Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online

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Vashti ושׁתי
(466 words)

I. Name

Jensen 1892:62 suggested that the name of Queen Vashti, the spouse of Ahasuerus in Est. 1.9 (cf. Est. 1.11, Est. 12, Est. 15, Est. 16, Est. 17, Est. 19; Est. 2.1, Est. 4, Est. 17), is related to the presumed Elamite goddess *Wašti (or Mašti). Since there are more plausible explanations to the name Vashti, there is no need to make a link with a goddess whose name was in fact pronounced as Mašti.

II. Identity

Mašti is an Elamite mother goddess, attested in Middle and New Elamite royal inscriptions…

Cite this page
F. van Koppen and K. van der Toorn, “Vashti ושׁתי”, in: Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online, Edited by: Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter W. van der Horst. Consulted online on 20 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7802_DDDO_DDDO_Vashti>



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