ABSTRACT
Inscriptional evidence also demonstrates Asherah's association with serpents. In the proto-Sinaitic texts she is called dt btn) "Lady ofthe Serpent" ;52 Cross has interpreted her standard epithet at U garit, rbt atrt ym) similarly, translating "the Lady who treads on the Sea (-serpent). ,,53 If, moreover, Cross is correct in identifying Phoenician/Punic tnt as Asherah,54 and if he is further correct that tnt) which he vocalizes tannit) means "serpent" «* tannin), this too would demonstrate Asherah's association with serpents. 55 Finally, "ve note !(A! 89, a Punic devotional tablet on which Asherah bears the epithet /:Jwt. 56 It is possible that /:Jwt as an epithet means "serpent," cognate with Old Aramaic /:Jwh (Sefire I, A, 31), later Aramaic /:J£wa) /:J£wya?) /:Jewyti?) and Arabic /:Jayya. Ifsuch an etymology is correct, it would surely connect Asherah "vith snake imagery.57
