What may Astarte figurines have represented in ancient Syrian and Palestinian religion?

In ancient Syrian and Palestinian religion, the so-called Astarte figurines were common religious objects found both inside and outside of sacred spaces. These artifacts typically depicted a nude woman, often characterized by exaggerated breasts and genitalia, and occasionally shown holding a child.1

Scholars suggest that these figurines may have functioned as fetishes representing a mother goddess. Their physical attributes and frequent inclusion of a child indicate they were likely used to stimulate or invoke divine favor regarding conception, childbirth, and lactation.1