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The article examines the evidence for the existence of sacred prostitution in ancient Corinth, as referred to in the New Testament, and whether such a practice was associated with the worship of Aphrodite or Venus in the city. It concludes that while there is some evidence for the existence of sacred prostitution in earlier periods of Corinthian history, there is no convincing evidence to suggest that the practice was associated with the worship of Aphrodite or Venus in the Roman period.

The article focuses on the 8th century B.C.E. Judean king Hezekiah and his destruction of the Nechushta, a sacred snake sculpture relic from the exodus. An overview of Hezekiah's reign is given from Biblical and archaeological standpoints, centering on his religious reform and foreign policies. Some scholars suggest Hezekiah's reaction against the artifact was in response to Egyptian and Assyrian religious symbolism.