Jezebel

The wife of King Ahab of Israel (northern kingdom). Jezebel came from Sidon and their marriage was intended to strengthen political ties between Israel and one of its northern neighbours. Jezebel brought with her the worship of her people – in other words the worship of Baal and Asherah – and attempted to introduce it (or reintroduce it) to Israel. This was the cause of the conflict between her and the prophet Elijah. Jezebel was regarded as a symbol of great evil and from there as the symbol of a 'fallen woman', though there are no stories in the Old Testament to suggest that she was unfaithful to Ahab.