" toward the Divine Mot in the midst of his city, the Swamp/Mire-y,to the pit where is the seat/low throne that he sits on ALT: Muck, his royal house,To the filth of the earth, which is his estate. ALT: Filth, the land of his inheritance.Yet beware/be on your guard, divine messengers of the gods/divine powers:Approach not close El's son, Mot, who is Death,Lest he make youlike a lamb in his mouth,lest like a kid in his gullet!you both be crushed to pieces/carried awayThe torch of the gods, Shapash Goddess of the Sun,scorches/ burns/ is glowing hot,the heavens shimmer under/are wearied by - the hand ofthe Beloved of El, Mot."  This is just getting better n better... n ppl dont have a clue who he is..copyright Lilinah biti-Anat, 1995-1997
In the late 1920's a Syrian farmer plowing a field on a hill turned up a strange clay tablet. A French archaeological team went to investigate. In 1928, that hill, behind Ras Shamra, a sleepy north Syrian port town, was discovered to be a tel, a mound which was actually the site of an ancient city. Within it were the ruins of Ugarit, a major Bronze Age Canaanite city, including a large palace and two temples. Many clay tablets were found during the couse of the dig, including a number within the Chief Priest's quarters. 

The tablets were in cuneiform, but examination quickly revealed that although the shapes of the characters were familiar, they were unrelated to the familiar cuneiforms of Sumer and Akkad. Rather than the usual thousands, there were only 28 characters. Here was evidence of the first alphabet! A relationship between this character set and Hebrew allowed the French team, led by Charles Virolleaud, to make early tentative translations between 1930-1933. 

This discovery has had a major effect on the study of the Ancient Near East. Refinements have been in the translations during the succeeding 65 years, and current scholars involve linguistic knowledge of Arabic to augment their work. The information in the various tablets has spread beyond the field of archaeology, changing, among others, the face of history, religion, and mythology. Whereas previously knowledge of the Pagan religions of the region was limited to a few untrustworthy references in Greek and Roman writing, and moreso, the highly biased accounts in the Torah/ Bible and the negative writings of early religious writers of Judaism and Christianity. As Ancient Near Eastern scholar Cyrus Gordon says "...Ugaritic is the greatest literary discover from antiquity since the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mesopotamian cuneiform..." (The Ancient Near East, p. 99) 

The important deities El, Athirat/ Asherah, Ba'al, and Anat emerge, assisted by other deities such as the sun goddess Shapash, the magician-craftsman Kothar-wa-Khasis, who were hitherto poorly known or unknown. Prior knowledge has been expanded and the influence of Canaanite religion and mythology on surrounding cultures, including the Egyptians, Hittites, and Greeks, and in Judaism, is much more apparent, as is the influence of these other cultures and those of Mesopotamia on the Canaanites. More information is available on El, Ba'al, Athirat/ Asherah, Anat and on Yahm, Shapash, Kothar-wa-Khasis, and Athtart/ Astarte. 

I present here the most important of the mythological stories uncovered, the Myth of Ba'al. Seven tablets, written on both sides, five columns per side, contain the story. Unfortunately several were badly damaged during their almost 3200 years in the ground, so parts of the story are unclear. The language, however, is quite vivid, and in some cases very beautiful. Scholars now see that the writing style of the Torah is a continuity of that of the Canaanites, and certain expressions and descriptions are virtually identical, while some Canaanite Pagan vignettes have been rewritten in the Bible to support the newer religion. The language describing the deity YHWH shows that many of his characterestics are a combination of the Canaanite El and Ba'al. 

The version which follows is my own, presented in four parts. I have compared four complete or nearly complete translations: Coogan, Gaster, Ginsberg, and Driver as edited by J. C. L. Gibson; three partial translations by Cassuto, de Moor, and Smith; and three transliterations of the Ugaritic by Driver (complete), de Moor (selections), and Smith (part one). For complete bibliographic information, see Sources. 

In some cases, the scholars are essentially in agreement and the only difference is a choice among synonyms. In other cases, however, there are vast differences among them. I have had to make some choices, based on knowledge of the Canaanite culture as well as my Pagan background, which gives me a somewhat different view of the material than the primarily Jewish or Christian scholars. In the academic world, when faced with several possiblilties, a scholar takes a stand for one only. It seems to me that in some cases the use of word-play, common in the literature of all Semitic languages, is evident. In these instances i have combined the various different choices into one line integrating several of them. 

Although there are vowels in the Ugaritic alphabet (the 6 additional characters beyond the standard 22), these were only used in transcribing words in foreign languages. For the Ugaritic, scholars must add some vowels as these were not all given. There is more than one way to do this; de Moor and Smith reflect the most current method. 

Centered lines in italics indicate identification codes of tablets.
Col. obviously indicates which column on the tablet.
Numbers preceeding lines indicate which line it is in a particular column.
Words separated by a < / > are alternate meanings. 

© 1995-1997 Lilinah biti-Anat 



_________________________________________________________

Part I: The Battle of Ba´al and Yahm
copyright Lilinah biti-Anat, 1995-1997
For this part of the myth, i have compared the transliterations of de Moor, Driver, and Smith with translations by Coogan, de Moor, Gaster, Ginsburg, Smith, and Driver as ed. by J. C. L. Gibson
Scholars must add some vowels to the Ugaritic names, as these were not all given. The Ocean god's name is variously written as Yam, Yamm, or Yamu. I write it as Yahm because (a) there aren't two m's in Ugaritic, (b) it is not pronounced like the vegetable, but more like Yom
For very obscure passages, i have relied largely on Smith, since he is the only one to attempt a translation. These passages are noted.
For bibliographic information, see Sources. 

KTU 1.1 = CTA 1 = UT ´nt: plates IX, I = VI AB
Col. V | Col. IV | Col. III | Col. II

KTU 1.2 = CTA 2 = UT 129 = III AB
Col. III | Col. I | Col. II | Col. IV

KTU 1.1 = CTA 1 = UT ´nt: plates IX, I = VI AB


In a very poor state of preservation

Col. v [from Smith]
`El Speaks to Yahm (?)
1. . . . . . . 
2-3. . . . and a day, two days will pass . . .
3. . . . he (Ba´al?) will arrive with a [life/ appetite/ hunger/ desire/ throat or lung as a type of offering] . . .
4. . . . Hadad, you will meet him . . . 
5. . . . at Tsapan . . . 
6. . . . a cut (of meat) . . . when he sees . . . 
Yahm (?) Speaks to `El
7. . . . he speaks: " . . . 
8. . . . truly I know
9. . . . [Bull `El] will bind him, Bull El . . .
10. . . . you will bind . . . 
11. . . . stones (i.e., testicles) . . . I am/was -or- you are/were - constrained
12. . . . and he will surely attack (me) in my loins
13. . . . red stuff, back . . . 
`El Responds to Yahm (?)
14. . . . you shall surely drive (him) in his loins . . . 
15. . . . a day, two days will pass
16. . . . he will arrive with a life (see above, li. 3)
17. . . . Hadad, you will meet him
18. . . . your . . . [f]ood on Tsapan . . . 
19. . . . a doe
Yahm (?) Responds to `El
20. . . . then he speaks: " . . . 
21. . . . truly I know . . . 
22. . . . you will bind him, Bull `El . . . 
23. . . . you will bind . . . stones (i.e., testicles). . . 
24. . . . [I am/was//you are/were] constrained . . . enter . . . 
25. . . . attack me in my loins . . . I will be provisioned . . . 
26. . . . you will enter when he lifts [his head/eyes?]
27. . . . with provisions you will indeed be fed . . . 
28. . . . to the earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


Col. iv

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Aloud they [summon the assembly of the gods/ do cry to those near]. They invite 
the distant ones/ those far away, to the assembly of `El 
they summon/do cry: "`El remains seated [in his marzeah/banqueting hall//among his cult-guests (dM)] . . . 
The shame of the Eternal One/The shameful conduct of the usurper . . . 
O gods, (to) the house of your lord . . . 
[Who surely travels (S)/lest he go (D/G) quickly/the Runner will not walk (dM)] through the land, . . . 
who goes in the dust (of) destruction/a mess of mud on the ground . . . 
Comments: Smith believes lines 7-8 should be interpreted "Either literally, as `El walking through the underworld, or an allusion to `El being "dead drunk," or both metaphorical, and ironic, as the marzeah serves as the setting for feasts for the dead and for the living mourning the dead (p. 145). De Moor, on the other hand, believes they refer to Ba´al, since Hadad is called the Runner in tablet CTA 6:I.50 and at the city of Alalakh.
He [drinks/gives them to drink] [curdled milk=yogurt/silt (dM)] overflowing . . ., He takes a cup in his hand/gives a cup into both their hands, 
A beaker in/into the two hands. 
. . . like pulp/mush/porridge/crumbs. Like hts/gravel is gathered . . . 
`El should appoint/appoints as deputy his son. The Bull should proclaim/proclaims as Master Yawu 
And Kindly `El the Beneficent speaks . . . Not called 
my son by the name of Yawu, O goddess `Elat and ..., but Yahm shall be his name! 
And [he pronounces/proclaims/so do you pronounce/proclaim] the name Yahm . . . And `Elat and Lady `Athiratu 
. . . they answer: ÔFor our sustenance . . . you are the one who has been proclaimed,
17a. You, O sire, may you, proclaim his name . . . alt. You ÔLordÕ [Õadon] have been proclaimed.
17b. And the Bull `El answered:

I, myself, Kindly `El the Beneficent, have taken you 
Upon/in my hands . . . I proclaim your name. Yahm is your name, 
Your name is Beloved of `El, Yahm 
My house of silver which . . ./A house of my silver that . . . 
In/By the hand of Mighty `Aliyan Ba´al . . . 
Thus/ because he reviles/ abused me . . . 
Drive him from the throne of his kingship, From the resting place, the cushion on the seat 
of his dominion . . . 
But if then you do not drive him from his throne of kingship, from the seat of his dominion, 
He will beat you like . . . 
`El sacrifices, he does slaughter . . . 
He proclaims . . . 
He slaughters oxen, also sheep. He fells 
bulls and [fatlings, rams/fatted rams], yearling calves, 
sheep by the flock, he sacrifices, kids. 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
[Comment: de Moor says this is likely done in November, when there would be yearlings calves and winter lambs (p. 122-123)]

Col. iii
1*. Then they surely head


Toward the whole of divine Memphis; Kaphtor [= Crete] is the throne of his sitting; Memphis his inherited land. 
From a thousand acres, ten thousand hectares, At the feet of Kothar 
they bow and kneel, They prostrate themselves and honor him 
And they speak to Kothar wa-Khasis, Skillful and Wise, They address Hayani, the Capable One 
of the Handicrafts: "Decree of Bull `El, your Father, 
Word of the Beneficent One, your Scion: 
" . . . . . . . . . Kothar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Prepare to pour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Prepare in the mountains (?) . . . . . . . . . . . 
You hasten! You hurry! You rush! To me let your feet run 
To me let your legs race, To the mountain, 
Mount Khas/ Khurshan-zur-kas. For a message I have, and I will tell you, 
A word and I will repeat to you: The word of tree and the whisper of stone, 
The converse of Heavens to the Earth, Of Deeps to Stars; 
The word not known to humankind, and not understood by the multitudes of the earth. 
Come and I will reveal it . . . Õ " 
And Kothar wa Khasis answers: "Go, go Divine Servants! 
You, you delay, but I, I depart. 
Kaphtor is indeed far, O Gods, Memphis is indeed far, O Deities: 
Two lengths beneath the springs of the Earth 
Three, the expanse of hollows." Then he indeed heads 
Toward Kindly `El the Beneficent, Toward the Mount Khas [Kvsi]/ Khurshan-zur-kas 
He enters `El's mountain and he comes 
To the domicile of the King, the Father of Years. At `El's feet he bows low and falls 
He prostrates himself and honors him . . . 
Bull `El his father speaks . . . : 
"Hurry, a house may it be built; Hurry, may there be erected a palace 
In the midst of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Build/son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Col. ii [from Smith]

Then you shall surely head toward Inbb Õinbvbi
Across a thousands courts, ten thousands houses
At the feet of ´Anat bow low and fall,
Prostrate yourselves and honor her.
And speak to Adolescent ´Anat,
Address the In-law of the Peoples:
"Message of Bull `El, your Father, 
Word of the Beneficent One, your Scion:
Remove from the earth war,
Set in the dust love;
Pour peace amidst the earth,
Tranquility amidst the fields.


You hurry! Your hasten! You rush! 
To me let your feet run, To me let your legs hasten . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . your food and drink 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lapis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . raise in the middle of . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . he will die . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . like spittle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . prepare for the earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . They/You will pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Then they surely head toward Inbb Õinbvbi [Note: Anat's abode] 
Across a thousands courts, ten thousands houses 
At the feet of ´Anat they bend over and fall, 
They prostrate themselves and honor her. And they lift their voice and declare: 
"Message of Bull `El, your Father, Word of the Beneficent One, your Scion: 
Remove from the earth war, 
Set in the dust love; Pour peace amidst the earth, 
Tranquility amidst the fields. 
You hurry! You hasten! You rush! To me let your feet run, 
To me let your legs hasten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
To the mountain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

KTU 1.2 = CTA 2 = UT 129 = III AB
Col. iii = C - Gordon: 129

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
4. Then indeed he sets his face toward `El at the Source of the Double Rivers, 
In the midst of the springs of the Two Oceans, the Double Deeps.
5. He penetrates/comes to the mountain(s) of `El 
and enters the pavilion of the king, Father Shunem/of Years. At the feet of `El 
6. he does bow and fall down, He prostrates himself and does him honor . . . 
7. . . . "(O), Kothar-and-Khasis, depart!/ Quickly, build a house for Yahm, erect a palace for Judge Nahar,
8. In the heart (?) . . . "Depart, Quickly, Kothar-wa-Khasis, 
build a house for Prince Yahm, raise a palace for Judge Nahar, 
9. a house like// In the midst of [Mt. Khas]. Amidst the mountain of Bull `El the Beneficent
10. Quickly shall you build the [house]/ the house let it be built, quickly/hurry let be raised/ erect/ may there be erected [the palace], A thousand acres may cover the house
11. ten thousand hectares the palace . . . boys at the fields of Yahm . . .
12. . . . in the sea . . . Yahm . . . " Then ´Athtar, . . . the possessor of kingship . . .
13. . . . a torch/ hr hrtm(= a red substance) and . . . fire
14. . . . (he) carries . . . (he) goes down . . .
15. . . . him, the Torch of the gods, Shapashu, she lifts up her voice and cries: ÔHear now, O ´Athtar, I beseech thee . . . : 
16. [Indeed] cause (the table) to be set/favors /Take vengeance will (S) will the Bull `El thy father before prince Yahm, before Judge Nahar.
ALT: "retire from the presence of Yahm, the presence of the Judge Nahar" (Gaster)
17. If hear thee should the Bull `El thy Father? Surely, he will pull up/out// uproot the support/pillars/mainstays of thy dwelling, indeed will overturn 
18. the throne of thy kingship! 
Surely (he) will break the scepter of thy dominion/rule//thine authority!" 
And answers [´Athtar], the possessor of kingship:
19. ". . . (against) me the Bull `El my father. As for me, I have no house like the gods, nor court like the sons 
20. sacred//of the Holy one(s)/of Holiness. Alone I shall go down into the grave of us both/Like a lion I will descend with my desire. The skillful ones, the Kotharim will wash me. To dwell in a house
21. is Prince Yahm, in a palace, Judge Nahar.
Cause the table to be set will the Bull `El his father before Prince Yahm,
22. before Judge Nahar. Am I indeed king or am I not king?"
And Shapash Torch of the gods answered: "Thou hast no wife like the gods . . .
23. nor a maiden like the sons of the Holy one(s). And Prince Yahm . . . , Judge Nahar . . . 
24. . . . he (will) send me." And answers ´Athtar . . . : 
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


Col. i = B - Gordon: 137 

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
2. And they return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
3. "You, you have risen against/up . . . . . [overweening],
4. Mightiest Ba´al [responded: " From your throne of kingship you will be driven]
5. [from the seat of] your dominion expelled!
6. On your head be Ayamari, Driver, O Yahm, Between your shoulders Yagarish, Chaser,
7. Judge Nahar. May Horon split open, O Yahm, may Horon split open/ smash
8. your head, ´Athtart-Name-of-Ba´al thy skull! 

[Comment: Apparently a common curse, it also occurs in Tablet 1.16 col. VI, lines 54-57]
9. . . . [broken thy] staff; and down you will fall at the peak of your years, 
. . . in the limit of your years, may you be humbled
10. [Like the Father of] Years, two women/wives . . ./May thy twain wives also!"
11. Two Messengers sends Yahm , Judge Nahar . . . envoys, [and raises his voice and cries/saying] :
12. They rejoice exceedingly (S)/As the jubilant rejoice (D/G)/ At the very height of their triumph (GA), let be shattered/ us shatter (their) . . . 
13. Their heart rejoices,/ . . . Their nose breaks (?)/let their nose be broken!. Depart/Go ye, pages, do not stay/delay/tarry. Straightaway turn ye your faces
14. indeed, towards the Assembly of the Convocation in the midst of the Mount of Lel/ Lelu/ Lalu/ Lila/ night. At the feet of `El,
15a. do you/ye indeed fall down, indeed prostrate yourselves/make obeisance
ALT: do not fall (down)/Do not bow; Prostrate yourselves not before
to the Assembly of the Convocation. 
15b. Standing (up), say what you have to
16. say, repeat what you know; and say unto the Bull, my father, `El, repeat unto the Convocation
17. Assembled: "The message of Yahm your master, of your lord Judge Nahar:
18a. Give up, O Gods, him whom you are hiding/obey//to whom they would be paying respect - or - the god with a following;
18b. Him whom you protect/obey, O Multitude//the one the multitudes are hiding/worship//Him on whom the multitudes wait/ to whom the multitudes would be paying respect. 
18c. Hand over Ba´al and his henchmen that I may humble him,
19. the Son of Dagan, - whose gold I am to inherit/I will/Let me seize his gold//assume his inheritance." 
Depart do/So away speed the pages/ messengers, they do not delay. Then straightaway their faces
20. indeed they set towards the midst of the mount of Lel/ Lelu/ Lalu/ Lila/ night, towards the Assembly of the Convocation. There/Meanwhile the Gods to eat
21. are sitting down, the sons of the Holy one/sacred beings to dine/a meal/cut up meat, Ba´al is standing beside `El. Behold! as soon as
22. the Gods catch sight of them; they catch sight of the messengers of Yahm, the envoys of Judge Nahar;
23. the gods do lower/bow their heads on to their knees and onto their thrones
24. of princeship. Them Ba´al rebukes: "Why do you lower/ bow, O Gods, your heads 
25. on to your knees and onto your thrones of princeship?
[In unison/Alone], gods, I will answer the tablets of the messengers of Yahm. (dM)
26. The gods, will they answer the tablets // (Do) I see (the) gods/I see, gods, that you are cowed/ stricken with fear of the messengers of Yahm, the envoys of Judge Nahar?
27. Lift up, O Gods, your heads from the top of your knees, from your thrones 
28. of princeship, For I will answer the messengers of Yahm, the envoys of Judge Nahar."
29. The gods lift up their heads from upon their knees, from their thrones of princeship.
30. Thereupon arrive the messengers of Yahm, the envoys of Judge Nahar; at the feet of `El 
31. indeed they (ALT: do not) fall, indeed they prostrate themselves/make obeisance (ALT: not) before/to the the Assembly of the Convocation. Standing, they say what they have to say,
32. Repeat what they know. A fire, two fires they appear to flash; A sharpened sword 
33. their tongue. They do say unto the Bull his father `El: "The message of Yahm your Master,
34. of your Lord, Judge Nahar: "Give up, O Gods, him whom you are hiding - ALT - the god with a following; 
O Gods, him to whom they would be paying respect - ALT - the one whom you are hiding/obey, 
35. O Multitude/the masses// to whom the multitudes would be paying respect/worship; 
Hand over Ba´al and his henchman that I may humble him, 
the Son of Dagan, that I may/Let me [seize his gold/assume his inheritance]."
36. And answers the Bull his father `El: "Thy slave Ba´al is, O Yahm, thy slave Ba´al is forever,
37. O Nahar, the Son of Dagan thy prisoner! He must bring tribute to you, like the Gods,
38. Even he must bring like the sons of the Holy one tribute/gifts to thee,
He will be brought as thy tribute - He will surely pay tribute to thee; 
For/When/for, see, the Holy ones [bring thy gift/payment//pay thee tribute],
The Holy Ones - are thy tributaries/gifts/bear presents unto thee!
a gift to you he will bring, Like the Holy Ones, offerings to you."
38b. Then indeed a companion to anger (i.e., angry) is Prince Ba´al
39. He takes/seizes in/with his hand a ÔslayerÕ, In (his) right hand a ÔsmiterÕ/striker. 
The pages/servitors . . . He reaches to strike. 
40. His right hand ´Anat seizes, his left hand takes does ´Athtart: "However can you assail the
41. messengers of Yahm, the envoys of Judge Nahar? A messenger holds the staff of . . . , 
42. . . . and you would slay a messenger? Between/upon his shoulders is the word of his lord,* and (he) . . . [Note: *official messages were carried in a bag tied round the neck]
43. . . . " ; Then indeed a companion to anger is Prince Ba´al;
the terraces with vines they will leave untilled.
44. . . . the messengers of Yahm will leave the fields unfurrowed, the envoys of Judge Nahar the earth,
45. . . . "I myself say to Yahm your master, your lord Judge
46. Nahar: [Hear] the word of the Avenger/Annihilator/Accomplisher Hadad: . . . 
47. . . . you do homage/bow down . . . /I will go after Yahm . . .
48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Col. ii [from Smith]


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Midst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
And Ba´al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . I will strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . Send . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . Life/Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . Ba´al (?) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Col. iv = A - Gordon: 68
(ca. 1 l.) - Driver/Gibson 
1. ". . . houses./ . . . . . . . . . .!
1. alt. " . . . [my] power is shattered . . .
1. alt. . . . drive out . . . die . . .
2. . . . I will not bring out. If moreover . . . . . . .
2. alt. . . . live . . . "I will surely send them out . . .If then I drive


. . . And in Yahm will be the sieve of destruction, And in Yahm will be the lungs/ breast of [death]; 
(in) Judge Nahar will be "gnawers", There "attackers"/worms/maggots move about. . . There the sword I will destroy (S). 
. . . /the house I will burn (S). To the earth will fall [the strength of us two/ the noble (S)]; and to/ into the dust [the might of us two/ the mighty (S)]." 
Scarce have come/ left// go thus forth/ depart- these words from his/her mouth; his/her speech and - the utterance of his/her//he/she uttered his/her - voice from his/her lips/ And she raises her voice: when/but he groaned/sank/keeps lying in wait (?)/ "May he sink 
beside/beneath/under/at the foot of - the throne of Prince Yahm. Thereupon answers Kothar wa Khasis: "Truly, indeed, I have been telling 
unto you, O Prince Ba´al; Let me repeat to you, O Rider of the Clouds. Now your foes, 
O Ba´al, now your foes you must slay; Now your enemies you must silence/ annihilate/ destroy/ vanquish. 
Then shall you take your kingship for all time; your dominion for all generations." 
Therewith Kothar brings down two weapons and proclaims/pronounces their name: "Thy name, thine, is 
Yagarish, Chaser. Yagarish, chase Yahm, Chase Yahm from his throne, 
Nahar from the seat of his dominion. Do thou [swoop/leap/spring/dance] from the hand of Ba´al, like a raptor 
from between his fingers. Strike the back of Prince Yahm, between the shoulders 
of Judge Nahar." The weapon [swoops/leaps/dances/springs] from the hand of Ba´al, like an raptor 
from between his fingers. It strikes the back of Prince Yahm, between the shoulders of Judge 
Nahar. But strong is Yahm, he does not sink down, not quiver do his joints, not collapse does 
his form. Kothar brings down two weapons And he proclaims/pronounces their name: 
"Thy name, thine, is Ayamari, Driver. Ayamari, drive Yahm! Drive Yahm 
from his throne, Nahar from the seat of his dominion. Do thou swoop/leap/spring/dance 
from the hand of Ba´al, Like a raptor from/in his fingers. Strike on the skull 
of Prince Yahm, between the eyes of Judge Nahar. May/Let collapse Yahm 
and fall to the earth!" And the weapon swoops/leaps/springs/dances from the hand of Ba´al, 
Like a raptor from between his fingers. It strikes the skull of Prince 
Yahm, between the eyes of Judge Nahar. Yahm collapses, he falls 
to the earth; His joints quiver, and his spine shakes. 
Thereupon Ba´al drags out and would rend/dismember/hack into pieces Yahm; he would destroy/annihilate/finish off/make an end of Judge Nahar. 
By name/the Name ´Athtart rebukes: "For shame, O Mightiest Ba´al! 
For shame, O Rider on the Clouds! For our captive is Prince Yahm, for 
our captive is Judge Nahar." And as the word goes out of/ does come forth from/ leaves her mouth . . . 
Mightiest Ba´al indeed is ashamed . . . and . . . / s/he answers : 
"Yahm is indeed surely dead! Ba´al reigns/shall be king! . . . 
Then up speaks Yahm: "Lo, I am as good as dead! Surely, Ba´al now will reign/ is king!" . . . 
heat is indeed assured/for the shoots! And then Ba´al indeed rules/reigns/shall be king!] [ - - - heat], 
while answers Yahm: "Lo, I am as good as dead! Surely Ba´al now is king!/will reign! 
He indeed rules!"/[heat] is indeed assured! And she answers: . . . . . 
"O, Ba´al, these/them/ . . . . may Ba´al rule them, (S) 
. . . . . . . . /heat is indeed assured!" . . . . . . he indeed rules!/he did place 
. . . . . . . . . . . on his head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . his foes/hand[s] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . between his eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Apparently Yahm is not killed, but is confined to the seas. Hence, there will yet be talk of him . . .


continued in Part II - Ba´al Celebrates While ´Anat Battles


-__________________________________________________________


Part II: Ba´al Celebrates His Victory Over Yahm
copyright Lilinah biti-´Anat, 1995-1997
For this part of the myth, i have compared the transliterations of de Moor and Driver with translations by Cassuto, Coogan, Gaster, Ginsberg, and Driver as edited by J. C. L. Gibson. 

For bibliographic information, see Sources. 


3 A - V AB - Gordon, ´nt, i-iii
Col. i
(ca. 25 ll. missing)

"Do not lower [your heads]." 
Then Radamin does [serve/service to] Mightiest 
Ba´al; he does [wait upon/honor] the Prince, Lord of 
the Earth. He does rise, he sets (the table)/prepares food 
and gives it to him to eat; 
he divides a breast before him, 
with a sharp blade 
he does cut up a fatling. He does get up, 
he makes ready a feast and gives him drink; 
he places a cup into his hand(s), 
a flagon into both his two hands, 
a large beaker, great to see, a jar 
of [men of heaven (D/G)/ sky folk (Ga)], a holy cup 
such as/which should never woman/women see/regard/behold, a goblet 
such as/which should never `Athirat set her eye on; a thousand 
pitchers he takes of (new autumn) wine, 
ten thousand he mixes in - his mixture (D/G)/the mixing bowl (C). ALT: 16. barrels it holds, wine enough (Ga) 17. to be mixed in ten thousand portions. While he is mixing it, (Ga) 
One does rise, one chants and sings, 
cymbals in the hands of the minstrel; 
sings the youngster with a sweet voice 
over/of Ba´al in the Heights 
of Tsaphon, the North. Catches sight does Ba´al of 
his daughters, he sets his eye on Pidraya 
daughter of `Ar/mist/light; also on Talaya 
daughter of Rabb/showers/rain; Pidar knows 
[- - -]t. `im[-]lt 
[- - -? ] 
[ ]rt

. . . . . . . . . .
[Lacuna of about 20 lines according to Gaster;
ca. 12-14 ll. say Driver/Gibson


B
Col. ii
There comes she, bathed in the scent 
of henna enough for seven maidens, in a scent 
of coriander/saffron and ambergris/murex. Closes the gates 
of the house does ´Anat and meets she the messengers 
at the base of the mountain. And lo, ´Anat 
gives battle in the valley; Mightily she cuts in pieces the people of 
the two cities; She slaughters the people of the Western Shore; 
She destroys the men of the Eastern Sunrise. 
Beneath her like balls roll heads, 
above her like locusts fly palms of hands; like avenging grasshoppers 
are the hands of the quick warriors. She hangs 
heads on her back; she binds 
hands to her belt. Up to her knees she wades 
in blood of the swift soldiers, to her thighs in the gore 
of quick warriors. With her shafts she drives out 
the enemies; with her bow-string the foes. 
And lo, ´Anat to her house proceeds; 
Betakes herself does the goddess to her palace. 
But not sated is she with the fighting in the valley, 
by her cutting down the sons of the (two) cities. She sets up 
chairs for swift soldiers; she sets up tables 
for troops; footstools for heroes. 
Greatly she battles and beholds; 
´Anat hews & cleaves and observes; 
Swelled are her innards with laughter, filled 
is her heart with joy, the liver of ´Anat with 
triumph. Up to her knees she wades in blood 
of swift soldiers, to her thighs in the gore of quick warriors. 
until she is sated she fights in the house. 
she hews and cleaves amid the tables. Wiped 
from the house is the blood of swift soldiers; Poured (out) is oil 
of peace[-offering] (for peace & well-being) from a bowl. She washes her hands, 
Batalat ´Anat, the Maiden; her fingers, Yabamat Li`imim: the Kindred of the Peoples (of Ugarit)/ Thousand (Deities); 
She washes her hands of the blood of swift soldiers, 
her fingers of the gore of quick warriors. 
Puts back chairs with chairs, tables 
with tables, footstools she puts back with footstools. 
She scoops up water and washes, 
in dew of the Heavens, oil of the Earth (i.e., fat of the land), rain 
from Rider of the Clouds/which pour the clouds; dew that the heavens pour out, 
rain the stars pour, spray the stars shed. 
She adorns herself with murex/ambergris, one thousand tracts away 
its source in the sea.



KTU 1.3
Col. iii
C
. . . . . . 
. . . . . . 
-4a. She takes her lyre in hand,
Walls
4b. She puts the r`imt-instrument
5a. to her breast, sings of love for
Cassuto
4b. [..... passion
5a. for his bosom, (Ca-Co) (rightly) for the affection/love of
Driver
4b. She puts corals
5a. on her breast, sings of (her) love for
Gaster
4b. hath been implanted
5a. (in his breast/ unto the bosom) a feeling of tenderness of
Mightiest (5b) 
Ba´al, of affection of Pidraya bat `Ar, Flashing Brightningette daughter of Light/Mist 
of desire of Talaya bat Rab, Dewie daughter of Distillation/Rain, of love of `Aretsaya 
bat Ya´abdar, Earthie daughter of Wide/Broad [Flow/Flood/Expanse/Field]. Forthwith, O pages, 
and enter; at the feet of ´Anat bow 
and fall down; prostrate yourselves, do homage unto her, 
And bring word to Batalat ´Anat, the Maiden, 
repeat to Yabamat Li`imim, the Kindred of the Peoples (of Ugarit)/ Sister-in-law of the Thousand (Deities): 
"Message of Mighty `Aliyan Ba´al Puissant, word of the Mightiest of Warriors:
"Withdraw/Banish/Remove from//Put in/on the earth 
war(fare)//an offering of loaves, Set in the land/dust mandrakes of love, 
pour forth peace(-offerings) in the midst of the earth, 
rain honey from a pot like a libation of love in the heart of the fields. 
You hurry! Your hasten! You rush! 
to me thy feet let run; to me 
let hasten thy legs. Truly a tale 
I have that I would tell thee, 
a word that I would recount to thee, a tale 
of trees and a whisper/charm of stones 
the sighing/murmur of the Heavens to the Earth, 
of the Seeps to the Stars, 
I understand lightning not known to the Heavens, 
a tale not known to humankind, nor yet understood 
by the multitudes of the Earth. Come, pray, and I myself 
shall reveal it, in the midst of my mountain, the divine Tsaphon of the North, 
in the holy place, the mountain of my inheritance, in the pleasant place, the hill of my triumph." 
Behold, ´Anat espies the two gods, On her, her feet 
stumble/shake/start to tap, behind her/roundabout her loins/back/hips seems as if about to burst/ crack/ shatter/ break, 
above her face sweats, she convulses/trembles/shakes the joints 
of her hips/backside, the muscles of/become weak/ quivers - her back/spine. She lifts up [Comment: the standard reaction of a female character to an unexpected visit] 
her voice and cries: Why have Gapen and `Ugar come? 
What foe does rise against Ba´al, enemy 
against the Rider on the Clouds? Did I not demolish the darling 
of `El, Yam the Sea? Did I not make an end of/finish off Nahar the River the great god divine Rabim (C) 
Did I not snare the Dragon, vanquish/envelope him? 
I did demolish the Wriggling/Twisting/Tortuous Serpent, 
the Tyrant with Seven Heads; 
I did demolish the Darling of the gods, `Arsh, Desire (C), 
I did silence/annihilate the Calf divine/of `El, ´Atik, the Quarrelsome, the Rebellious One 
I did destroy the Bitch of the gods, `Ishat, the Firey, 
I did make an end of/finish off the daughter of `El, Zabib/ Zebub, the Flame.
[ He did fight (D/G)/I battled] for the silver (C)/I will again do battle (Ga) and 
was dispossessed/I took possession/will possess me of gold
who banished/of him that would thrust (Ga)/Has driven been (C) - Ba´al

Col. iv
from the Heights of Tsaphon, the North, who stops/pecks like a bird, 
his ear, [who drove/have they driven/that would drive] him from the throne of his kingdom, 
from (the cushion on/his dais, from) the seat of his dominion. 
What foe then rises against Ba´al, what enemy against the Rider on the Clouds?Õ 
And the servitors do answer and give reply: "No foe rises 
against Ba´al, enemy against the Rider on the Clouds. 
The message of Mighty Ba´al, the word of the Mightiest 
among Warriors: "Withdraw/Banish/Remove from the earth war//Put in/on the earth an offering of loaves 
Set in the land/dust mandrakes of love, pour forth peace(-offerings) 
in the midst of the earth, rain honey from a pot like a libation of love in the heart of the fields. 
Hurry; hasten; rush! to me thy feet 
let run; to me let hasten thy legs. 
Truly a tale I have that I would tell thee, a word 
that I would recount to thee, a tale of trees and a whisper/charm 
of stones; a tale not known by humankind, nor yet understood 
by the multitudes of the earth. The sighing/murmur of the Heavens to the Earth, 
of the Deeps to the Stars, I understand lightning 
not known to the Heavens. Come, pray, and I myself 
shall reveal it, in the midst of my mountain, the divine Tsaphon of the North, 
in the holy place, in the mountain of my inheritance." 
And answers Maiden ´Anat, replies 
Yabamat Li`imim: "Shall even I [(withdraw/banish/remove from)//(put in/on)] 
the earth [war//an offering of loaves], shall I set in the land 
mandrakes of love, shall I pour peace in the midst of the earth, 
rain honey from a pot like a libation of love on the heart of the fields? Let set 
in the heavens Ba´al his thunder-bolt, 
let him kindle/cause to shine forth [ name ] his (lightning-)flash! Then shall I 
withdraw/banish/remove from the earth war//put in the earth an offering of loaves 
I shall set in the land/dust mandrakes of love, I shall pour 
peace(-offerings) in the midst of the earth, rain honey from a pot like a libation of love 
in the heart of the fields. Also one more word 
I will say: Be off, be off/Go, go, servitors divine! 
You remain/delay/are slow while/but I do quit/depart
Driver/Gibson
78. `Ughar for the most distant of gods, `Inbab 
79a. for the most distant of ghosts, 
Coogan
78. Is not my mountain far from `El, My cave 
79a. far from the gods? 
Gaster
78. To the city, to the distant gods, off to H-n-b-b! 
79a. Off to the distant netherworld gods, 
Mark Smith
78. `Ughar is indeed far, O Gods, `inbvbi 
79a. is indeed far, O Deities: 


79b. two layers/lengths 


beneath the wells/springs of the earth, [three spans beneath its/ Three, the expanse/ stretches of] marshes/caves/hollows 
Then indeed she sets her face towards Ba´al in the Heights of Tsaphon, the North, 
across a thousand fields, ten thousand tracts. 
The coming of his sister Ba´al espies, the swift approach 
of the daughter-in-law of his father. He does remove the women from his presence 
and does set an ox before her, a fatling too 
in front of her. She scoops up water and washes, 
in dew of the Heavens, oil of the Earth [fat of the land], dew that the heavens pour out, 
rain the stars pour/spray the stars shed. 
She adorns herself with murex/ambergris, one thousand tracts away is its source in the sea. 
with dew [ ]

(ca. 15 ll.)


E
reverse of a small fragment which has the last few lines of N T I
X. But there is not
1*. a house for Ba´al like the gods, no court

like the sons of `Athirat. The dwelling of `El the shelter 
of his son; the dwelling of Lady `Athirat of the sea 
the dwelling of Pidraya bat `Ar, Flashing Brightningette daughter Light/Mist, the shelter 
of Talaya bat Rabb, Dewie daughter of Rain, the dwelling of `Artsaya, Earthie, 
daughter of ya´abdar, the Broad/Wide Flow/Flood/Expanse/Field, the dwelling of the brides 
noble/perfect/beautiful/bewitching. And Maiden ´Anat answers: 
"Attend to me, will Bull `El my father; 
he will attend to me and I will tell him what I shall do.

Col. v


I shall surely drag him like a lamb to the ground, 
I shall make his grey hairs run with blood, the grey hairs of his beard 
with gore, if he gives not Ba´al a house like the gods 
and a court like the sons of `Athirat." She plants/ stamps her feet 
and [quake does(D/G)/leaves (C)] the earth; then indeed she sets her face 
towards `El at the source of the two rivers, in the midst of the springs/pool of 
the two oceans double deeps; she [penetrates the mountains (D/G)/opens the pavillion (C)] of `El and enters
[Lilinah's Comment: Scholars vary in opinion whether this should be mountain or tent/pavillion. Bearing in mind the stature of `El, and the tendency in the literature of many Semitic cultures to employ plays-on-words, perhaps both meanings are implied] 
the massif/shrine of the king, Father of Years/Time mtsr 
she enters the mountains [ qn[-]`a[-]n[- -]lt ] 
The Bull `El her father hears her voice; . . . . . . . . . . 
from the seven chambers, through the eight entrances 
of the closed room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
he does look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
at the feet of the pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
much . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Shapash, the luminary/torch of the gods, [does glow hot/is obscured by dust]; 
the heavens are wearied by the hand of divine Mot. 
And Maiden ´Anat speaks: "In the building of your mansion, 
O `El, in the building of your mansion do not rejoice, 
do not rejoice in the raising/height of your palace, 
lest I seize them with my right hand, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
by the might of my long arm, lest I smash 
your head, make your grey hairs run with blood, 
the grey hairs of your beard with gore." Answers 
`El from the seven chambers, through the eight 
entrances of the closed room: "I know, daughter, that you are - like men/gentle - 
and that there exists not among goddesses - contempt (D/G)/ restraint (C) - like yours. What do you desire,
[Lilinah's Commentary: it is possible that the conflicting meanings are again implied as a play on words] 
O Maiden ´Anat?" And Maiden ´Anat answers: 
"Your decree, `El, is wise; your wisdom 
is everlasting eternal. A life of good fortune is your decree. 
our king is Mightiest Ba´al, our judge, 
there is none over him/higher. [We two/All of us] his chalice 
would/must bear, [we two/all of us] would/must bear his cup." 
Groaning he indeed cries out to (D/G)/Cries loudly does (C) Bull `El his/her father, to `El, 
the king who installed/created him/her, he cries out to (D/G)/Cries does (C) `Athirat 
and her sons, `Elat the goddess and the company of her kinsfolk: 
"But there is not a house for Ba´al like the gods 
no court like the sons of `Athirat. The dwelling of `El, 
the shelter of his son; the dwelling of Lady `Athirat 
of the sea, the dwelling of Pidraya bat `Ar, Flashing Brightnignette, daughter of Mist/Light, 
the shelter of Talaya bat Rabb, Dewie daughter of showers, the dwelling 
of `Artsaya bat ya´abdar, Earthie daughter of the broad/wide floods/expanse/field, the dwelling 
of the brides noble/perfect/beautiful/bewitching" . . . 

(ca. 22 ll.)


F
Col. vi
(ca. 10 ll.)

. . . . . . . . . . . b 
. . . . . . . . . . . `ishk 
. . . . . . . . . . . bn ´nkm 
. . . . . . . . . . . `alp 
. . . . . . . . . . . ym.rbt 
. . . . . . . . . . . bnhrm 
Cross Byblos, cross 
Qa´al/Qeilah, cross the islands 
of Noph [of the heavens/on the far horizon]. Start away, 
O Fisherman of `Athirat, 
advance, Qodesh and `Amrur, Holy and Most Blessed One; 
Then of a truth do thou set 
thy face towards heq.k.ptah (= Memphis in Egypt) 
all broad (D/G)/the god of it all (C), Kaphtor (= Crete) 
the throne on which he sits, heq.k.ptah (= Memphis in Egypt) 
the land of his inheritance. 
Traversing a thousand fields, ten thousand 
spaces/acres, at the feet of Kothar 
do homage and bow down, prostrate 
thyself and do honor to him; 
and tell to Kothar- 
and-Khasis, repeat to Hayani, 
skilled worker by hand, the Clever Craftsman: 
The message of Mightiest Ba´al, 
the word of the Mightiest of Warriors:

(ca. 20 ll.)


(2) III AB A
d. Fragment b
placed immediately before II AB
2. " Homage to Lady `Athirat of the Sea,
3. Obeisance to the Progenitress of the Gods,
4. (So) she will give a house to Ba´al like the gods',
5. And a court like `Athirat's sons'." To his lads/pages
6. surely Ba´al loudly cries: "Look,

7. [gpn. w`ugr. b´glmt]
8. [´mm. ym. bn. zlmt] 
9. rmt. pr´t. `ibr [mnt ] 
10. ts-chrrm. chblm. b´rpt 
11. tcht. bshmm. ´tsrm. cht 
12. [ - - glt. `isr - - - ] m 
13. [brq - - - - ymtm - ] h 


Ginsberg
7. Gapan and `Ugar, sons of ´Ghulumat,
8. ´Amamis twain, sons of Zulumat
9. The stately, wing-spreading, . . . ;
10. Winged ones twain, flock of clouds,
11. Beneath [ . . . ]; Birdlike ones twain,
12. . . . snow . . . flock of
13. . . . " 

Driver/Gibson
7. Gupn and `Ugar, in obscurity
8. is veiled the daylight; veiled in darkness
9. is the princess exalted. The pinions of [ ]
10. blazing are veiled. Flocks in the clouds,
11. are circling round. In the heavens birds are circling round
12. . . . the snow I shall bind
13. the lightning [ ] 

Gaster
7. Gupen and `Ugar, amid the darkness
8. where daylight is obscured,
9. Amid the tall shaggy ostriches,
10. the sun-scorched places where rain clouds
11. . . . 12. . . . 13. . . . 

(obscure beginnings of 5 more lines)


© 1990-1997, Lilinah biti-Anat 


__________________________________________________________Part 3: Ba'al Asks For And Gets His Palace
copyright Lilinah biti-Anat, 1995-1997
For this part of the myth, i have compared the transliterations of de Moor and Driver, with translations by Cassuto, Coogan, de Moor, Gaster, Ginsberg, and Driver as ed. by J. C. L. Gibson
For bibliographic information, see Sources.


4
II AB Gordon: 51
Col. i
(ca. 20 ll.)


Yet/But groaning/alas! he indeed cries out to the Bull
ALT: Convey this word: "Hearken, O Bull (Ga)
ALT: cries loudly does The Bull (C)

`El his/her father, to `El the king 
who installed/appointed/created him, [possible pun] 
he cries out to/Cries does (C) `Ath- 
irat and her sons, to/does (C) `Elat, the Goddess, 
and the company of her kinsfolk: 
' "But, see there is not a house for Ba'al 
like the gods, no court 
like the sons/children of `Athirat. 
The dwelling/abode of `El, shelter for 
his son; the dwelling/abode of Lady 
`Athirat of the sea, the dwelling/abode 
of the brides noble/perfect/beautiful/bewitching" ' 
the dwelling/abode of Pidraya bat `Ar, Flashing Brightningette daughter of Light/Mist, 
the shelter of Talaya bat Rabb, Dewie daughter of Rain, 
the dwelling/abode of `Artsaya bat Ya'abdar, Earthie daughter of the wide/broad [Flood/ Flow/ Expanse/ Field] 
And one more thing//something more 
I would tell ye: Make ready, I beseech ye//Just try doing 
a present/gifts for//homage to Lady `Athirat of the Sea 
a gift/presents for//obeisance to the Creatress/Progenitress of the Gods 
Hayani the Clever One does go up to the bellows 
in the hands of Khasis are the tongs 
he smelts/melts/casts silver, he plates//pours/beats/ hammers out 
gold, he smelts/melts/casts silver 
a thousand bars/into thousands of pieces/by the thousand fold, gold he smelts/casts/hammers out 
into ten thousands of pieces/bars/by the myriads 
he smelts/melts/casts a .chym./canopy (C) and a couch, 
a divine dias fit for a god [from/weighing/worth] twice ten thousand pieces 
a divine dias [cast in/coated with/decorated with] silver 
overlaid/coated with a layer/film of gold 
a divine seat/a throne fit for a god with a rest/cushion 
at its back/resting on top/above, a divine footstool fit for a god 
whose ... was .../dprsh`a . bzr/spread over with a mat, 
divine sandals, possessors of thongs/straps
ALT: a couch fit for a god with a . . . , (Gi/Ga) 
which he furnished on top with gold 
a divine table fit for a god whose surface he does fill 
with (rhytons in the shapes of) creeping species/all manner of game from 
the depths/foundations of the earth 
a divine bowl/dish fit for a god whose handle is [(shaped) as (in)//like small cattle/sheep of] Amurru 
and whose appearance is as the land of ym`an
ALT: Stelae/with a base shaped -like the wild beasts of/as in- Yam'am, 
where are wild-oxen by the ten thousands/myriads."

Col. ii
(ca. 16 ll.)
COMMENTARY:
Ginsberg: The first lines perhaps show `Athirat presenting an offering of fish to `El.
Gaster: 'Anat first disposes of the monster Yam by chasing him back into the sea. 

on a stone [-----] 
she does grasp her spindle in her hand, 
the spindle she held high in her right hand; 
she carries/tears off [her garments/robe/Its skin (Gi]), the covering of the flesh, 
she carries/throws/flings [her robe/its vestment (Gi)] into the sea, her/its two/both 
[garments/skins (Gi)] into the rivers; 
She does place a khupatar-pot on the fire, 
a khubrush-vessel upon/over the coals, 
she propitiates/implores Bull `El, Compassionate/Kindly/Benign, 
Does obeisance to/entreats the Creator of Creatures. 
When/Then she lifts/raises her eyes and she beholds 
the coming/advance/approach of Ba«al, `Athirat 
surely sights the coming/advance/approach of Maiden 
'Anat, the speedy approach/advent of Yabamat, the sister-in-law/Mistress, 
Li`imim, of the Peoples. Then at that her feet 
stamp/stumble/shake/start to tap, behind/roundabout her loins/back/hips 
is as though/seems as if (about to) burst/crack/shatter/ break, above her face sweats, 
she bends/convulses/trembles/starts to shake - the joints of her loins/hips/backside, 
the muscles of/become weak/quivers - her back/spine.
[the standard reaction of a female character to an unexpected visit] 
She lifts up her voice and cries: How/Why has arrived/is come// What brings hither 
Mightiest Ba'al? 
And what brings hither/how is it that/why arrived has Maiden 
'Anat? Are my smiters the smiters of/Have my enemies killed/come to smite // Slain each other have (Gi)
Them that would smite me I surely smite! Perchance, raised a rebellion have (Ga) 
my sons/children; or make an end of/have they finished off /destroyed one another have (Gi)/a revolt have (Ga) - the company 
of my kinsfolk?" But when as soon as the coverings/work/gleam of silver `Athirat 
catches sight of, the coverings/work/ handiwork/gleam of silver and the coatings/shine 
of gold, rejoice does Lady `Athirat 
of the Sea. Surely to her servitor she cries aloud: 
Look on/at the marvelous gifts/craftsmanship, even [ ]
"Now attend, thou, Deft One, yea, give heed, (Gi/Ga) 
o thou Fisherman of Lady `Athirat of the Sea. 
Take a net in thy hand, Qadash, 
a large one/seine/mesh in/on thy two hands, Amrur; 
into/against the darling/Beloved of/will `El, Yahm 
the Deep, - of `El/the god of [-----] 
into/against Nahar/the Ruler of the Streams, - the god of/ will `El [-----] 
Mightiest Ba'al [-----] 
Maiden 'Anat [-----] 
what [-----] 
and you [-----] 
`Athirat [-----] 
in [-----] 
not [-----] 
the king [-----] 
of [-----] 
[-----] 
aloud [-----] 
he [-----]
Ginsberg: only the beginnings of 37-47 preserved, and no connected sense is recoverable. 
[Gaster extrapolates from Ezekiel 32: 2-6]:
say unto Yam, to [Tannin, Dragon in the seas,
thou belchest with thy snortings
And muddiest the waters with thy thrashing
and foulest the sweet streams.
But I have spread my net over thee;
and hauled thee up in my mesh.
I will cast thee upon the land;
out on the fields will I fling thee.
And I will make all the fowl of the air to settle on thee,
and sate all the beasts of the earth on thee.
And I will place thy flesh upon the hills,
and fill the dales with thy sinews;
and I will water the earth with what exudes from thee,
and the waddies shall be replenished with thy blood.] 


Col. iii
(ca. 12 ll.)


[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ]dn 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ]dd 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ]n . kb 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] let him not escape 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] thy foundation 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] for evermore/all generations 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] . . . thee/thy and . . . 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] o god, possessor of kingship/ who hath (now) become king of the gods (?) (Ga). 
Replies/Answers Mightiest Ba'al, 
responds/up starts the Rider on the Clouds, 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - ] they stood up/Lo, he takes his stand/"Here they go (Ga) and abased/insulting me//cries defiance (Gi), 
One/He arose/stands erect//There they go (Ga) and spat/ spits upon/at//reviling (Ga) me in the midst of 
the assembly of the sons of the gods//divine beings/gods.
Set/placed is/has been 
[ - - - - - - ]/abomination/filth/muck on/upon my table, disgrace/filth/bilge 
in/from the cup I drink/from which I drank/am I made to drink/of drinking. 
Trul two (kinds of) feasts Ba'al hates/ abhors, three 
Rider on the clouds a feast 
of shame/shamefulness and a feast of 
meanness/baseness/degradation/lechery and a feast - where debauched are/of lewdness of/with wanton 
handmaids/women; for/ Yet/ But therein/herein/here there is shameful conduct indeed seen/flagrant shamefulness/shameful behavior/handmaids' lewdness!" 
and therein/herein/here there is debauchery/lewdness of handmaids/wanton women." 
After this does/has arrive(d)//goes Mightiest Ba'al; 
does arrive/also goes Maiden «Anat; 
(as) they/she importune/do homage to/give gifts to/start to entreat Lady `Athirat of the sea, 
Entreat/Obeisance to/give presents to/to sue for the grace of the Creatress /Progenitress of the gods. 
/But says/Thereupon answers Lady `Athirat of the sea: 
"How (come)/Why would/do ye importune/entreat/homage/ give gifts to Lady 
`Athirat of the sea, sue for the grace of/entreat/obeisance to/presents to 
the Creatress/Progenitress of the gods? Have ye importuned/ entreated/done homage to/given gifts to 
the Bull `El Compassionate/Kindly/Benign, or/and sued for the grace of/ entreated//obeisance/ presents to 
the Creator of Creatures?" And/But answers/replies 
Maiden 'Anat: "We will importune/do homage to thee/give gifts to/would first entreat 
our/the Mother Lady `Athirat of the sea, 
will entreat/sue for the grace of/obeisance to/presents to the Creatress/Progenitress of the gods; 
thereafter we will entreat/sue for the grace of him." 
[ - - - - - - - ]/[ the Father of] (Ga) Mightiest Ba'al 
[ - - - - - - - ]/[Then answers] (Ga) Lady `Athirat of the sea 
[ - - - - - - - ]/"Hearken (Ga) Maiden 'Anat 
while eat and drink, 
do the gods, and they are supplied with a suckling 
of the teat; with a sharp knife/blade they do carve/cut up 
a fatling; they drink flagons/goblets of wine 
and from cups of gold the blood of trees.
(gap of 7 ll.)
Rest of column badly damaged.
COMMENTARY:
Ginsberg: It is clear that `Athirat makes a feast for her visitors, and it may be inferred that they urge her to intercede for Ba'al with `El, as she does in the next column. 

Col. iv
According to Ginsberg, some 10 lines missing; ca. 12 ll. say Driver/Gibson


the Bull `El our father. Then up speaks/Loudly doth cry Lady 
`Athirat of the sea: "Listen/Hear, thou, Qadash, Holy- 
wa-Amrur, and Most Blessed One, Fisherman of Lady 
`Athirat of the Sea! Saddle a he-ass/donkey, 
Harness a donkey/jackass/foal, put on it trappings/reins/halters of 
silver, a housing/bridle/reins of gold, 
Make ready/Put/Fasten the [trappings/reins/halters] of/to/on my/thy she-asse(s)." 
Qadash-wa-Amrur/Holy-and-Blessed hears/obeys. 
He saddles a he-ass/donkey, harnesses a donkey/jackass/foal. 
does put on (it)//attaches a [harness/trappings/reins/halters] of silver, 
[trappings/a housing/bridle/reins] golden/of gold, 
does make ready/puts/fastens the trappings/reins/halters of/to/on her/his/the she-asse(s). 
Qodesh-wa-Amrur puts his arms around her 
and then sets `Athirat on the back of the ass/donkey, 
On the easiest part of the/beautiful/splendid/gaily trapped - back of the donkey/foal/jackass. 
Qadash, the Holy One takes a torch (G/D)/proceeds to lead/ begins to lead/blazes the trail, 
Amrur, the Most Blessed One (goes ahead) like a star in the front/ guiding star/ (lode)star; 
behind comes/follows her/goes on foot, the Maiden 'Anat, 
And/While/But/As Ba'al does departs/leaves for Heights of Tsaphon, the North. 
Then, indeed, straightaway she turns her face 
Towards `El at the Source of the Two Rivers/Floods/Streams, 
in the midst of the springs/headwaters of the Two Oceans Double Deeps. 
She penetrates the mountain/field//opens the tent of `El and enters 
the massif/pleasance/pavilion/shrine of the King, Father Shunem/of years/time. 
at the feet of `El she bows down and does homage, 
Prostrates herself and does honor/reverence to him. 
Behold! surely/As soon as/When `El espies/sees/catches sight of - her, 
He opens (wide)/parts the/his mouth/jaws/passage of his throat and laughs. 
His feet upon the footstool he puts, and doth dance/twiddle/snap with excitement 
his fingers. He lifts up his voice and cries: 
"How/Why has arrived/is come hither Lady `Athirat of the Sea? 
[How/Why has//What moves to] come the Creatress/ Progenitress of the Gods? 
Art thou (become) very hungry or faint/forespent//having journeyed afar (G/D); 
Or art thou/surely very thirsty/parched and ... //having traveled all night (G/D)? 
Eat, pray, (yea,)/come then, drink. Eat 
from the tables bread/food; Drink 
from the goblets wine, from cups of gold 
blood of vines. Or does/See, affection/love for/of `El the King 
move/stir/excite thee? Love/affection of the Bull arouse thee?" 
And/But/Then answers/replies/up speaks Lady `Athirat of the Sea: 
"Thy decree, (O) `El, is wise: thy wisdom/portion 
is everlasting/eternal. A life of good fortune/luck 
is thy decree. Our king is Mightiest Ba'al, 
our judge/sovereign/ruler and none over/above him/higher. 
We two/all of us would/must bear his chalice/gift (Gi);
Our . . . to whom we bring . . . in tribute; Ga 
we two/all of us would/must bear his cup/purse (Gi),
our . . . to whom we bring . . . in tribute; Ga 
[(Yet) groaning] /But alas! he indeed cries out to//shouts loudly (C)/Hearken thou (Ga) the Bull `El his father, 
(To) `El the King who [installed//begot//brought/didst call into being] him/her; he/they cries out shout/ Hearken 
to/unto `Athirat and her children/sons, to `Elat/the Goddess and her company 
of her kinsfolk: "But/Look/See, there is not a house for/has Ba'al 
like the gods, no court like the sons/children of `Athirat. 
The dwelling/abode/home of `El, the shelter of his son. 
The dwelling/abode/home of Lady `Athirat of the Sea, 
the dwelling/abode/home of the brides noble/perfect/ beautiful/ bewitching: 
The dwelling/abode/home of Pidraya bat `Ar, Flishing Brightningette daughter of Light/Mist, 
The shelter of Talaya bat Rabb, Dewie daughter of Rain, 
the dwelling/abode/home of `Artsaya bat Ya'abdar, Earthie daughter of the Broad/Wide [Flow/Flood/Expanse/Field]" 
Then answers/replies Kindly `El the Compassionate/Benign: 
"So am I a slave/servant, a lackey/attendant/henchman of `Athirat ? 
So am I a slave/servant to handle/hold a trowel/[blocks] (Gi), 
Or is a slave-girl/handmaid `Athirat to mould/ make/ lay (Ga) 
the bricks? Let a house be built for Ba'al-

Col. v
like/as have the gods, And a court/precinct like the sons/ children of `Athirat" 
And answers/replies Lady `Athirat of the Sea: 
"Thou art great, O `El, thou art indeed truly wise, 
the gray hairs of thy beard indeed instruct thee, 
[-----] to/in thy breast. 
And moreover a time/season for/of his rain 
will Ba'al appoint/observe/be able to furnish; in the time/season for [his barque to appear in/with the tempest//wadis in flood (C)]; 
And [will give forth/sound/for the sounding of] his voice (i.e., peal his thunder) in/from the clouds, 
For him to release/flash//flashing/his gleam darting to the earth his/as lightnings! 
A house of cedar? He may/Let him complete/burn/ perfect it; 
Or a house of bricks? He may/Let him construct/ remove/carry hither it/them 
Let it indeed be told/the word be conveyed/be commanded to Mightiest Puissant Ba'al: 
"Call/Summon a caravan/crew/weeds (Gi) to/into thy mansion/ house, 
building wares/wagon train/gang/herbs (Gi) in the midst of thy palace; 
the rocks/mountains shall yield/bring thee much/ abundance silver, 
the hills the choicest/treasure/abundance of gold; 
they shall yield/bring thee the noblest of gems/god's grandeur aplenty (Gi)/the camels will bring thee jewels (C)/ let the tall trees (??) yield thee logs (??) (Ga); 
So build (thou) a mansion/house of silver and gold, 
a mansion/house of purest/most pure/brilliant (stones/gems and) lapis lazuli." 
Rejoice does Maiden 'Anat; She plants/stamps/taps vehemently 
her foot and [so quake does/leaves (C)] the earth/ on the ground (Ga). 
Then straightaway she turns her face 
toward Ba'al in the Heights of Tsaphon, the North, 
a thousand fields, ten thousand tracts. 
Laugh does Maiden 'Anat, She lifts up 
her voice and cries: "Be gladdened/of good cheer// Receive, Ba'al! 
glad tidings/good news/tidings of cheer I bring/have brought thee. (There) will be built for thee 
a house like thy brothers/brethren, and a court/precinct 
like thy kindred. Call/ Summon a caravan/weeds (Gi)/a crew (Ga) 
into thy mansion/house, building wares/herbs (Gi)/a wagon train (C)/a gang (Ga) into the midst of 
thy palace. The rocks/mountains shall/will yield/bring thee 
much/abundance of silver, the hills the choicest/a treasure/ abundance of 
gold; So/And build (thou) a mansion/house of silver 
and gold, a mansion/house of purest/most pure/brilliant (stones/gems 
(and)) lapis lazuli." Rejoice does Mightiest 
Ba'al. He calls/summons a caravan/weeds (Gi)/a caravan (C)/a crew (Ga) into his mansion/ house, 
building wares (G/D)/Herbs (Gi)/a wagon train (C)/a gang (Ga) in the midst of his palace. 
The rocks/mountains yield/do bring him much silver, 
the hills the choicest/fine//treasure/abundance of gold; 
they/the camels (C) yield/bring him - jewels (C)/the noblest of gems (G/D)/god's grandeur aplenty (Gi)/the tall trees (??) yield logs (??). (Ga). 
(Then) He [summons/sends for/sends messengers to] Kothar-wa-Khasis.
Coogan: A note to the reader of the tablet to repeat a formulaic passage (now lost) describing the journey of Ba'al's messengers to Kothar-wa-Khasis, their delivery of the message, and Kothar's journey to Ba'al. 
Gaster: The scribe has accidentally omitted a passage describing how the divine architect was summoned to the banquet. Realizing the omission, he inserts a note reading: 
And again recite: "When the two pages/servitors 
were sent/bring the message. . ."
Unfortunately, however, he does not furnish the text of that passage. 

Then after this does arrive Kothar-wa-Khasis, 
They do set an ox before him, a fatling 
too in front of him at his disposal; Is placed/brought (in position)//They made ready a chair/seat 
and he is seated. On/at the right hand of Mightiest 
Ba«al. So the gods do eat and drink. 
And/Then speaks/exclaims Mightiest Ba'al, 
"[-----] depart, Responds/Says the Rider of/on the Clouds: "Kothar-wa-Khasis, 
Hasten/Quickly/Hurry, a mansion/house surely build, 
Hasten/Quickly/Hurry raise (up)/erect/let be upreared a palace. 
Hasten/Quickly/Hurry the mansion let be built/uprear, 
Hasten/Quickly/Hurry let be raised/builded the palace 
in the midst of the Heights of Tsaphon, the North. 
a thousand fields let cover/extend the house/mansion, 
ten thousand/myriad tracts the palace." 
And answers Kothar-wa-Khasis: 
"Hear/Hark/Hearken/Listen, O Mightiest Ba'al, 
Consider/give heed/pay attention/Mark thou, O Rider on the Clouds: 
Shall I not put a lattice/casement in the mansion/ house, 
a window in the midst of the palace." 
But answers/replies Mightiest Ba'al: 
"Do not put/make a lattice/casement in the mansion/house, 
a window in the midst of the palace."

(ca. 3 ll.) 

Col. vi
And answers/replies Kothar-wa-Khasis: 
"Thou wilt recall/come back to/be converted to, Ba'al, my words." 
And repeat his speech does/Again, speaks/Yea, again and again keeps saying Kothar-wa-Khasis: 
"Hear/Hark/Hearken, I pray/beseech/implore thee, O Mightiest Ba'al! 
Shall I not put/make a lattice/casement in the mansion/house, 
a window in the midst of the palace." 
But answers/replies Mightiest Ba'al: 
"Do not put/make a lattice/casement in the mansion/house, 
a window in the midst of the palace." 
Let not be seen/Lest escape/depart Pidraya daughter of `Ar, 
lest/or [-----]//be espied/abducted Talaya daughter of Rabb 
lest/by/Whereupon [-----] the darling/Beloved of `El, Yam" 
[-----] did abase me (D/G)/cried defiance (Gi)/[will make sport of me] (Ga), (and) spat/did spit upon me 
[-----] And/But answers/replies Kothar-wa- 
Khasis: "Thou wilt come back to/recall/yet be converted to, Ba'al, my words." 
Quickly his mansion/house is built, 
Quickly is raised/erected/the uprearing of his palace. 
Men go to/They [bring] from Lebanon (and) its trees/for (its) wood/timber, 
To/From Siriyon (and/for) its choicest/precious cedars. 
They do [-----] Lebanon (and/for) its trees/timbers 
(To) Siriyon (and/for) its choicest/precious/finest cedars. 
Fire is set/placed in the mansion/ house, 
the flames in the palace. 
Behold/Lo, a day and a second, eat/feed/consume/devour does 
the fire in/on the mansion/house, the flames 
consume/in/on the palace. A third, a fourth day, 
eat/feed/consume/devour does the fire in/on the mansion/ house, 
the flames consume/in the palace. 
A fifth, a sixth day, eat/feed/consume/devour does 
the fire in/on the mansion/house, the flames 
in the midst of/consume the palace. There, on the seventh day, 
The fire departs from/dies down in the mansion/ house, 
the flames from/die down in the palace. 
The silver has turned into plates/ingots/blocks, the gold 
has been turned bricks. Rejoice does 
Mightiest Ba'al: "I have built my house/mansion 
of silver, my palace, indeed, of 
gold." Makes/Prepares for//installs in//Puts his house/ mansion does Ba«al 
in order/preparations/the installations; 
Hadad [does put in order/preparations makes] for/within //installs the installations of 
his palace. He does slay oxen 
and sheep/ neat and small cattle, He does fell bulls and 
[fatted rams/fatlings, rams and] calves that were 
yearlings; skipping/he strangled (C) lambs and kids. 
He does call/invited/summons his brothers into his mansion, his kindred 
into the midst of his palace; He does call/invite/summon 
the seventy children of `Athirat. 
He does supply/regale/sate the -he-lamb gods/gods with he-lamb- and with wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the -ewe-lamb goddesses/ goddesses with ewes and- with wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the -bull-gods/gods with oxen/ bulls and- with wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the -cow goddesses/goddesses with cows and- with wine. 
He does supply/regale/sate the -throne gods/gods with seats and- with wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the -chair goddesses/goddesses with thrones and- with wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the gods with jars/ewers of wine, 
He does supply/regale/sate the goddesses with pitchers/ beakers of wine 
While/So/Continuously eat and drink do the gods. 
And they are supplied/sated with a suckling of the teat/ suckling breast, 
with/by a sharp/milch knife they do carve a tender/breast of fatling; 
They drink flagons of wine, 
the blood of vines from cups of gold. 
[-----] n 
[-----] t 
[-----] th 
[-----] n 
[-----] k

(ca. 1 l. -- Driver/Gibson; some 9-10 lines missing -- Ginsberg) 

Col. vii
(ca. 1 l. missing, say Driver/Gibson; according to Ginsburg, the first 8 lines are very defective; 
COMMENTARY
Ginsberg: `El's Beloved Yam-see above, vi 12-figures in lines 3-4. Since Ba'al's misgivings about a window are thereupon dispelled-15 ff.-perhaps Yam is here given his quietus.
Gaster: Ba'al now administers the coup de grace to the vanquished Yam, in order to remove a potential threat to his daughters and to ensure his own sovereignty.
Gibson: It is hardly likely that these few lines describe, as some suppose, the final stage in the defeat of Yam; more probably we have a statement celebrating that triumph spoken at the feast by Ba'al himself or by one of the other gods present. 


[-----] lapis-lazuli [-----] 
[-----] mightiest Ba'al 
[-----]/smites the darling beloved of `El, 
Yahm [-----] on the top of his skull. 
The gods do withdraw from the rock (D/G) 
like [-----] the gods from Tsaphon, the North (D/G)
ALT: 5. While the gods are making merry on the Mountain (Ga)
6. while the gods are regaling themselves in the North, (Ga) 
He does march from city to city 
He does turn from town to town 
Six and sixty towns he takes, 
Seventy-seven towns; 
Eighty Ba'al does [-----], 
Ninety Ba'al does [-----] sack. 
Forthwith return does Ba'al into the midst of 
the house, and speaks/says Mightiest 
Ba'al: "I will put it in, Kothar, this very 
day; Kothar, this very moment/hour. 
Let be opened a window in the mansion, 
A lattice/casement in the midst of the palace. 
And I'll open a rift in the clouds, 
According to the word of Kothar-wa-Khasis!" 
Kothar-wa-Khasis laughs, 
He lifts up his voice and cries: 
"Did I not say to thee, 
O Mightiest Ba'al, "Thou wouldst come back, Ba'al, 
to my word." He opens a window 
in the mansion, a lattice/casement 
in the midst of the palace, he opens, 
does Ba'al, a rift in the clouds. 
Ba'al gives forth his holy voice, 
Ba'al repeatedly discharges the issue of his lips. 
His holy voice does quake/shake/convulse the earth, 
at the issue of his lips, the rocks/mountains, 
Peoples afar off were dismayed 
a. the peoples of the East;
ALT: A-tremble/quiver are East and west, (Gi/Ga);
34b. the high places of the earth 
shake/rock/reel. The foes/enemies of Ba'al cling/take/flee to 
the forest/woods, the enemies of Hadad to the hollows/ sides 
of the rock/mountains. And speaks Mightiest 
Ba'al: "Foes/enemies of Hadad, why are you dismayed/ quaking? 
Why do you quake/are you dismayed at the weapons of Demaron/assailers of the Valiant One (C)?" 
The eye of Ba'al outstrips/seeks out/guides/anticipates his hand 
When the cedar is brandished/swings in his right hand. 
Forthwith Ba'al does sit and dwell in his house.

[continued in part 4: The Battle of Ba'al and Mot]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
 Part IV: Ba'al Battles Mot
copyright Lilinah biti-Anat, 1995-1997
For this part of the myth, i have compared the transliterations of de Moor and Driver with translations by Cassuto, Coogan, Gaster, Ginsberg, and Driver as edited by J. C. L. Gibson
For bibliographic information, see Sources.


e. II AB
Col. vii
So Ba'al does sit down and dwell in his palace, 
Neither king nor commoner 
on earth shall install himself on his throne! 
"I will (not) send a courier/message to the Divine Mot, 
a herald/dispatch to the Beloved of El, the youth, Ghazir, the Hero. 
Mot -may be/is- proclaiming//calls out in his soul, 
(to ask) that Mot invite (him) into his throat 
(i.e., anyone that would dare to occupy Ba'al's throne), 
The Beloved one thinks in his heart: 
For I alone am king over the gods, 
give fattness to gods and men, 
satisfy the multitudes of the earth." 
Then surely calls Ba'al 
to his two pages: 
a "Attend to me, Gapen and Ugar,
Gaster: 54b. amid the darkness, 
55. where daylight is obscured,
56. Amid the tall shaggy ostriches,
57. shall his portion be,
58. the sun-scorched places shall be his province
59. where rain clouds are withheld
Ginsberg: 54b. sons of Ghulumat, 
55. Amamis twain, Sons of Zulumat,
56. The stately, wing spreading,
57. Winged ones twain, flock of clouds
58. Beneath . . . . .
59. Birdlike ones twain, flock of . . . . . snow,
Driver: 54b. in obscurity 
55. [is veiled] the daylight in darkness [the exalted princess] (is veiled)
56. the [blazing] pinions of . . . (are veiled).
[Driver believes this is a reference to Sun] 
57. [Flocks are circling round in] the clouds,
58. [Birds] are circling round [in the heavens]
59. [ I shall bind the snow ]
60. [the lightning ]
Coogan just skips lines 55 on
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Col. viii
Now truly you set your faces 
toward Mount Targhizizi/Targhuzizza 
toward Mount Tharumagi/Sharrumagi, 
toward the two hills which bound the earth and block the way to the underworld. 
Lift the rock with your hands, 
Raise the holt upon your palms, 
And descend to the depths of the earth, 
to be counted among those who 
go down into the earth. 
Then set your faces 
toward the Divine Mot 
in the midst of his city, the Swamp/Mire-y, 
to the pit where is the seat/low throne that he sits on
ALT: Muck, his royal house, 
To the filth of the earth, which is his estate.
ALT: Filth, the land of his inheritance. 
Yet beware/be on your guard, divine messengers of the gods/divine powers: 
Approach not close El's son, Mot, who is Death, 
Lest he make you 
like a lamb in his mouth, 
lest like a kid in his gullet! 
you both be crushed to pieces/carried away 
The torch of the gods, Shapash Goddess of the Sun, 
scorches/ burns/ is glowing hot, 
the heavens shimmer under/are wearied by - the hand of 
the Beloved of El, Mot. 
From a distance of/Traversing/At each step
a thousand tracts, ten thousand fields; 
At the feet of Mot 
bow/do homage - and - fall down/adore him, 
prostrate yourselves and 
pay him homage/do him honor. 
And say unto El's son, Mot, Death, 
Repeat to the Darling of El, 
that youngster/hero: 'Message 
of Ba'al, the Powerful, 
Word of the Mighty Warrior: 
My house I have built 
of silver, 
My palace, indeed, of gold, . . .
. . . . . . . ll. 38 - 46 . . . . . . . 
{Of the precious cedars of Lebanon,
Of most pure lapis lazuli.}
[Then away speed Gapen of the Vine] and Ugar of the Field
{unto the Pit of Mot from whom they get his message}
ca. 16 ll. lost 

g. I* AB
Col. i
"When/for all that you smote/killed//If thou goest fighting
Lotan (=Leviathan), the Slippery/Fleeing/Evasive Serpent, 
made an end of/finished off//if now thou wouldst try to destroy
the Wriggling/Twisting/Tortuous/Slant Serpent, 
the tyrant/monster with/Shalyat of seven heads,
Driver: 4. The heavens will burn up and droop helpless, 
5. for I myself will crush you in pieces,
6. I will eat (you) . . . . . (and) forearms.
7a. Indeed you must come down
Coogan: 4. The heavens withered and drooped, 
5. like the folds of your robe
6. . . . . .
7a. Now surely you will descend
Gaster: 4. thou wouldst but wear thyself out; the sky 
5. the girdle of thy robe, would become loosed
6. Here I am the one who's been swallowed up;
7a. thou hast escaped descent
b. into the throat of El's son, Divine Mot, Death, 
into the watery depths, the gorge of the Beloved of El, the Youth, Ghazir, the Hero!" 
Depart and tarry not do the gods; 
Then indeed they set their faces towards 
Ba'al on the Heights of Tsaphon, mount of the North. 
Then say Gapen and Ugar: 
"Message of El's son, Divine Mot, Death, 
Word of the Beloved of El, the youth, Ghazir, the Hero: 
Then mine is the appetite of lions (in) the waste/like that of a lioness// The appetites of lions naturally crave sheep; 
as the desire/longing of a dolphin is - in/for the sea; 
or a pool attracts/seizes wild oxen,
a spring does the like to hinds/deer; 
Driver: If in truth it is my desire to consume clay,
Coogan: When I have the appetite for an ass, 
Here then with both my hands I eat it, 
If my sevenfold portions are served unto me, 
or if the cup is mixed by Nahar, the River! 
Ba'al has invited me with my brothers,
ALT: Come, Ba'al, make merry along with my companions, 
Hadad has called me with my kinsfolk!
ALT: Tarry awhile, O Hadad, with my comrades! 
But it is to eat bread with my brothers
ALT: Let us have a banquet here, O Ba'al . . . . . 
and to drink wine with my kinsfolk 
Have you then forgotten, Ba'al, that I can surely transfix you. 
[ . . . . . ] you 
for all that/When/If now thou smotest/killed/goest fighting
Lotan (=Leviathan), the Slippery/Evasive/Fleeing Serpent, 
made an end of/finished off/to destroy
the Wriggling/Twisting/Tortuous/Slant Serpent, 
Shalyat the Tyrant of seven heads/ The seven-headed monster (of might), 
The heavens will burn up/wither and droop, (like the folds of your robes . . . .)
ALT: thou wouldst but wear thyself out;
ALT: the girdle of thy robe, the sky, would become loosed
ALT: Thou wouldst weaken, thy loins ungirded.
Driver: 32. for I myself will crush you in pieces,
33. I will eat (you) . . . . . (and) forearms.
Gaster: 32. Here I am the one who's been swallowed up;
33. As if a stopper has been placed upon me;
drained of strength as I am, I am the one that is dying,
Now surely, indeed, you must descend
into the throat of Divine Mot, El's son, Death,

into the watery depths/pit of the Beloved of El, Ghazir, the Hero!"
Col. ii
12 lines missing at the top 
One lip down to the earth, one lip to the heavens; 
Mot stretches tongue to the stars. 
Ba'al must enter his maw/innards; and must descend/ go down into his mouth, 
like an olive-stuffed bread, Like the produce of earth, the fruit of the trees. 
Afraid is Ba'al the Powerful; 
Terrified is the Rider on the Clouds: 
"Leave/ Depart/ Be gone!; Speak to El's son Mot/Death, 
repeat to the Beloved of El, the youth, Ghazir the Hero: 
'Message of Ba'al the Powerful,
the word of the Mightiest of Warriors: 
Hail/Be gracious, Divine Mot, El's son Death! 
I am your slave, I am your bondsman forever.' " 
The gods leave and tarry not; 
Then indeed they set their faces toward the Divine Mot 
in (the midst of) his city, the Swamp/Mire-y/Hamriya,
to the pit where is/Muck - the low throne that he sits on,
Down unto the Pit of Mot he descends, to the throne that he sits on
Gaster: To the depth where is the seat of his abiding.
Driver: Where a pit is the throne on which he sits.

(to the) filth of the earth, which is his estate.
His filthy land of inheritance.
ALT: Filth, the land of his heritage.
Phlegm, the land of inheritance. 
They lift their voices and cry:
The message of mightiest Ba'al, 
the word of the Mightiest of Warriors: 
'Hail/Be gracious, El's son/Divine Mot/Death! 
I am your servant/slave, I am your bondman forever.'
Rejoice did the Divine Mot, El's son, Death. 
He lifted up his voice and cried: 
How Ba'al comes to make merry along with my companions, 
How Hadad, tarries awhile with my comrades!
Driver: 22. How is it Ba'al invites me with my brothers, 
23. How is it Hadad calls me with my kinsfolk!
[ . . . . . ] my bread
24. [ . . . . . ] he has cut up
25. [ . . . . . ] ?I am rejoicing
26. [ . . . . . ] depart
Gaster: 22. "How shall Ba'al go on insulting me? 
23. Why, the Hadad Thunderer is scared out of his wits!
24. Those that fight with me are [always la]id low (in the end);
25. [as with] a butcher's [kni]fe
26. [I smite them that] would smite me!"
Col. iii
ca. 10 ll. destroyed 29 ll. partially preserved 
[ . . . . . ] great is the seat [ . . . . . ] 
great is the seat [ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] the land [ . . . . . ] 
t`td.tkl.[ . . . . . ] 
it shall belong to your son [ . . . . . ] 
of your son [ . . . . . ] 
. . . . . like the stars [ . . . . . ] 
Driver: Truly I must call Mot [ . . . . . ]
Gaster: Be still, O Mot, I speak/invite thee [ . . . . . ] 
the beloved one within [ . . . . . ] 
(How of a truth) can I put [ . . . . . ] 
can I overturn you [ . . . . . ] 
. . . . . and go [ . . . . . ] 
and go, gods [ . . . . . ] 
the most gracious of the gods [ . . . . . ] 
Sheger (a deity of cattle, lit. off-spring of cattle), much [ . . . . . ] 
Sheger, much [ . . . . . ] 
Driver: Truly I must call Mot [ . . . . . ]
Gaster: Be still, O Mot, I speak/invite thee [ . . . . . ] 
the beloved one within [ . . . . . ] 
and go, gods [ . . . . . ] 
and tell to [ . . . . . ] 
with much sheep [ . . . . . ] 
much sheep [ . . . . . ] 
Ithm (a deity of cattle) [ . . . . . ] 
Driver: Truly I must call Mot [ . . . . . ]
Gaster: Be still, O Mot, I speak/invite thee [ . . . . . ] 
the beloved one within [ . . . . . ] 
. . . . . And go [ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] go [ . . . . . ]
Col. iv
26 ll. partially preserved 
And to seek [ . . . . . ] 
a hundred [ . . . . . ] 
do you seek [ . . . . . ] 
He lifted up his voice and cried: 
"Where then is Ba'al [ . . . . . ] 
Where is Hadad [ . . . . . ] 
Ba'al arose with his seven pages 
with his eightserving maids 
he came near [ . . . . . ] 
food [ . . . . . ] 
while the gods did eat and drink 
and they were supplied with a suckling; 
with a salted knife they did carve a fatling; 
they did drink flagons of wine; 
from cups of gold the blood of trees; 
from cups of silver [ . . . . . ] 
flagons [ . . . . . ] 
. . . . . and the [ . . . . . ] 
they went up; new wine [ . . . . . ] 
the house of El [ . . . . . ] 
for a ruler [ . . . . . ] 
who has sent [ . . . . . ] 
has sent [ . . . . . ] 
do you recount [ . . . . . ] 
the reviler [ . . . . . ]
ca. 11 ll. lost 
Col. v
26 ll. partially preserved 
mightiest 
Ba'al [ ? Take in the hand? ] your torch 
[ ?in ] your [right hand red ochre ?] 
[ . . . . . ] the life of a calf 
[ . . . . . ] I will put him in a hole of the earth-gods/numinous dead. 
And as for you, take your clouds, 
your winds, your thunder-bolts, your rains; 
with you, your seven servitors/pages, 
your eight noble serving maids; 
with you Pidraya, daughter of light, 
with you Talaya, daughter of rain/showers. 
Then truly, do you set your face 
towards Mount Kankaniya/the rocks/mountain (at the entrance) of my grave/the cavernous mountain; Lift the mountain with your hands, 
Raise the holt upon your palms, 
And go down to the house of "freedom" in the depth of the earth,
and be counted among them those who 
go down into the earth, and you will know nothingness, 
like mortals/of mortality/ for thou wilt have become as one who has died!
Obeys does Mightiest Ba'al. 
He loves a heifer in Dabr, the desert pastures 
a cow in Shechelmamat field, by the shore of the realm of death; 
he did lie with her seven and seventy times, 
she allowed him to mount eight and eighty times; 
and she conceived and gave birth to a boy, Math, the twin-brother 
Mightiest Ba'al did clothe him with his robe 
[ . . . . . ] him as a gift 
for the Beloved One [ . . . . . ] to his breast . . . 
ca. 11 ll. lost 
I have added for ease of tale-telling: 

Then Ba'al does depart and tarry not;
He sets his face toward El's Beloved, Mot,
in the midst of his city, Hamriya, the Bog,
Down into the pit where is the low throne that he sits on,
to the filth of the earth, which is Mot's estate.
One lip to the earth, one lip to the heavens, Mot stretches tongue to the stars.
Ba'al enters his maw and descends into his mouth,
like olive stuffed bread, Like the produce of earth, the fruit of the trees.
Mot makes him like a lamb in his mouth,
like a kid in his gullet is Ba'al crushed and swallowed.
Then Ba'al returns not to his palace,
Mighty Rider of Clouds comes not back,
Col. vi
** The twain messangers depart and tarry not;
3* Straightway they set their faces
2* to El at the sources of the two rivers,
1* in the midst of/amid the springs/headwaters of the two double-deep oceans.
They penetrate the mountain/pavillion of El, 
enter the massif/tent of the King, Father of Years, 
They lift their voices and they cry: 
"We two did go round to the edges of the earth, 
to the limits of the watery region. 
We arrived at - the pleasant place, the desert pasture
ÔPleasure,Õ the land of pastures
the pleasance of Dabr-land, 
the lovely fields of the shore of Death
'Delight,' the fields on the shore by the realm of Death
the beauty of Shahalmamat-field. 
We came upon Ba'al: fallen on/sunk into the earth/ground. 
Dead is Ba'al the Powerful! 
Perished is the Prince, Master of the Earth!" 
Straightaway Kindly El the Compassionate 
Comes down from his throne, Sits sit on his footstool; 
Then coming down from his footstool, does sit on the ground. 
He pours/strews ashes/dust/earth of mourning on his head, 
dust of wallowing/in which he rolled (fig. of mortification) on his crown/pate; 
he covers his loins with sackcloth. 
He cuts himself/his skin with a stone (knife), 
with flint for a razor/he made incisions with a razor; 
Cheeks and chin he scrapes, 
He harrows/rakes his (upper) arm (with a reed). 
He plows his chest (lit. nose of heart=the breast bone) like a garden, 
Furrows his back/torso like a valley. 
He lifts his voice and cries: Ba'al is dead! 
What will become of the people? Dagon's Son gone! What of the multitudes?
ALT: What will become of the people of Dagon's Son! What of the multitudes?

after Ba'al/in Ba'al's place I will go down into the earth." 
Then Anath too goes to and fro/ goes and wanders/ goes strolling and walking/ is walking and wandering 
on every mountain to the heart of the earth, 
over every hill to the heart of the fields. 
She arrives at/comes to the pleasant place, the desert pasture/ 'Pleasure,' the land of pastures/ the pleasance of Dabr-land;
the lovely fields of the shore of Death/ 'Delight,' the fields on the shore by the realm of Death/ the beauty of Shachalmamat-field.. 
She comes upon Ba'al: fallen on /sunk to the earth. 
She covered her loins with sackcloth
For raiment she dons sackcloth and loincloth.
h. I AB
Col. i
She cuts/scrapes herself/her skin with a stone (knife), 
with flint for a razor;/she made incisions with a razor; 
Cheeks and chin she gashes, 
She plows her chest like a garden, Furrows/rakes her back/torso like a plain/valley. 
Ba'al is dead! 
What will become of/happen to the people? Dagan's Son gone! What of the multitudes/ masses?
ALT: What will become of/happen to the people of Dagan's Son? What of the multitudes/ masses? 
After Ba'al/in Ba'al's place - we will go down into the earth " 
Down with her comes the Luminary of the gods, the Torch of the Divine Ones, Lady Shapash the Sun: 
Then weeps she her fill of weeping; Deep she drinks tears, like wine.
ALT: When she had finished weeping, had drunk her tears like wine, 
Then loudly calls she to the Torch of the Divine Ones/ the Luminary of the Gods, Lady Shapash the Sun, 
"Lift, I pray you, onto me Mightiest Ba'al!" 
The Torch, Luminary of the Gods, Lady Shapash the Sun, obeys. 
She lifts up Aliyin Ba'al the Mightiest; on the shoulders 
of Anat surely she sets him; and she takes/brings him 
to the Heights of Tsaphon of the North. She bewails/weeps for him 
and buries him. She puts/lays him in the hollows 
of the numinous dead//gods/shades/ ghosts - of the earth. 
She slaughters seventy buffaloes/wild oxen/rumim
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She slaughters seventy plow oxen/ alepim 
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She slaughters seventy sheep (lit. small cattle)/ tsin 
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She slaughters seventy deer/harts/ aylim (oryx?) 
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She slaughters seventy mountain goats / yÔalim 
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She slaughters seventy asses / chamrim 
As kgmn/tribute/oblation/funeral offering to Mighty Ba'al; 
She put his [ . . . . . ] in [ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] him as befitted a brother-in-law of the gods. 
Then straightway she turns her face 
toward ´El at the sources/convergence of the Two Rivers/ Streams, 
in the midst of the springs/pools of the double-deep/Two Oceans/Seas/Deeps. 
She penetrates the mountain/tent of ´El, 
Enters the massif/shrine of the King, Father of Years, 
At the feet of ´El she does homage and falls down/bows down and adores/bows and falls, 
She prostrates herself and does him honor/worships him. 
She lifts her voice and she cries: 
"Now let rejoice ´Athirat and her sons. 
´Elat and the company of her kinsfolk/her pride of lions. 
For dead is Ba'al the Powerful! 
Perished is the Prince, the Master of the Earth!" 
´El cries aloud to Lady ´Athirat of the Sea: 
"Hark/Hear/Listen, O Lady ´Athirat of the Sea, 
Give one of your sons that I may make him king." 
And answers Lady ´Athirat of the Sea: 
"Yes, let us make king who has knowledge and intelligence, YadiÔ-Yalhan." 
But answered Kindly ´El the Compassionate: 
"One feeble in strength cannot run 
like Ba'al; nor release the spear/javlin 
like Dagan's son Glory-Crown/when the time is right." 
But answered Lady ´Athirat of the Sea: 
"No! Let us make king ´Athtar the Awesome. 
Let the king be ´Athtar the Awesome!" 
Thereupon straightway ´Athtar the Awesome 
goes up into the Heights of Tsaphon in the North; 
He sits in the throne of Mightiest Ba'al. 
His feet do not reach the footstool; 
His head does not reach the headrest. 
And spoke ´Athtar the Awesome: 
"I cannot be king in the Heights of Tsaphon!" 
And down comes ´Athtar the Awesome; 
he descends from the seat of Mightiest Ba'al. 
and he becomes king over - all the broad earth/ ´El's earth, the whole of it
ALT: and reigns in ´El's earth, all of it. 
[ . . . . . ] they drew water from/into casks. 
[ . . . . . ] they drew water from/into barrels.
Col. ii
30 ll. lost, 4 ll. unreadable 
A day, days/ ALT: One day, then two, 
passed. Maiden Anat 
feels drawn to him; Like the heart of a cow 
for her calf, Like the heart of a ewe 
for her lamb, Is the heart of Anat 
for Ba'al. She grabs Mot 
by the fold/ hem/ edge of his garment/ clothes, She seizes/constrains him 
by the hem/ end/ edge of his robe/ garments. She lifts up her voice and she 
cries: "Come, Mot! Give up my brother! 
But responds/replies Divine Mot, El's son Death: "What 
do desire you, O Maiden Anat ? 
I went and wandered/ to and fro/was taking a walk and wandering. Every 
mountain to the heart of the earth; Every hill 
a. to the heart/in bowels of the fields.
Ginsberg-Gaster: 17b. Lifebreath is lacking 
18. among humankind; Lifebreath has quit the multitudes
19a. of the earth.
Driver/Gibson: 17b. My appetite did lack 
18. the sons of men; My appetite, the multitudes
19a. of the earth
Coogan: 17b. I felt a desire 
18. for human beings; a desire for masses
19a. of the earth.
I arrived at/came to/reached the pleasant place, the desert pasture/
'Pleasure,' the land of pastures/
the pleasance of Dabr-land; 
the lovely fields on Death's shore/
'Delight,' the fields of the shore by the realm of Death/
the beauty of Shahalmamat-field. 
I it was who approached/confronted Mighty Ba'al 
I who put him like a lamb in my mouth; 
and like a kid he was carried away in my gullet." 
Lady Shapash the Sun, the torch, luminary of the gods did burn/glow hot, 
the heavens - are wearied by/ shimmer under - the hand of the Beloved of El, Mot. 
A day, days passed. From days to months. 
Maiden Anat feels drawn to him; 
Like the heart of a cow for her calf; Like the heart 
of a ewe for her lamb; Is the heart 
of Anat for Ba'al. She grabs/seizes 
divine/son of the El, Mot; with blade 
she does cleave/split him, with fan/sieve she does winnow 
him, with fire she does burn him, 
with hand-mill/mill-stone she grinds him, in the field 
she does sow/scatter him, his remnants/pieces indeed devoured 
by birds, his limbs/parts/portions indeed consumed 
a. by fowl.
Gaster: 37b. Screaming from remnant to remnant
Ginsberg: 37b. Flitting from remnant to remnant.
Driver: 37b. Flesh to flesh cries out.
Coogan: 36. "his remains not eat may the birds,

his parts not consume may the fowl:
37b. let flesh cry out to flesh!"

Col. iii
ca. 40 ll. lost
COMMENTARY: Gaster: Anat has had the dream & reports it to El
Ginsberg: it is unknown who the speaker relating dream is
Driver & Coogan: El is speaking: 
For surely perished has he (Baal). 
But if Mighty Ba'al lives/is alive, 
if the Prince, the Master of the Earth, exists/has revived, 
Then in a dream of Kindly El the Compassionate, 
in a vision of the Creator of All Creatures, 
The heavens oil let rain, 
the wadis let run with honey. 
then I will know that alive is Mighty Ba'al, 
revived has/existent is the Prince, Master of the Earth." 
In a dream of Kindly El, the Compassionate, 
in a vision of the Creator of All, 
the heavens rain down oil, 
the wadis flow with honey. 
Rejoice does Kindly El, the Compassionate: 
his feet on the footstool he sets, 
he parts/opens his throat/mouth/jaws and laughs; 
he raises/lifts up his voice and shouted/cried: 
"Now I can/will sit and be at ease; 
take its ease/lie calm in my breast shall my heart/spirit/soul; 
For alive is Mighty Ba'al, 
Existent/Revived is the Prince, Master of Earth." 
El calls to the Virgin Anat: 
"Hearken/Hear/Listen, O Maiden/Virgin Anat! 
Speak/Say to the Luminary of the Deities/the gods' Torch Lady Shapash, the Sun:
Col. iv
"Parched/Cracked/Dried are the furrows of the fields, O Shapash; 
Parched/Cracked/Dried are the furrows of El's fields; 
Ba'al has neglected the furrows of his plowland/ tillage. 
Where is Mighty Ba'al? 
where is the Prince, the Master of the Earth?" 
The Virgin Anat departed; 
indeed she set her face 
toward the Luminary of the Deities/gods' torch, Lady Shapash, the Sun; 
she raised/lifted up her voice and cried/shouted: 
"Message of the Bull, El your father, 
the word of the Kindly One, your sire/begetter: 
Parched/Cracked/Dried are the furrows of the fields, O Shapash; 
Parched/Cracked/Dried are the furrows of El's fields; 
Ba'al has neglected the furrows of his plowland/ tillage.
Alt.: Ba'al should be occupying the furrows in the plowlands. 
Where is Mighty Ba'al? 
where is the Prince, the Master of the Earth?Õ " 
And replies the Luminary of the Deities/gods' torch, Lady Shapash, the Sun: 
"Pour sparkling wine from its container, 
bring a garland for your relative/sibling;
Alt.: let the children of your family wear wreaths 
and I will seek Mighty Ba'al." 
And replies the Virgin Anat: 
"Hence and thither you go, O Shapash, 
wherever and whither, may El protect you."
ca. 40 ll. lost 
Added for ease of telling: 

Together, Anat, Ba'alat Shamim Rammim,
and Lady Shapash, the Sun,
search for Ba'al and return him to his Palace.
Yea, now Ba'al will make fertile with his rain,
with water he will indeed make fertile harrowed land.
and he will put his voice in the clouds
and he will flash lightning to the earth.
Col. v
Seizes does Ba'al the sons of Athirat. 
Rabbim/The great ones he smites with the broad-sword/in the back/on the shoulder; 
Dokyamim/The pounders of the Sea (Waves?) he smites with the mace/bludgeon/club; 
Tsorim/The small ones he drags/fells to the ground/earth. 
Sits does Ba'al upon the throne of his kingship, 
on the cushion on the seat of his dominion. 
A day, days passed, from days to months, from months 
to years. Then in the seventh year 
[ Then spoke ] the Divine/Godly/son of El Mot 
to mightiest Ba'al; 
he lifts up his voice and cries: 
Because of you, Ba'al, I have experienced abasement/disgrace/ shame, 
Because of you I have experienced splitting with the sword, 
Because of you I have experienced burning with fire, 
Because of you I have experienced grinding with mill-stones, 
Because of you I have experienced winnowing/ sifting with the basket/sieve, 
Because of you I have experienced [sowing] in the fields, 
Because of you I have experienced scattering in the sea.
Ginsberg: 12-18. Upon thee may I see . . . 
Give one of your brothers 
so that I may be fed/ sit down and eat 
and the anger that I feel will turn back. 
if not one of your brothers, 
behold I shall [ . . . . ] 
I shall consume/make an end of [humankind] 
I shall consume/make an end of the multitudes [of earth].Õ 
And he [ . . . . ]
ca. 27 ll. unreadable or lost 
Col. vi
[ . . . . . ] I will drive him forth, 
[ . . . . . ] I will banish him 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] divine Mot, son of El, Death 
[ . . . . . ] peoples. 
[ . . . . . ] divine Mot, son of El, Death 
[let him eat] his seven pages/servitors!Õ 
And answered divine Mot: 
"But look! Ba'al has given me my own brothers to eat, 
the sons of my mother to consume!" 
He returned to Ba'al in the Heights of Tsaphon 
he lifts up his voice and cries: 
"My own brothers you have given me, Ba'al, to eat, 
the sons of my mother to consume!" 
They butted each other like camels kgmrm/ antelopes kzmrm 
Mot is strong/firm, Ba'al is strong/firm. They gored 
like wild oxen; Mot is strong/firm, Ba'al 
is strong/firm. They bit like serpents 
Mot is strong/firm, Ba'al is strong/firm. 
They kicked/tugged like runners/chargers 
Mot fell down, Ba'al fell down (on top of him). 
Lady Shapash the Sun cried out from above to Mot: 
"Hear/Listen, I beseech you, o divine/El's son Mot. 
Why do/How can - you battle with Mighty Ba'al? 
Gaster: Beware lest thy father Bull El, hear thee;
Ginsberg: Should Bull El thy father hear thee,
Driver: How of a truth shall the bull El your father hear you?
Coogan: How can you keep the Bull, El your father, from hearing you? 
Indeed/Surely he will undermine/pull up the support/ foundations of your seat/throne, 
indeed/surely will overturn the throne of your kingship, 
indeed will break/smash the sceptre/staff of your rule/dominion/judgment.Õ 
Afraid is Divine Mot 
In dread/Terrified is the Beloved of El, the Youth, Ghazir, the Hero. 
Mot rouses himself at her call
ALT: arises from his prostration, he lifts up his voice and cries: 
Let them seat Ba'al on the throne of his kingdom, 
on the cushion on the seat of his dominion! 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
[ . . . . . ] 
Do you indeed betake yourself to the fresh meat, 
Yes, do you indeed eat the bread of honor/contribution/ sacrificial meal, 
Yes, do you indeed drink the wine of favor/oblation/offering, 
Lady Shapash, - the shades are under you/judges the Healers/shall govern the gathered ones (rapha'im); 
Lady Shapash, - the ghosts are under you/judges the gods/shall hold sway over the upper gods ilnym; 
the gods come to you, 
behold! the Dead come to you/Gods, Death is yours.
Kothar is your companion/friend 
and your acquaintaince/intimate Khasis. 
In the sea are Arsh, Desire, and Tannin, the Dragon; 
Let Kothar-wa-Khasis banish them, 
Drive them away let Kothar-wa-Khasis! 

__________________________________________________________


 The Ancient Ugaritic Ritual-Poem of
Shahar and Shalem and the Gracious Gods
Introduction
This ritual is derived from one tablet found at Ugarit, sometimes identified as Tablet 23. This single tablet is in pretty good condition, with only the final characters of a few lines obscure or missing. You can note, however, where the tablet ends. It would seem that there should be more, although a continuation has not been found. Therefore, in order to perform this in ritual, i have invented an ending. This is purely my own invention and not authentic. How it may really have concluded we don't know. You can substitute your own ending. In the first part, the opening ceremony, there actually are "stage directions," which are absent in the Myth part. For our purposes, i have added stage-directions to the Myth. In Canaanite practice the whole text may merely have been read or, more likely, chanted by a cantor in the temple after the offerings were made.

Theodor Gaster, in Thespis (see Bibliography), describes this as a more-or-less Summer Solstice ritual. At first I accepted this as a likely possibility, but have recently come to think that perhaps this ritual is a forerunner of the Jewish Shavuot, which is a wheat harvest festival 7X7 days after Pesach (Passover), the barley harvest festival. It is traditional at Shavuot to serve dairy foods and make thanks for abundance, fish featuring in some Mediterranean areas for their fertility associations (think of all those offensive jokes about female odors - perhaps there is more to them than mere nastiness). It is a happy occasion, shortly before the dry season begins. To me, this association makes more sense than one with Summer Solstice, which would already be in the perilous dry season, a time when Baal and his life sustaining moisture are pretty much absent and the parching hand of Mot in evidence. At Mid-Summer i think it is more likely that there were Ancestor Rituals, as it is a time of the apparent death of vegetation in Mediterranean regions, while Winter, although dark, is when the plant world comes back to life, for it is the rainy season and things are green again.

Qadash Kinahnu/ Sanctuary Phoenicia has performed this pretty much as it is here at a Pagan festival in the month of June. As i recall we had a cast of five, all females except for El. We did not serve minted yogurt and honey-coriander milk as directed, nor lay out cushions for the deities, although we did have an altar set up for the deities. The Celebrants, those not "acting" in the ritual, faced us in a semi-circle.

Most of the text, except what is after "We must invent the text" is from the original. But there are a few differences, either where i had to fill in something in a broken line, or expanded on an indea to make it either more clear or more poetic. I will re-edit this to indicate where i took liberties.

Another thing Gaster believes is that this is a burlesque, and we did play it as such, to some extent, and got some good laughs. I think, however, that this was not a comedy for the Canaanites, even though it is full of sexually suggestive punning. Still, i like to imagine that the deities were pleased to be remembered once more.
 

The Ritual Drama
Dramatis Personae
min. 5 actors + 2 propspersons 
females:

2 women on the shore (scenes 1- 5)
males: min. 3, max. 5: 

El (scenes 1- 5) 
Husband of 2 women (scenes 3 & 5) 
Guardian of the grain (scene 6) 
2 Gracious Gods (scene 6)
Actually, all men or all women or almost any mixture could play all roles

 any sex: (min. 3 + participants)

Narrator/Cantor/Priest(ess) (scenes 1- 6) 
Musicians 
Libators 
2 Props-persons
If short-handed, the musicians, libators, and props-persons can all be the same 2 people, but it would be nice to have music during the offerings and spreading of the couches
Pilgrims = ritual participants

 
Props 
Procession/Exhordium/Offerings: 
musical instruments 
bread, water, and wine for libation 
libation basin 
copies of Mot chant ("Song of Vintage and Harvest") for participants 
spiced yougurt & milk for 'sacrifice' and cups for participants 
incense, incense burner, charcoal, matches 
Athirat & Anat statues dressed in white cloth 
2 trays to carry in Goddess statues 
8 seats for Deities: El, Athirat, Baal, Anat, Kothar-wa-Khasis, Shapash, etc. 
flowers, perfume for cushions

 The Ritual Drama: 
scroll with text for Narrator 
cue cards for actors 
rod & staff for El 
large, shallow basin to scoop water from 
tall container to scoop water into 
archer's bow (can be mimed) 
(mime roasting of bird) 
cloth to be carried by 2 props-persons between kissing and birth to hide actors 
4 baby bundles - small pillows covered with scarves: blue & red for Dawn & Dusk; purple & gold for the Gracious Gods or can be mimed
basket (of bread) for Guardian 
ewer (of wine) for Guardian 
"Twin Praises" (end of Scene 6) for participants 
bread for Participants 
wine/grape juice for Participants

 

NOTES: Pronunciation: Shacharu = Sha-HAH-ru (the ch is gutteral) and Shalemu = Sha-LEH-mu

Deity Names: Athirat is the Ugaritic Goddess whom the Hebrews called Asherah
Rachmay may or may not be Anat, although many scholars think they are the same.
 

A. The Ritual
Pre-Ritual Organizing
Cast should see that Participants line up at Eastern entrance to circle. Pass out Mot Chant and Twin Praises to participants. Explain any necessary business when all are assembled.

Procession into Sacred Space around circle with music making
Narrator should be at the head of the line. After Participants form circle, the cast must continue to circle a total of 3 times. Seven would be ideal but will take too long with a large group.

I. Exordium

Narrator: I call on the Gods Gracious and Fair, the Princes, sons of the Divine Ones. 
Let honor be paid to them whose dwelling is on high, and whose hands, in sand-swept tracts of wilderness, protect us.
Upon their heads a crown, upon their brows a diadem! 
Eat of bread, aiy! Drink of foaming wine, aiy!
Peace unto you, and Welcome, O Melek, the King 
and unto you, O Malqat, the Queen! and to all who honor our temple!
Narrator quietly blesses offerings, then two libators pour libations of wine and water, and offer bread at the altar

II. Song of the Vintage and Harvest

Full Cast and All Participants: Mot, Death-and-Rot, firm sits enthroned, 
in one hand bereavement, the grief-stricken rod,
in his other, the sceptre of widowhood.
Yet, when the people prune the vine, 'tis HE they prune away; 
When they come to bind the vine, HE it is that they entwine; 
When they hoe the soil all 'round, beneath HIS feet they tear the ground! 
Our fields are like unto the fields wherein the Divine Ones dwell,
the fields of Athirat and Rachmay, Anat the Maiden Merciful!

III. Presentation of Sacrifices

Narrator: Seven time over the fire let the stalwart ones 
blend together coriander in honeyed milk, mint in yogurt; 
And seven times over the basin let incense be offered.
Libators serve minted yogurt and coriander-honey milk to participants as Narrator makes incense offering, using standard incense prayer.

IV. Arrival of the Goddesses

Narrator: Now comes the Maiden Anat, and now the Goddess Athirat proceeds. 
They are begirt with kittim, robes newly woven of white linen. 
A courageous minstrel accompanies them, 
and the people of the processional sing and dance before them.
All Members of the Cast except the Narrator, dance and make music in front of the Two who carry the statues of Athirat and Anat, wrapped in white linen, on trays. Encourage participants to clap, make music, and dance All circle at least once, then bring statues to the altar.

V. Installation of the Divine Guests

Narrator: Eight couches are spread for the gods. 
They are sprinkled with flowers and perfumes seven times.
They are as glorious as lapis lazuli and carnelian, 
They glow with the scarlet-purple of nobility.
As Narrator recites, 2 cast members set out eight colored cushions, then 1 other sprinkles them with flower petals and 1 other with scented waters. El - white, Athirat - deep blue; Baal - blue-green, Anat - blood red; Shapash - golden yellow, Kothar-wa-Khasis - rusty red; Shaharu & Shalemu - wine and ochre

VI. Hymn of Praise to the Gods Gracious and to the Sun

Narrator: I call on the Gracious Gods, cleavers of the day, 
bright stars of morning & of evening, 
who suck the teats of the breasts of Athirat!
May bright Shapash, Lady Sun, cause their tendrils to blossom 
and abound with flowers and with grapes!
Peace and Welcome unto all priestesses and priests and temple guardians, 
and all those who come with sacrifices of grace!
VII. Repetition of the Song of Vintage and Harvest

Full Cast and All Participants: Mot, Death-and-Rot, firm sits enthroned, 
in one hand bereavement, the grief-stricken rod,
in his other, the sceptre of widowhood.
Yet, when the people prune the vine, 'tis HE they prune away; 
When they come to bind the vine, HE it is that they entwine; 
When they hoe the soil all 'round, beneath HIS feet they tear the ground! 
Our fields are like unto the fields wherein the Divine Ones dwell,
the fields of Athirat and Rachmay, Anat the Maiden Merciful!
 

B. The Mythological Drama
Scene I
actors mime as narrator describes


Narrator: El goes out upon the shore of the sea, 
El advances to the ocean beach.
El sees two women moving up and down, 
two women filling up a basin.
Behold, one moves down, and the other moves up;
One girl cries out: 
First Woman: Oh, Father, father! 
Narrator: and, behold, the other cries 
Second Woman: Oh, Mother, mother! 
Both women together: How long-limbed is El, 
how far-reaching like the sea,
look you, how his limb extends ever farther like the main!
El shows himself long-limbed, 
his limb extending like the sea,
ever farther like the main!
Narrator: El takes the two women 
who were moving up and down,
He takes the two women who were filling the basin,
He takes them and sets them in his house.
Scene II

Narrator: El lets his rod drop, 
El has with his staff dispensed.
El reaches up and shoots heavenward,
shoots a bird from out the sky,
plucks it and sets it over coals.
Surely He intrigues the two women. And El says: 

El: If the two women should cry out: 
"O husband, husband, have you really lowered your rod?
"Have you dropped your staff from your hand?
"Look! we are like the birds roasting on the fire,
"like that sweet meat browning on the coals."
Then those two human women, will become El's consorts,
wives of El's eternal being! 
But if the two women should cry out:
"O Father, Father, you've lowered rod for good.
"You have loosed the staff from your hand.
"What tastey birds you're roasting on the fire,
"How nicely they are browning o'er the coals."
Then those two girls will become El's daughters,
daughters of El serving El even for ever. 


Narrator: And behold! the two women cried out:

The two women together (ham it up, bawdily): 
"You for a husband! You for a husband! 
Is your rod dropped for good?
Have you with your staff dispensed?
Know you, while that fowl you're roasting,
what are really being heated o'er those coals are
two human women eager to become El's consorts,
wives of El's eternal being!"
El embraces the two women.


Narrator: Then El stoops, their lips he kisses; 
behold! their lips are sweet and tastey as pomegranates. 
Propspersons carry cloth to hide action, which should be as suggestive and noisy as possible 
In the kissing there is conception,
the hot embracing brings pregnancy;
The women travail and give birth... 
Propspersons leave, actors mime actions 
...to Shaharu and Shalemu.
Scene III

Narrator: Now the word is brought to El: 
The Actual Husband: My wives, O El, have given birth, 
and, oh, what babes have they produced!
Two have been born, Shaharu and Shalemu, Dawn and Dusk! 

El: Well then, pick them up, and beside Lady Shapash, the Sun, 
and the fixed stars set them down!
For they are the Divine Twins, now known as Gemini,
the Morning and the Evening Stars.
Scene IV

Narrator: Once more El stoops and kisses their lips; 
and behold, their lips are sweet, 
Props-persons carry cloth to hide action, which should be as before 
Through the kissing and conceiving,
through the hot embracing and pregnancy,
both of them are brought to labor and give birth, 
Propspersons leave, actors mime actions 
they gave birth to the Gracious Gods,
those who cleave the day
sucking on the teats of the breasts of the Lady.
Scene V

Narrator: Again the word is brought to El: 
The Actual Husband: My wives, O El, have given birth, 
and oh, what babes are they: The Gracious Gods,
who seem to bear a strange resemblence to Thyself,
the cleavers of the day, who straightaway 
did suck the teats of the breasts of the Lady,
One lip down to the netherworld,
the other up to heaven stretched,
and indeed there did enter their mouths
the fowl of the heavens and fish from the depths of the sea.
From one gorging to the next they did stand, 'cleaver' beside 'cleaver',
and, right and left, things are put into their mouths,
but they cannot e'er be satisfied.
Oh, what wives have I espoused!
Oh, what sons have I begotten! 

El: Prepare a sanctuary in the midst of the holy desert 
Then pick them up and set them in that wilderness called Qadash,
there to dwell among the stones and the trees.
Scene VI

Narrator: Seven years did come to an end, 
eight revolutions of time,
the Gracious Gods roamed through the fields,
hunted on the fringes of the desert;
At last they did come upon the watchman of the sown land,
and they did cry to that man guarding the stored grain: 
Gracious God One: O watchman, watchman!
Gracious God Two: O guardian, guardian!
Both Gracious Gods: Open up your store!


Narrator: Then he did open a breach for them, 
and they did enter, saying: 
Both Gracious Gods: If you have bread there in your basket, 
then give it to us that we may eat;
if there is wine there in your jug,
then give it to us that we may drink. 

Narrator: And the watchman of the sown land did answer: 
Watchman: In my basket are but loaves to sate my hunger; 
in my jug wine for only a casual sip or two. 

Narrator: Yet They took them and devoured them. 
What had been a quarter loaf dwindled to an ounce;
a quart of wine diminished to a cup.
The basket that was full of loaves now held but crumbs; 
his ewer, too, that first was full of wine 
soon showed nothing but the dregs.
We Must Invent the Text

Narrator: The rest of the sacred tablets are lost 
Now We must invent the text. 
(Pause) 

Narrator: The Gracious Gods do thank the man a-storing; 
to him the Gracious Gods show favor: 

Both Gracious Gods: 
'Tho your loaves were few, your wine was meager,
We through your generosity were sated;
Our voracious appetites appeased;
thus was but little made to serve as plenty.
Henceforth We'll guard the vineyards and the fields,
The Gracious Gods do share with you Their blessings.
We are your benefactors, who on earth
see that you neither hunger nor you thirst.
While labor of your bodies and your hands
coaxes from the soil the fruitful plants,
'Tis blessings from The Deities give life to all;
Without Us you would falter and would perish." 

C. Sacred Meal

Full Cast Together: 
Now let us thank and praise You, Gracious Gods;
Let us to You make homage for Your favors.
Shaharu and Shalemu, hear our prayers. 
Full Cast and all Participants Together: 
Our praises to you, Morning Star and Evening.
As Twin Stars in June the growing vines You guard,
That grapes may give refreshing wines in Autumn.
So, too, You Twain our harvests oversee,
That from our fields and orchards let us be
nourished, as were You, in times gone by
by that granary guardian generous.

All praise to You, the Gracious Gods, the Twins,
- - Stars of Morning and of Evening,
Who grant us ever bread and drink.
All praise to You, the Gracious Gods of Summer,
Shaharu and Shalemu, guard our fields,
Paired protectors of our harvest blessed.

May we know Your aid and generosity,
May we be favored ever by Your goodness,
And sated be in body and in spirit.


Full Cast together blesses juice and bread: 
May the children of the Divine Ones eat of the bread of honor;
May we drink of the wine of favor;
May the rest of our lives be as sweet as what we taste here. 
Pass bread and wine/fruit juice to all Participants.


When all have partaken, Full Cast says together: 
The abode of the gods 
is the shelter of their children.
We are the children of the gods.

Encourage participants to repeat three times. If suitable, thank all Deities using usual method.

D. Exeunt Omnes
Procession of Cast out of circle playing music.