Astarte (from Greek Ἀστάρτη (Astártē)) is the name of a goddess
as known from Northwestern Semitic regions, cognate in name,
origin and functions with the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian
texts. Another transliteration is ‘Ashtart; other names for the
goddess include Hebrew עשתרת (transliterated Ashtoreth),
Ugaritic ‘ṯtrt (also ‘Aṯtart or ‘Athtart, transliterated
Atirat), Akkadian DAs-tar-tú (also Astartu) and Etruscan Uni-
Astre (Pyrgi Tablets). Other major centers of Astarte's worship
were Sidon, Tyre, and Byblos. Coins from Sidon portray a chariot
in which a globe appears, presumably a stone representing
Astarte. In Sidon, she shared a temple with Eshmun. At Beirut
coins show Poseidon, Astarte, and Eshmun worshipped together.
Other faith centers were Cytherea, Malta, and Eryx in Sicily
from which she became known to the Romans as Venus Erycina. A
bilingual inscription on the Pyrgi Tablets dating to about 500
BC found near Caere in Etruria equates Astarte with Etruscan
Uni-Astre that is, Juno. At Carthage Asta