The newest abstract out-of Phoenician mythology which was managed away from Philo through Eusebius (instance biblical observes on the same subject) was once are not regarded having suspician of the critical scholarship and thought to be mostly an innovation from the Philo, without the separate really worth as a way to obtain experience in Phoenician faith. It suspicious ideas since disappered using this new recovery off religious epic books from Ugarit towards the northern Syrian shore (1927-1937).

These high poetical texts found by D.F.A great. Schaefer when you look at the a series of tricks have demostrated that gods of Philo happen labels when you look at the large area now better-understood away from Ugarit as well as off their supply. The newest Philo myths try characterized by a comparable moral dump and you may primitive barbarity having fondness to possess descriptive brands and you may personifications which can be available at Ugarit.

The newest sourced elements of studies indicate nothing change in the content away from Canaanite mythology between c. 1400 BC and you may 700 BC. Of several information on Philo’s account, not only in the matter of your labels regarding deities, however in the mythological ambiance also come into done agreement toward Ugaritic myths and you may late Phoenician inscriptions. Scholars was, ergo, warranted within the acknowledging, no less than provisionally, all the research managed by Philo which do not cover personal interpretation for the their region.

The new divinities hence profile throughout the mythological messages regarding Ugarit have been plainly not peculiar on city, but had been current one of all the Canaanites, since they brear simply an unclear link to the preferred deities worshipped in the city itself

Just like the mythology out of ancient Ugarit indicate, this new religion of Canaanite peoples try a crude and you may debased brand of routine polytheism. It was for the sexy fertility-cult worship off an especially smutty and you may orgiastic kind, hence proved to be alot more influential than just about any almost every other character religion about ANE.

The fresh Ugaritic deities are now actually most commonly known by numerous out-of religious messages matchmaking on 15th and you may early fourteenth century BC which were found in a library situated inside a building centered between Ugarit’s several higher temples, one to seriously interested in Baal therefore the almost every other so you’re able to Dagon

Canaanite deities, into the one hand, expose better fluidity regarding personality and you may form, so that it is commonly nearly impossible to fix this website name of different gods or even to describe their kinship to one another. It is one of the grossly irrational aspects of Canaanite faith, an indicator of its corrupt characteristics. As well, Canaanite deities has usually etymologically transparent labels, an undeniable fact which seems to indicate the fresh new Canaanite pantheon since symbolizing a beneficial cruder and more primitive kind of polytheism.

Various epigraphic and you may literary provide inform you brand new brands of your own master gods and you may goddesses of several Canaanite citaies in various attacks.

El is the name which this new finest Canaanite goddess try understood. It is and additionally a reputation in which Goodness is known as within the the outdated Testament — Este, the fresh new God (Elohim) out-of Israel ( este elohe yisrael: Gen. ). For the majority prose it occures more often with an adjunct: El Elyon (many highest Jesus, Gen. ), Este Shaddai (traditionally, God-almighty, Gen. 17:1), El Hai (New way of life Goodness, Josh. 3:10), and very are not about plural off majesty, Elohim. Inside the Hebrew poetry El is much more frequent, where they really stands quite often without the adjunct the league (Ps. , 33, 48; ; Work 8:3).

The term Este is actually a general label getting “god” during the Northwest Semitic (Hebrew and you can Ugaritic) and thus it’s very used in the outdated Testament having heathen deities otherwise idols (Ex. ; Ps. ; Is actually. ). The first simple identity is ‘ilum ; losing the newest mimation and the nominative instance conclude ( u ) becomes ‘el inside the Hebrew. It was likely a keen adjectival formation (intransitive participle) in the root “becoming strong, powerful” ( ‘wl ), definition “The newest Solid (or Powerful) You to.”