tartak Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
tartak in Easton's Bible Dictionary
prince of darkness, one of the gods of the Arvites, who colonized part of Samaria after the deportation of Israel by Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:31).
tartak in Smith's Bible Dictionary
(prince of darkness), one of the gods of the Avite or Avvite colonists of Samaria. #2Ki 17:31| According to rabbinical tradition, Tartak is said to have been worshipped under the form of an ass.
tartak in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
TAR'TAK (prince of darkness), one of the gods of the Arvites, colonists whom Shalmaneser placed in Samaria to occupy the land after the original inhabitants had been removed. 2 Kgs 17:31. It has been identified with the Accadian god Turtak, who specially watched over the Tigris.
tartak in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Idol of the Avvite colonists planted by Esarhaddon in Samaria (2 Kings 17:31). Worshipped under the form of a donkey (Talmud Bab. Sanhedrin, 63 b.). In Egyptian hieroglyphics the donkey symbolizes Tartak (Plutarch Isaiah and Os. 14). Tartak may be of Persian origin, meaning "the prince of darkness", belonging to the under world or some planet of ill fortune. The Carmanians worshipped Mars with a donkey (2 Kings 17:31). In Pehlevi tar thakh means "deep darkness", "hero of darkness".