Baal is a term used to refer to various gods in ancient Semitic religions, primarily in the Near East.
The name “Baal” (which means “lord” or “master”) is most commonly associated with the Canaanite storm and fertility god.
Baal is derived from the Semitic root: b’l (Akkadian: bēlu[m]; Hebrew: בעל, baʿal; Arabic: بعل, ba’l) and meant “lord” or “owner.”
In general, the god Baal was seen as the son of the sky god El, and his mother was therefore Athirat. His sister was Anat, who was also considered his consort (from around 1000 B.C., this was Ashtoreth), and Yam and Mot were his brothers. One of his epithets was ‘Rider of the Clouds.’
Canaanite Religion
In Canaanite religion, Baal was a major deity associated with weather, fertility, and agriculture. He was often depicted holding a lightning bolt and was considered a powerful and influential god who could bring rain and thus ensure the fertility of the land.
Ugaritic Texts
Much of what is known about Baal comes from the Ugaritic texts discovered at the ancient city of Ugarit (modern-day Ras Shamra in Syria). In these texts, Baal is depicted as the son of El, the chief god, and Asherah, the mother goddess. Baal’s primary enemy in these texts is the god Mot (death), with whom he battles in a cyclical struggle representing the seasonal changes.
Biblical References
In the Hebrew Bible, Baal is often mentioned as a rival to Yahweh, the God of Israel. The worship of Baal was frequently condemned by Hebrew prophets, and the Israelites are often portrayed as turning away from Yahweh to worship Baal, which led to various conflicts and punishments.
The story of Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) is a famous biblical narrative involving a contest between the prophets of Baal and the prophet Elijah.
Cultural Influence
Baal worship spread throughout the ancient Near East, including among the Phoenicians, who took the worship of Baal to their colonies in the Mediterranean, such as Carthage. The Carthaginian god Baal Hammon is believed to have been influenced by the Canaanite Baal.
Variations and Syncretism
There were various regional variations of Baal, and the name Baal was often combined with other titles and local attributes, such as Baal Hadad (the storm god in Mesopotamia), Baal Zephon (associated with a specific mountain), and Baal Peor (a Moabite deity).
Baal’s worship typically involved rituals and offerings intended to appease the god and ensure his favor, particularly in matters related to agriculture and weather.
Over time, the worship of Baal declined with the rise of monotheistic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
| Name | Region/City | Attributes/Associations |
|---|---|---|
| Baal Hadad | Canaan, Aram | Storm and rain god, depicted wielding a thunderbolt |
| Baal Zephon | Coastal regions | Maritime weather, protector of sailors, god of navigation |
| Baal Peor | Moab | Associated with Mount Peor, led to conflict with Israelites |
| Baal Hammon | Carthage | Fertility and agriculture, consort Tanit, influenced by Canaanite worship |
| Baal Shamin | Palmyra | Sky god, associated with the heavens and weather phenomena |
| Baal Melqart | Tyre, Carthage | Patron god of Tyre, sea, navigation, afterlife, protector of the city |
| Baal Qarnaim | Shechem | Fertility and agriculture, symbolized by “two horns” |
| Baal Hermon | Mount Hermon | Associated with the mountain, local cult |
| Baal Meon | Beth-baal-meon | Local manifestation in the region east of the Jordan River |
| Baal Bek | Baalbek (Heliopolis) | Major center of worship, grand temple complex in the Roman period |
| Baal Gad | Northern Israel | Associated with fortune and luck, worshiped in the city of Baal-gad |
| Baal Tamar | Lebanon | Associated with palm trees, local cult worshiped in Baal-tamar |
| Baal Berith | Shechem | “Lord of the Covenant,” associated with agreements and covenants |
| Baal Moloch | Various regions | Associated with child sacrifice, often conflated with the god Moloch |
Set-Baal
Set also became associated with foreign gods during the New Kingdom, particularly in the delta. Set was identified by the Egyptians with the Hittite deity Teshub, who, like Set, was a storm god, and the Canaanite deity Baal, being worshipped together as “Seth-Baal”.
