Final answer:
The old Canaanite mother goddess is known as Asherah. She was a central figure in the Canaanite pantheon, and her worship extended into later periods despite transitions to monotheistic practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name of the old Canaanite mother goddess is Asherah. In Canaanite religion and mythology, Asherah was considered a prominent goddess, commonly referred to as the consort of El, who was the head of the pantheon. This is evidenced by archaeological findings such as temples and figurines, indicating that worship of these deities, including Asherah and others like Astarte and Baal, persisted well into the eighth century BCE.
It is interesting to note that the Bible's commandments and other ancient texts suggest a transition from these polytheistic practices to monotheistic worship, as seen in the transition from El to Yahweh in Hebrew tradition, with Yahweh's commandment to 'have no other gods before me.' This demonstrates how older traditions were adapted and sometimes incorporated into emerging religious narratives.