Other Names: Derceto(Greek), Athtart(Phoenician), Ataratha, Taratha,’ Atar’arah(Aramaic), Tr’th(Talmud), Dea Suria, Syria Dea, Deasura, Iasura.
Not to be confused with Astarte.

Legend has it that Atargatis was a great civilizer who taught people social and religious procedures in agriculture and invented many useful things. She accidentally killed a shepherd after falling in love with him. Brokenhearted, she threw herself into a lake where she took the form of a fish from the waist down. In honor of her, Syrians did not eat fish and revered her as a Goddess of the moon, waves/tides, fertility, motherhood, beauty, and the healing power of water.

Years of Sightings: 1000-2000 BCto100+/-AD

Locations: Syria(Assyria), Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Rome

Author or Sources: Greek/Philistine stories. Athanasius Kircher, Oedipus Aegyptiacus (yr.1652-53)
Alexander, Skye. Mermaids, The Myths, Legends, & Lore, Massachusetts: Adams Media, Inc.
2012.

More info on Atagartis can be found on the Obscure Goddess Online Directory and on Medium.

Image: Image of Jordan statue to Dennis G. Jarvis