Astarte

Description:

Very important and popular Goddess worshipped in Europe, Asia, pre-islamic Araby and Egypt. She was known under many names: Astarte, Isis, Inanna, Ishtar, Ashtart, Ashtoreth, Asherah, Astoreth, Ashet, Aset, Tanit-Ashtart, Ashtaroth, Anat, Diana, Aphrodite, Artemis, Anahit, Athena, Minerva, Al-'Uzza, Cybele, Freya, Semiramus, Cypris and Lakshmi.

Always associated with fertility, wealth, war and love. So loved and respected that people named their towns, children and even a month in Her honor. Many names originated from Hers: Theron, Diana, Essa, Isidor/Izydor, Artemio etc.

Many traditions and holidays associated with this Goddess 'survived' to this day, such as coloring eggs and baking cakes which are done during holiday celebrated in Her honor, Easter ( A holiday which originated from Her name, also called Ashtar, Eastre, Eos, Eostre, Ester ot Estrus). The festival was celebrated during Spring Equinox, which sadly, already passed (21-23/03 Sun should be 0 degrees into Aries).

Despite Her enormous popularity the Goddess of love and beauty had Her gender changed and was presented as a monster in goetia. Goddess of love and beauty a monster? Every culture depicted Her as embodiment of beauty and grace...

Sorry for the long introduction. This piece took me about a week and few days T_T due to my PC lamenes and me being unable to draw faster. I made up this pose myself and had some trouble with anatomy so I was forced to search for a referrence [link] then the hand looked odd so again a referrence [link] . Used a python's texture for the suit which I made couple of years ago. I also used referrences for lions [link] and [link] (the second one only) by

Right lion's mane looks a little odd, will correct it later.