Dictionary/Ecclesiastical/Beelphegor

From Saint Wiki

Ecclesiastical Dictionary Contents | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ

 

Beelphegor, Baalphegor, Baal-Peor. Syrian god, adored especially by the Ammonites and Madianites, was the same as Priapus according to Origen; as Saturnus, according to St. John Chrysostom, Theodoret, Apollinaris and Suidas. But it would appear that Dom Calmet has shown that it was the same god as Adonis or Horus, adored by the Egyptians. "Phegor or Peor," he says, "is the same as Or or Horus, by cutting off from this word the article Pe, which signifies nothing. Horus is the same as Adonis or Osiris." The Israelites, in the desert of Sin, permitted themselves to be dragged into the worship of Phegor and committed lewd actions with the daughters of Moab (Num. xxv. 2-3), and the Psalmist adds that they partook in the sacrifices for the dead. Now we know that the feasts of Adonis were celebrated as funeral feasts, and that they abandoned themselves to all kinds of debaucheries.