be living groves, grapevines, pomegranate, walnuts, myrtle, and willows that were worshipped. Most Biblical references to Asherah are speaking of man made objects of worship. We see such warning as Deut. 16:21. Philo declares that Phoenicians consecrated pillars and staves in the name of their idols.
Asherah is sometimes translated groves and seems to have been a carved wooded pillar that was used in connection with a stone massebah. The Asherah represented the presence of the mother goddess and was one of the major irritations of the prophets and religious leaders of the Israelites.
The Asherah were associated with incense stands and high places and the Israelites were commanded to cut them down, burn them. In 2 Kgs. 23:7 the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
Asherah is not mentioned in connection with the patriarchs nor the kings of Israle of the monarchy, but they are seen later, after the kingdom split. Later, Asherah is mention in connection with both the northern and southern kingdoms. Massena introduced Asherah into the Temple in Jerusalem in 2 Kgs. 21:3, and Josiah brought the Asherah out of the Temple and burned it. When the Israelites invades the Canaanite high places and took the spots of their own worship, the also adopted the Asherah and the massebah.

Artemis/Diana

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 4o different gods and goddesses.

Artemis = Is often called Diana the Roman name for Artemis as seen in Acts 19:27. Diana is pictured as being covered with breast from her shoulders to her feet. In other illustrations she is covered with breasts to the bottom of her abdomen, while her legs are covered with heads of animals. Diana was supposed to be the mother and nourisher of all creation. Some scholars have identified her with Semiramus, the wife of Nimrod and the Queen of Babylon from whom all licentiousness in ancient worship proceeded.
She was given the title Lady of wild things and she was often pictured as a virgin huntress, armed with bow and arrows. She was also known as a city goddess because of her popularity with the women in relation to childbirth. . Diana Artemis was a healer who tended the sick with medicinal herbs from her temple garden. As mistress of animals a synonym for Artemis was Potnia Theron.
At Ephesus there was a large cult of Artemis as a fertility goddess and the temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Word. In this temple there was an object, possibly a meteoric stone that was associated with Artemis in Acts 19:35. The Biblical text mentions the worship of Diana and the image which fell from Jupiter. In ancient times several things supposedly fell from Heaven including the image of Diana at Tauri, and sacred shields as reported by Numa.
Amazons, the warrior maids of Asia Minor, are said to have founded the cult of Ephesian Artemis. The girl who served there dressed in short skirts with one breast bare as was the Amazon huntress fashion.
The shrine of Diana of Ephesus became a major tourist attraction and economic asset to the city. With this information we can easily see why the silversmiths were angry with Paul preaching against making idols. The silversmiths made little models of the temple for tourists and pilgrims in Acts 19.
There was a symbolic representation of human sacrifice in the worship of Artemis occasionally when a man’s throat was scratched with a sword and a drop of blood was obtained for the ritual.
In early Christian times some of her traditions were carried over to the Virgin Mary. Artemis was also pictured with wings, standing between wild animals wearing boots, a pointed cap, and carrying a torch. The cult statues at the temple in Ephesus were carried in procession by a congregation up to 30,000 each year on May 25th.

Astarte/Ishtar

As strange as it may seem, Believers are usually afraid to study this subject, leaving themselves ill-equipped to understand more than 250 verses in the Biblical Text and approximately 4o different gods and goddesses.
1 Sam. 31:10 – Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth = Ashtoroth is the plural and Ashtoreth is the singular form of the name of the Canaanite principal female deity. Ashtoreth was given to the moon in which this deity was supposed to be embodied. The idol was a female with a crescent moon on her brown. This idol was set up in the temples and worshipped in many forms of sexual perversions and immorality. Ashtoreth is also commonly known as Astarte a consort or partner to Baal. Astarte among other things was viewed as an idol of war.
Jer. 7:18; 44:17-18 some scholars believe Astarte may be the Queen of Heaven in Jerusalem. She is referred to as a mystery of Heaven in a number of Egyptian texts.
Ashtoreth or Astarte is the Phoenician (Philistine) and Canaanite name of the fertility goddess of the Babylonians named Ishtar. Astarte was originally the deification of the earth, but in the course of time she became an idol associated with the moon and was represented with horns. The named of the goddess appears as a city in Transjordan named Ashteroth-karnaim meaning the Astarte of the horns in Gen. 14:5. The location is the present day Tell Asherta, about two miles south of Shech Saad and according to Talmudic sources is the land of Uz which is the home of Job. This was the home town of Og, king of Bashan in Josh. 12:4. It was later allotted to the half tribe of Manasseh and settled by the house of Machir. The town continued to be a cultic center until it was overthrown by the Maccabees under Judas in 165 B.C. in 1 Macc. 5:44.
The term Ashtaroth is actually more of a title such as my lady or my goddess instead of a specific name. One of the reasons given for Israel’s defeat at the hands of the Philistines was apostatizing after the Canaanite cult of Ashtaroth.
Just as Baal was the male innovator that caused things to happen, Astarte was the female factor of fertility and growth.
Ashtoreth is also seen in connection with the productivity of sheep in Gen. 31:38; 32:14; and Ps. 78:71, and was thought to have been envisioned an ewe.
The known period of worship of Ashtoreth and Astarte was approximately 1500 B.E. until 200 B.C. She was known as the evening start, the goddess of sexual love and war. Her animal was the sphinx, which typically appears on either side of her throne. The sphinx, a Egyptian mythological creature with the lion’s body and man’s head represented the idol of the morning. Astarte is typically a naked statue, and in the Egyptian style, wears a crown of cow’s horns enclosing a disk. Solomon is said to have built a high place to honor Ashtoreth in Jerusalem to please some of his pagan wives in 2 Kgs. 23:13.