The modern English term Easter developed from the old English word Eastre or Eostre. The name refers to Eostur-monath (old English 'Eostre month'), a month of the Germanic calendar attested by Bede, who writes that the month is named after the Goddess Eostre, Mother Goddess of Anglo Saxon paganism. Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures and were celebrated in the Spring time, Ishtar pictured here, from Assyria.
Ishtar - the Great Mother Goddess
her name means 'Star of Heaven'
Easter is steeped in the Mysteries of ancient Babylon. Legend says that each year a huge egg would fall from heaven and would land in the area around the Euphrates River. In her yearly re-birth, Ishtar would break out of this egg and if any of those celebrating this occsion happened to find her egg, Ishtar would bestow a special blessing on that person.
Ishtar - Goddess of love and fertility
Reproduction of Original from the Louvre Museum, Paris. 2000 B.C.
Ishtar was worshipped as the Moon Goddess, the Goddess of Spring and Fertility and the Queen of Heaven from Babylon.
Ishtar - Babylonian Fertility Goddess
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