ORIGIN Canaanite and Phoenician [northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria]. Fertility and war goddess.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP From prehistoric times (circa 2500 BC) until AD 200 or later.
SYNONYMS Anath; Lady of the Mountain; Antit (Egyptian).
ORIGIN Canaanite and Phoenician [northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria]. Fertility and war goddess.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP From prehistoric times (circa 2500 BC) until AD 200 or later.
SYNONYMS Anath; Lady of the Mountain; Antit (Egyptian).
by Dr Anthony E. Smart
Leader of the gods. The first Canaanite god, El dwelt on Mount Saphon, and it was under his aegis that Baal married Anat, defeated the sea god Yam and the death lord Mot, and was installed as the divine bestower of life-giving rain. Represented as an aged man, El wore bull’s horns, the symbol of strength, and was usually depicted as seated. It is thought that he corresponded to the Hebrew god, Yahweh. He is also known as El ‘Elyon, “God Most High.”