Beher was the pre-Christian Ethiopian (Aksumite) god of the sea. He was part of a trinity of pre-Christian Eritrean and Ethiopian religion, together with Astar (god of sun and moon) and Mahrem (god of war and head god).[1]The name Beher is likely derived from the Arabic bahr(sea).[2]
Beher is the god of the land and of the sea and is associated with agricultural fertility.[1] He also appears to be identified with Meder, the Earth-Mother. Beher may be related to the Eritrean and Ethiopian Christian word for God, egziabher, originally 'Lord of the Land' as well as 'Lord of the World'.[3] All of these names appear together in the writings of Ezana in which the throne is dedicated to Astar, Beher, and Meder.[4] For the Aksumites, these gods are comparable to the Greeks'. Astar was associated with Zeus while Mahrem was parallel with Ares. Beher was associated to Poseidon.[3]
Beher and other gods of this religion likely had animal sacrifices made in their honor, mostly cattle or possibly votives as representations for those animals. [5]