Since the medieval period, Moloch is often depicted as a bull-headed idol with outstretched hands over a fire, drawing from biblical mentions and accounts of Carthaginian child sacrifice.
Molech" is a word appearing in the Hebrew Bible, traditionally understood as a Canaanite god, but also speculated by some scholars to refer to the act of sacrifice itself, with the Hebrew word "mlk" potentially meaning "sacrifice" in the Punic language.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- The name "Molech" (or Molek) appears several times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in the Book of Leviticus, and also in Amos, though the Hebrew text doesn't explicitly mention the name there.
- The Greek Septuagint translates some instances of "Molech" as "their king," but retains the name "Moloch" in others.
- Traditionally, "Molech" has been understood as the name of a Canaanite god, possibly associated with child sacrifice.
- Since 1935, some scholars have suggested that "Molech" might not refer to a god, but rather to the act of sacrifice itself, as the Hebrew word "mlk" is similar in spelling to a Punic word meaning "sacrifice".
- In modern times, "Moloch" has been used figuratively to refer to a power or entity that demands a dire sacrifice.
- Since the medieval period, Moloch is often depicted as a bull-headed idol with outstretched hands over a fire, drawing from biblical mentions and accounts of Carthaginian child sacrifice.
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