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Was Easter Named After Ishtar?

Was Easter Named After Ishtar?

Starting explanation, not independently reviewed

The current answer

The debunk is itself a costume. The word is Germanic, the feast is the Passover.

What remains uncertain

This starting summary presents the original essay’s position. It has not received independent topic review. Its citations have been imported, not checked. Competing explanations and important objections may still be missing.

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Claims & evidence

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Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess, belongs to a different language family, was not pronounced "Easter", and had lions and an eight-pointed star for symbols, not eggs or hares.

Imported citation, not independently checked: Bede, De temporum ratione 15; P. A. Shaw, Pagan Goddesses (2011)

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Old English Eastre sits beside east and the words for dawn, and its cousins include Greek Eos, Latin Aurora and Vedic Ushas, all dawn goddesses from the same Indo-European root.

Imported citation, not independently checked: P. A. Shaw, Pagan Goddesses in the Early Germanic World (2011)

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German Ostern comes from the same source, which is why English and German are almost alone in Europe in using it.

Imported citation, not independently checked: P. A. Shaw, Pagan Goddesses in the Early Germanic World (2011)

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Paul, writing in the 50s, says "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Imported citation, not independently checked: 1 Corinthians 5:7

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