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Baal was a title and honorific meaning 'owner' or 'lord' in the Northwest Semitic languages. It was applied to various deities, especially Hadad, the storm and fertility god of ancient Syria and Canaan, who was worshiped in many cults and epics.
Sep 11, 2024 · In the mythology of Canaan, Baal, the god of life and fertility, locked in mortal combat with Mot, the god of death and sterility. If Baal triumphed, a seven-year cycle of fertility would ensue; but, if he were vanquished by Mot, seven years of drought and famine would ensue.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Mesopotamian Origins
- Baal in The Levant
- The Baal Cycle
- Baal in The Bible
- Conclusion
Baal Hadad originated in Mesopotamia under the names Adad in the north and Iskur in the south. He is attested as early as the time of the Akkadian Empire (2334-2218 BCE) but became more popular after the fall of the Third Dynasty of Ur (2047-1750 BCE) during the First Babylonian Empire (c. 1894 to c. 1595 BCE). Even so, at this time, he was not a m...
While still a thriving city, however, Ugarit participated in trade with others including the major urban centers of the Levant. Baal Hadad seems to have traveled there via trade, though precisely when is unknown. He became a central deity of the Canaanite pantheon which would inform, first, Canaanite beliefs and, later, Phoenician religion. The Pho...
The Baal Cycle begins with Baal, son of Dagon, confident that he will be chosen as king by El, lord of the gods. El disappoints his expectations, however, by choosing Yamm, who almost instantly subjugates the other gods and forces them to work for him. The gods complain to Asherah who agrees to intercede for them with Yamm. She offers him all kinds...
Although Baal is mentioned almost 100 times in the Bible, he is best known from the narratives of I and II Kings which include the story of the Phoenician princess Jezebel(d. c. 842 BCE), who encouraged his worship, and her struggle with the prophet Elijah, champion of the cult of Yahweh. Jezebel marries the Israelite King Ahab, who, according to I...
Baal's cult was eventually replaced by the cult of Yahweh and his name became synonymous with the enemies of the one true god. In II Kings 1, Ba'al Zebub is associated with Ekron, god of the Philistines, the people famously cast as the enemies of Israel in the Bible. Ba'al Zebub would eventually be known as Beelzebub to the New Testament scribes an...
- Joshua J. Mark
Apr 8, 2024 · Ba’al was a popular deity in the ancient Near East, associated with rain, thunder, and bountiful harvests. Learn how he competed with the Hebrew God for the loyalty of the people in the Bible, and how he survived as a demon in Christian mythology.
Ba'al with raised arm, fourteenth-twelfth century B.C.E., found at Ras Shamra. In the Bible, Baal (also rendered Baʿal) was an important Canaanite god, often portrayed as the primary enemy of the Hebrew God Yahweh. The Semitic word "baal" (meaning '"Lord") was also used to refer to various deities of the Levant.
Feb 18, 2024 · In the article below, WHE delves into the origins, meanings, and narrative complexities surrounding Baal, exploring his significance in ancient Levantine religion and his enduring impact on cultural and historical narratives.
May 29, 2024 · Baal, a big name in ancient Near Eastern religions, is often linked with fertility, weather, and good harvests. Revered mainly in the Canaanite pantheon, Baal’s reach spreads to Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Israelites.
