Re: Eschera vs. Ashera? Cult "furniture" for Greeks & Hebrew?

I find at http://www.therain.org/appendixes/app42.html
"The word 'Asherah is from the root 'ashar, to be straight,
erect, or upright. From this comes the meaning, in a moral sense, to
be upright, hence, to prosper or be happy. The 'Asherah was so
called because it was something set upright or erect in the ground,
and worshipped. The word occurs forty times, and only a careful
study of each passage will give a correct view.
From a conspectus of the passages, we learn that it was either a
living tree with the top cut off, and the stump or trunk fashioned
into a certain shape (Deuteronomy 16:21); or it was artificially
fashioned and set erect in the ground (Isaiah 17:8. 1 Kings 14:15;
16:33). It was made of wood (Judges 6:26) or stone. What the shape
was is indicated in 1 Kings 15:13, and 2 Chronicles 15:16, where in
the Authorized Version. "an idol in a grove", should be (as in the
Revised Version) "an abominable image for an 'Asherah". It could
be "cut down" (Exodus 34:13, the first occurrence of the
word); "plucked up" (Micah 5:14); "burnt" (Deuteronomy 12:3);
or "broken in pieces" (2 Chronicles 34:4)".

A hearth (especially one hollowed out in the ground) seems a
long way from an upright pillar. My vote is for pure coincidence.

Also, for 'eschara' Buck's "Synonyms" has "etym. Dub."

Dan
************

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "merbakos" <gigolojoe0@...> wrote:
> Sorry, for some reason I thought that word began with an aspirant!
>
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "George" <historynow2002@...>
> wrote:
> > List members,
> >
> > I've recently stumbled across this word in the
> > Perseus.org lexicons:
> >
> > @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
> > Eschara , Ion. eschar-arê [a^], hê, Ep. gen. and dat.
escharophin
> > (ap' esch- Od.7.169, ep' esch- 5.59 , 19.389):
> > 1. Hearth, fire-place, like Hestia, Hom. (esp. in Od.), hê men
ep'
> > escharêi hêsto Od.6.52 ;
> > hêstai ep' escharêi en puros augêi ib.305 ;
> > of suppliants, hezet' ep' escharêi en koniêisi 7.153 .
> > 2. pan of coals, brazier, Ar.Ach.888, V.938, cf. Poll.10.94, 95.
> > 3. Trôôn puros escharai watch-fires of the camp, Il.10.418.
> >
> > II. Sacrificial Hearth (hollowed out in the ground and so dist.
> from
> > bômos, structural altar, St.Byz. s.v. bômoi, Phot.; used
esp. in
> > heroworship, Neanth.7J.), Od.14.420, S.Ant.1016 : but freq. used
> > generally, altar of burnt-offering, pros escharan Phoibou
> > A.Pers.205 ; ep' escharai puros Id.Eu.108 ; hêmenas ep'
escharais
> > ib.806 ; Puthikê E.Andr. 1240 ; at Eleusis, D.59.116, cf.
> > Lycurg.Fr.37 ; Hêrakleidôn e. IG2.1658 (iv B.C.) ; so
bômioi
> escharai
> >
> > structured altars, E.Ph.274 ; sometimes movable, X.Cyr.8.3.12,
> > Callix.2, PCair.Zen.13 (iii B.C.).
> >
> > III. Fire-Stick (bored with the trupanon, q. v.), Thphr.HP5.9.7,
> Ign.
> > 64.
> >
> > IV. Platform, Stand, Basis, Ph.Bel.92.13, Ath.Mech.32.10,
> > Vitr.10.11.9.
> > @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
> >
> > I am struck by the employment of this term
> > in comparison to how the term "Ashera" is employed
> > in the bible.
> >
> > Naturally, one has to decide on one of the following
> > scenarios:
> >
> > 1) coincidence;
> > 2) Greek use followed Hebrew use;
> > 3) Hebrew use followed Greek use.
> >
> > What can we conclude about the roots of the Greek
> > Eschera? Does it have a long history? Or does it
> > appear, "deus ex machina", out of nowhere, somewhere
> > after Greek contact with Hebrew culture? I myself
> > tend to see the Hebrew use of the term as a recent
> > innovation... perhaps to "de-mystify" a Palestinian
> > interest in the goddess Asherat (in other words,
> > turn the goddess into a piece of Greek furniture!).
> > But I'm just guessing at this point.
> >
> > Information about the roots of the Greek term
> > would obviously be very important in order to
> > reduce the "guess-work".
> >
> > Looking forward to thoughts on this.
> >
> > George