The Tree of Life Beyond the Bible
Explore the context of a timeless biblical symbol
Eighth-century mosaic of the Tree of Life from Hisham’s Palace in Jericho. Tamar Hayardeni (Tamarah), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A central feature in the Garden of Eden story, the Tree of Life is one of the Hebrew Bible’s more memorable symbols. But this biblical symbol connects to a much larger ancient tradition, one whose roots extend across the ancient Near East and are reflected in numerous ways throughout the Bible.
FREE ebook: Jerusalem Archaeology: Exposing the Biblical City Read about some of the city’s most groundbreaking excavations.
In his article “Symbols of the Goddess,” in the Winter 2024 Issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, biblical scholar Christian Locatell examines one of these roots, looking at how a depiction of the Tree of Life recently excavated at the site of Tel Burna in the Shephelah may have been associated with the Canaanite goddess Asherah.
Tel Burna krater, with Tree of Life imagery. Courtesy Benjamin Yang, Tel Burna Archaeological Project.
The Tree of Life motif, however, dates back to at least the third millennium BCE and existed throughout the Near East. In each culture, the tree took on slightly different meanings, though it always represented life and abundance. Occasional references to the Tree of Life (or similar plants) are even found in Near Eastern literature, including the famous Epic of Gilgamesh, where the eponymous hero dives to the bottom of the sea to retrieve a plant that gives eternal life. Texts from the city of Eridu in southern Mesopotamia also reference the kishkanu tree that was thought to have life-giving powers. According to some scholars, the plant may have been thought to come from Dilmun (modern Kuwait), which many Mesopotamian peoples associated with the Garden of Paradise. Similarly, in Egyptian mythology, according to the Book of the Dead, various trees could grant eternal life to the deceased.
Carved rhyton depicting two ibexes eating from the Tree of Life (c.1000 BCE). Behrouz.rayini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Tree of Life is frequently found in ancient Near Eastern art, frequently in an idealized or stylized form. Often portrayed as a date palm in Mesopotamia and the Levant and as a fig tree in Egypt, the tree conveyed the abundance and nourishment of the gods. In Mesopotamian and Levantine iconography, the tree is often accompanied by various motifs and images. One of the most common shows the tree flanked by two caprids, likely wild goats or ibex, although other images are found as well, including cherubs, humans, gods, flowers, and astral depictions. Indeed, the walls of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem were likely meant to represent the Tree of Life and, by extension, the Garden of Eden: “He carved the walls of the house all around about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers” (1 Kings 6:29).
A nursing mother under an Egyptian sycamore fig tree. Maler der Grabkammer des Menna, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
In Mesopotamia, the Tree of Life was closely associated with the goddess Ishtar, and at times images of the tree and the goddess were interchangeable, with many hybrid depictions of goddess-trees in which branches sprung from the goddess. Such iconography is also found in the Levant, where the Tree of Life is often associated with Ishtar’s Canaanite counterpart, Asherah (as suggested by the recent discovery at Tel Burna). In addition to other attributes, both goddesses are connected to agricultural blessings and fertility. This branch of the Tree of Life tradition likely shows up again in the Hebrew Bible, connected to the frequently mentioned cultic object known as an asherah, which most scholars believe was a wooden object or pole that represented the goddess of the same name.
During the Iron Age (c. 1200–586 BCE), the Tree of Life came to be associated with male deities as well, especially the chief gods of the various Levantine kingdoms, including Yahweh (Israel and Judah), Chemosh (Moab), and Milkom (Ammon). As such, the tree took on additional political meanings alongside its traditional association with agricultural abundance.
FREE ebook: Ten Top Biblical Archaeology Discoveries. Finds like the Pool of Siloam in Israel, where the Gospel of John says Jesus miraculously restored sight to a blind man.
To learn more about the Tree of Life, and one particular example of this phenomenon excavated at the site of Tel Burna, be sure to read Christian Locatell’s article “Symbols of the Goddess,” in the Winter 2024 Issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
Subscribers: Read the full article, “Symbols of the Goddess” by Christian Locatell, in the Winter 2024 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
Not a BAS Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.
Related reading in Bible History Daily
All-Access members, read more in the BAS Library
Not a BAS Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.
Related Posts
Must-Read Free eBooks
Want more Bible history?
Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update.
Unlock Unlimited Access to the Bible's Past
Unlock Unlimited Access to the Bible's Past
Become an All-Access Member to explore the Bible's rich history. Get Biblical Archaeology Review in print, full online access, and FREE online talks. Plus, enjoy special Travel/Study discounts. Don't miss out—begin your journey today!
