A Palestinian farmer in southern Gaza recently discovered the head of a statue of Anat, a Canaanite goddess. The head is 8.6 inches high and is crowned with a serpent (Ancient Origins, Apr. 26, 2022). A sister of Baal, Anat was one of the fertility mother-goddesses that were worshipped by orgies. She was also the goddess of war against Baal’s enemies. “Anat appears as a fierce, wild and furious warrior in a battle, wading knee-deep in blood, striking off heads, cutting off hands, binding the heads to her torso and the hands in her sash” (Wikipedia). Anat was worshipped in various places under manifold names and myths, including Inanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Isis, Venus, Nerthus, and Freyja.
(Friday Church News Notes, May 6, 2022, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)