Easter at Acts 12:4 - Astarte ?

Wes Williams WesWilliams at usa.net
Tue Apr 17 00:59:53 EDT 2001


At Acts 12:4 the KJV translates PASXA as "Easter". I read some research many
years ago that linked the English word "Easter" with the name of the Goddess
Astarte (Greek Aphrodite). The customs are strongly similar -- the rites of
Springs and Astarte/ Aphrodite had as her symbols the egg and the hare but I
am unable to find a direct connection between the names Easter and Astarte.
I was wondering if someone knew of some insightful research on the subject
while staying focused on the language issue.

I found the following quote under "Easter" in Britannica at
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=32347&tocid=0

"The English name Easter is of uncertain origin; the Anglo-Saxon priest
Venerable Bede in the 8th century derived it from the Anglo-Saxon spring
goddess Eostre."

And in The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible: 'Easter was "originally the
spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known
in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre.'

Sincerely,
Wes Williams




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