In Ancient Israel/"Syria-Palestine . . . the image of a goddess . . . was venerated as a creator of vegetation, if not of life itself" (Gods, Goddesses and Images of God In Ancient Israel).
Goddess worship, however, conflicted with the rise of monotheism and the formation of the Old Testament.
The feminine component of religion had to be eliminated.
By the end of 7th and 6th centuries BCE, Asherah was the only major surviving goddess in Palestine - but Asherah's days were numbered and she was soon eliminated also.
More Asherah information & resources at www.VanquishedGoddessAsherah.com.