As for the source of the confusion, it is spelled "B-I-B-L-E". When the writers of the LIE-ble destroyed all those references to ancient gods and goddesses, they also destroyed the culture surrounding them in order to impose their own Jewish and Christian (and Muslim) fiction on people. This was done by force in all three platforms, depriving people of any links to any past gods/goddesses. And when they did make mention of them, such gods were tampered with. Confusion results. In fact, Astaroth (and Beelzebub, along with all the other gods) were corrupted, made to look like wicked demons, and denigraded while various people (Tyrant David comes to mind) were venerated.
For sure, you are going to get a lot more out of Easter (along with the other major holidays--there are 8 of them spread out through the year) by trying to find how they were originally celebrated. True, technology allows us to do things now that couldn't have been done then. But, you will find that there are striking similarities between how they were observed then and how they are observed now. (Which fundamentalist Christians are, to this day, doing their best to obliterate.) So, next time you see that rabbit hopping with the goodies, you can think of Astaroth.
And, next time you find it difficult to find research that agrees, you can thank those in charge of writing the LIE-ble, destroying so much ancient culture, and hiding it in the Vatican library so no one can find it.
