IL

ORIGIN Canaanite [northern Israel, Lebanon and Syrian coastal regions]. Creator god.

KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 2000 BC, and probably earlier, until circa 200 BC or later.

SYNONYMS EL (Hebrew); LATIPAN; Tor-’Il.

CENTER(S) OF CULT Ugarit (Ras Sˇamra), but also generally throughout areas of Canaanite influence.

ERESˇKIGAL (the great below)

ORIGIN Mesopotamian (Sumerian and Babylonian-Akkadian) [Iraq]. Chthonic underworld goddess.

KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 3500 BC or earlier to 200 BC or later.

SYNONYMS ALLATU(M).