Tammuz

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A Phoenician idol, supposed by some to be the same as the Greek Adonis, as in the Vulgate. The prophet saw women weeping for “the Tammuz,” who according to tradition had been slain (Ezek. 8:1414Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. (Ezekiel 8:14)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:
8542 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Transliteration:
Tammuwz
Phonic:
tam-mooz’
Meaning:
of uncertain derivation; Tammuz, a Phoenician deity
KJV Usage:
Tammuz

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

thou shalt be shrivelled up

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Giver of the vine; concealed; departure; dissolution:―a Phoenician deity [TEBETH], Ezek. 8:14. {Dator vini}

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Notwithstanding the numerous and ingenious conjectures of various critics, nothing is positively known concerning the origin and meaning of this word. The opinion commonly received by commentators is that Tammuz was the Syrian name of Adonis, under which title the Phenicians worshiped the sun. Adonis is the Phenician, or old Hebrew, for “Lord,” or “my Lord,” and is the same in meaning as Baal. The worship of Adonis, which spread through many lands, was Phenician in origin, and was celebrated chiefly in Byblus, and in the temples of Aphrodite. According to the legend, Adonis was killed by a boar and afterward rose from the dead. This is supposed to represent the sun’s decline in winter and his returning strength in summer.
The ceremonies consisted in mourning over his death and searching for the idol which represented his body, after which there were festivities accompanied with gross debauchery.
Others, however, recognizing the article in the original, making it the Tammuz, have supposed the word to designate an idol set up for worship. An old Rabbinical commentator says that the image was made of metal, and was hollow. In the eye socket there was lead, which, on a fire being kindled within the hollow image, melted and ran down like tears. Another represents the Tammuz as a hollow image with holds through which water flowed. Those who adopt the idea that the image wept, whether from fire or water, render the text, “there sat women causing Tammuz to weep.”
Another ancient tradition makes Tammuz the name of an old idolatrous prophet, who was put to death by a king whom he endeavored to persuade to worship the stars. On the night of his death all the images gathered from the ends of the earth to the temple of Babel, where was the golden image of the sun. This image, suspended between heaven and earth, fell down in the midst of the temple, and all the other images fell around it, and wept all night because of the death of the prophet. After this there was an annual mourning on account of his death.
Whether Tammuz was a myth, an idol, or a man, the women spoken of in the text were undoubtedly engaged in some acts of idolatrous worship which are called “abominations.”

Related Books and Articles:

567. Tammuz
Narrator: Chris Genthree