Atargatis or
Ataratheh (;
Aramaic:
'Atar'atheh or
Tar'atheh) was the chief goddess of northern Syria in
Classical antiquity.
[1][2] Ctesias also used the name
Derketo (
Ancient Greek:
Δερκετὼ) for her,
[3] and the Romans called her
Dea Syria, or in one word
Deasura.
[4] Primarily she was a goddess of fertility, but, as the
baalat ("mistress") of her city and people she was also responsible for their protection and well-being. Her chief sanctuary was at Hierapolis, modern
Manbij,
[5] northeast of Aleppo, Syria.