The Syrian Goddess

The Syrian Goddess is a short ancient Greek prose work traditionally associated with Lucian of Samosata. It is often titled De Dea Syria (“On the Syrian Goddess”) and describes the religious practices and temple cults of northern Syria. The text is written in the voice of a traveler or observer who visits the great sanctuary at Hierapolis (modern-day Manbij, Syria) and records the rituals, myths, and customs dedicated to a major Near Eastern goddess, often identified with Atargatis.