Women in the Bible, Episode 2: The Queen of Heaven

The prophet Jeremiah makes several references to a "Queen of Heaven" that was being worshipped by some Jews of his generation. God, through Jeremiah, condemns this blatant act of polytheism. But this raises two questions: Who or what is this "Queen of Heaven?" And why was the attraction to worship her so powerful in a culture that was supposed to be devotedly monotheistic? Note: Roman Catholics sometimes use the term "Queen of Heaven" as an honorific title for Mary, the virgin mother of Christ. For obvious chronological reasons, Jeremiah was not referring to her. This episode will explore the ancient Near East's polytheistic roots of the Queen of Heaven.