Yahu God of Israel

The god Yahweh alternatively spelled Jahu, Jahve, YWHW, Yahu. The spelling Jehovah is a corruption from the middle ages. The origins of the deity are obscure.

The Kenite Hypthosis
The Kenite Hypothesis maintains that the worship of YHWH was transmitted to Israel through the mediation of the Midianites. Far from being the only god of the ancient Israelites, Yahweh was neither their first god nor even originally associated with them. He was a god for a band of desert nomads whom the law giver Moses may have been related to by marriage. However, Moses’ story is not strictly necessary for this adoption to have occurred and there is evidence to suggest a process completely independent of him. Yahweh became part of an otherwise Canaanite pantheon, which included El, Asherah, and Baal (Smith 2002, p.57). It was his competition with Baal that led to some of Yahweh’s most important characteristics, most notably his position as the national god of Israel. Yahweh was not an exception, and his history was as normally entwined with political processes as any other national god at this time and place.


Source

Aitkins, C. (2013). An early history of yahweh. Informally published manuscript, Retrieved from

http://www.iup.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=161916

something new is happening

So after much thought, and wrestling I think it is time I close this blog down. In its place, however, there will be a new blog, something more personal. I'm thinking of a diary or journal that will allow me to express all the thoughts rolling around in my head. I'll still be making entries for the Illuma. So I guess I'll catch you all on the new blog.

Why I closed down the blog

I thought I should let everyone know why I decided to take down my posts. It has been a very long time since i last wrote. In May 2013 there was a post in the Natib Qadish Facebook group that linked to this blog. What I read there made feel incredibly disheartened. I thought had done something wrong. I thought I had disrespected the Illuma. So I took down all the posts I had written so far and let the blog go dark.

First let me just say that I never had any intention of disrespecting the deities. What I wanted to do was to provide an unofficial point of reference to the Gods. My thinking was this blog might be a good way to reintroduce the Illuma to the world after being forgotten for so long.

It was never my intention to 'pigeonhole' the Gods. I was just relaying the information I found.

It was never my intention to conflate the Gods Anobret and Anbay. That I take responsibility for that. It was poor scholarship on my part.

The biological term mix up on the Anat post was not my doing. It was simply what was written down. I felt all the work that I had done up to that time was being invalidated because the author I was quoting used 'vagina' instead of 'labia'. Up until that time I was under the impression that a females genitalia was called a vagina. You learn something new everyday I suppose.

I am not a neo-pagan. In my research Asherah was identified as a mother goddess and a Earth goddess. Like I said before I was disheartened after reading the comments.

The pictures that I used I found off of the net. Usually I went to deviantart.com. I always gave the artist credit and I always linked back to their deviantart profile. Now on the subject of the pictures there isn't a lot of iconography from the bronze age so my reasoning was why not get new pictures to help express how I saw the gods. Admittedly a lot of the pictures did have a fantasy feel to them because that's what you'll find on deviantart.com. At first I thought what a cheap shot, but as time passed I learned that iconography is very important. It is a very holy part of religion. If I did disrespect the gods it might have been in this sense. I can see how someone could think that I was replacing the iconography that we have of the Illuma with the fantasy pictures I found online, thereby invalidating everything the ancients did, and how they lived. That was not my intention, but as they say the road to the various underworlds and hells is paved with good intentions.

That does however leave us in a bit of a grey area, if I find a picture online that represents how I see the gods should I be able to share that? What about artwork for prayer cards? Is their work invalidated because it is not strictly the iconography? At what point is new artwork not disrespectful to the iconography? Is it the style of the art i.e. less manga more realism? Is photography okay? If I don’t plan on these pictures being used as holy icons is it okay to put them on the blog? I’ll be going through Tess Dawson’s blog to see if I can get better clarification. I know she has recently written about iconography. I’ll need to be sure about the art/pictures if this blog is ever to come back.

Do you the reader want this blog to come back? More importantly do the Illuma want this blog to come back?

Chemosh God of Moab

Chemosh is the national God of Moab. Alternatively, the name could be spelled Kemos. Moab was the district East of the Dead Sea, extending from a point some distance North of it to its southern end. The eastern boundary was indefinite, being the border of the desert which is irregular. The length of the territory was about 50 miles and the average width about 30. It is a high tableland, averaging some 3,000 ft. Above the level of the Mediterranean and 4,300 ft. Above that of the Dead Sea. 

Lord Chemosh is seen as a war and tutelary deity of the Moabites who are kin to the Hebrews through Lot according to the story in Genesis 19:30-37. He is somehow equated with the Mesopotamian God Shamash. Lord Chemosh like his contemporaries did fight over territory going back and forth between Yahweh and Israel and Molech and the Ammonites.

Eventually his cult was absorbed into the Ares cult with the coming of the Greeks, and Moab was absorbed into the kingdom of the Nabatean Arabs who ruled from Petra.

Story
I am Mesha, son of Kemoshmelek, the king of Moab, the Dibonite. My father was king over Moab for thirty years, and I became king after my father.

And I made this high place for Kemosh in Qarhar . . . because of the deliverance of Mesha, and because he has saved me from all the kings and because he caused me to see [my desire] upon all who hated me. Omri, king of Israel -- he oppressed Moab many days, because Chemosh was angry with his land.

And his son succeeded him, and he also said I will oppress Moab. In my day he spoke according to this word, but I saw my desire upon him and upon his house, and Israel utterly perished forever.

Now Omri had possessed all the land of Medeba and dwelt in it his days and half the days of his son, forty years, but Chemosh restored it in my day. And I built Baal-meon and I made in it the reservoir and I built Kiryathaim. And the men of Gad had dwelt in the land of Ataroth from ofold and the king of Israel had built for himself Ataroth. And I foutht against the city and took it, and I slew all the people of the city, a sight pleasing to Chemosh and to Moab.

And I brought back from there the altar-hearth of Duda and I dragged it before Chemosh in Kiryoth. And I caused to dwell in it the men of Sharon and the men of Meharoth (?).

And Chemosh said to me: "Go take Nebo against Israel"; and I went by night and fought against it from break of dawn till noon, and I took it and slew all, seven thousand men, boys (?), and women, and girls, for I had devoted it to Ashtar-Chemosh.

And I took from there the altar-hearths of Yahweh, and I dragged them before Chemosh. And the king of Israel built Jabaz and dwelt in it while he fought with me and Chemosh drove him out from before me. And I took from Moab two hundred men, all its chiefs, and I led them against Jahaz and took it to add unto Dibon.

And I built Qarhar (?), the wall of the forests and the wall of the hill; and I built its gates and I built its towers, and I built the kings house, and I made the sluices (?) for the reservoir of water in the midst of the city.

And there was no cistern in the midst of the city, in Qarhar (?); and I said to all the people: "Make you each a cistern in his house;" and I cut the cuttings for Qarhar (?) with the help of the prisoners of Israel. I built Aroer and I made the highway by the Arnon. And I built Beth-bamoth, for it had been destroyed. And I built Bezer, for it was in ruins....(Chi) of Dibon wer fifty, for all Dibon was obedient. And I ruled. And I ruled a hundred....in the cities which I had added to the land. And I built [Mede]ba dnd Beth-diblathan. And [as for] Beth-baal-meon, there I placed sheep-raisers....sheep of the land... And [as for] Horonaim there dwelt in it....and.....Chemosh said unto me: "Go down, fight against Horonaim," and I went down and....Chemosh in my day, and from there.....and I.......

Source
Moabite stone - the mesha stele - 930 bc. (2001, September). Retrieved from http://www.piney.com/BabMoabite.html

Moab; moabites. In (1915). J. Orr (Ed.), International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/M/MOAB; MOABITES/

Chemosh. Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved June 20, 2013, from Encyclopedia Mythica Online.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/chemosh.html

Shamash. Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved June 20, 2013, from Encyclopedia Mythica Online.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/shamash.html

"Table of Gods." . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2013. http://www.eskimo.com/~elladan/gods/.

Jordan, M. (2005). Dictionary of gods and goddesses. (2nd ed., p. 159). Facts on File.

Moloch God of the Sun and War

This Deity has been much written about, most of it negative. Moloch has been traditionally interpreted as the name of a god, possibly a god titled the king, but purposely mispronounced as Molek instead of Melek using the vowels of Hebrew bosheth "shame". Moloch is the chief God of the Ammonites. His name is also rendered as, Molekh, Molok, Molek, Molock, Moloc, Melech, Milcom or Molcom. He is associated with the sun, war and fire.

The Ammonites worshipped this god by causing their children of both sexes to ritually pass through a fire (Second Kings 23:10). This was a common form of cleansing and initiation used during pagan times in honor of many gods. Evidently, the god was popular -- the Israelites were explicitly forbidden from committing "whoredom with Moloch," giving their seed to Moloch, or from offering their children to Moloch (Leviticus 20:2-5). Anyone who violated this order was to be killed by his neighbors.

Historically the view was that children were burned alive as sacrificial offerings to Moloch. This is absolute nonsense, and it is difficult to understand how such an absurd notion can have survived unchallenged for so many centuries. The usual custom when passing through the fire was to leap over a bonfire -- the heat, smoke, and light were believed to cleanse the body of the person undergoing the rite. This was done by the ancient Celts and other ancient peoples. A variation on this practice, fire-walking, is common around the world. Evidently, children passed through the fire in honor of Moloch when they reached the age of puberty as an entrance into adulthood.

The phrase to "commit fornication" with a pagan god was used loosely in the Old Testament to signify any form of worship of that god. By offering of one's seed to Moloch, the dedication of the children -- the seed of the father -- at puberty to Moloch was likely intended. According to the rabbinic interpretation, this prohibition is against passing children through fire and then delivering them to the pagan priests. In other words, according to this interpretation, this refers to an initiation rite. This kind of initiation or consecration is actually attested to in various cultures (see T.H. Gaster, in bibl.) and the Septuagint interprets Deuteronomy 18:10 in a similar manner. This is a Midrash of the rabbis likewise attested by the Septuagint.

A similar non-sacrificial tradition, perhaps more ancient, is found in the Book of Jubilees. The Book of Jubilees 30:7ff. connects intermarriage or rather the marrying off of one's children to pagans with the sin of Moloch. This tradition seems to be echoed in the dissenting opinion of R. Ishmael (cf. Meg. 4:9) in Sifrei Deuteronomy 18, who explains the prohibition of Moloch as the impregnation of a pagan woman, an interpretation lying behind the Syriac translation in Leviticus 18 and 20.

The common denominator of all these traditions is the understanding of Moloch worship as the transfer of Jewish children to paganism either by delivering them directly to pagan priests or by procreation through intercourse with a pagan woman. This tradition is in keeping with the general rabbinic tendency to make biblical texts relevant to their audiences, who were more likely to be attracted to Greco-Roman cults and to intercourse with pagan women than to the sacrifice of humans to a long-forgotten god.


 Source 
"Table of Gods." . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar 2013. http://www.eskimo.com/~elladan/gods/. 

Johnston, S. I. (2004). Religions of the ancient world, a guide. Belknap Press.

Moloch. Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved May 28, 2013, from Encyclopedia Mythica Online. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/moloch.html

Online bos. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.elfinchyldegoddess.1accesshost.com/BOS/deities/ms.html

Video
Moloch - children sacrifice [Web]. (2007). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3GtbikLmXw

Shapash. Torch of the Gods

Shapash The Sun Goddess. Also known as The Torch of the Gods, Shapshu, Sapas, Shapas, Shaph and Pale Shapash. She is all-seeing, and is frequently dispatched on errands by El or Anat, acting as their messenger or herald. Much like Hermes, the Greek Messenger-God, She is also a psychopomp, or Deity who leads souls into or out of the Underworld. The idea of the Sun as a traveller to the Underworld is known from other cultures such as Egypt, where in their myths the Sun journeys each night through the land of the dead (or the back/dark side of the world) to emerge once more in the East.

Her Story
In one tale Shapash descends with the Warrior Goddess Anat into the tomb of Ba'al, the Storm God, and while there weeps so many tears that She becomes drunk on them like wine. Later She retrieves Ba'al from Sheol, the Underworld, where Mavet the God of Death reigns, and returns Him to Anat.

Source
Took, Thalia . "Shapash, the Phoenician Sun Goddess--Sapas, Shapshu,sun goddess, psychopomp, anat, mavet, mot, ba'al,heat goddess, phoenician, canaanite, pagan, syrian goddess, pagan goddess, thalia took:." Obscure Goddess Online Directory. N.p., 15 2007. Web. 14 Dec 2012. http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/shapash.html>. 

Salim, G. K. (1996, September). Phoenician religion -- pagan:. Retrieved from http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html

Mot. Lord of the Underworld

Mot, The God of death, originated in the Northern Levant. He has been worshiped since prehistoric times up until 200 BC. That was around the time that the Seleucid King Antiochus III invades the Levant. His cult center was possibly Byblos, and the Phoenicians knew him as Muth. Another spelling of his name is Mavet. He is also the God of Adversity and Sterility. His name means Death. In one hand he holds the scepter of bereavement and in the other the scepter of widowhood. His jaws and throat are described in cosmic proportions and serve as a euphemism for death.

Mot is the Canaanite representation of adversity in the natural world. He lives in a pit within
the earth and is responsible for its annual death from drought and heat: “he has scorched
the olive, the produce of the earth and the fruit of the trees.” He engages in the classic
confrontation with the Canaanite hero and national god, Baal. Though the duel results in
Baal’s demise, his death is avenged by his sister Anat, who slays Mot, then cleaves,
winnows, burns and grinds him with a millstone, in what appears to be a ritual allied to the
sowing of seed and harvesting. Baal is restored but had to face off once more seven years later. Neither defeated the other, but Mavet did give in, at the command of Shapash and proclaimed Baal the King of the Gods. The conflict probably formed the basis of an annual ritual drama at the Canaanite New Year which was held in the autumn. In the texts, Mot is the son of Il, and his mother is Asherah.

SourceJordan, M. (2005). Mot. (2nd ed., pp. 204-305). Facts on File.

Khalaf, S. G. (1996, September). Phoenician canaanite religion -- pagan. Retrieved from http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html

Yamm. Lord of the Seas

God of the ocean. Semitic. Also Known as Yam-Nahar is the Primordial Waters. His name means Sea-River. A Syrian deity who is mentioned in an Egyptian papyrus as an extortioner of tribute from other deities. Yamm was defeated by Baal.  He was originally given kingship by El, and ruled as a tyrant over the Gods. Baal finally rose up against him.

Story
Yam and Ilu have come together at a feast to discuss an attack on Ba’al. Ilu has chosen Yam as king, and therefore, Yam plots to protect his kingship from the most likely threat: Ba’al. Ilu and Yam also make plans to build Yam’s palace. The establishing of a palace acts as a symbol for the establishment of rightful kingship; Ilu notifies Kathir-wa-Khasis, the craftsman Deity, to build Yam’s palace.

Shapshu, the Goddess of the Sun has a chat with Athtar (possibly an astral God and a God of Irrigation). 'Athtar is upset because he has no palace and thus his kingship is not established.

Ba’al sends a messenger to Yam regarding his newly appointed kingship. Ba’al has the messenger curse Yam. Yam, in retaliation, prepares his messengers to go speak to the Assembly of Deities on Mount Lal. Instructing them on how best to insult the Assembly and giving them explicit instructions, Yam sends them on their way. The Assembly sees the messengers coming. They fear bad news and they lower their heads in response. Ba’al encourages the Assembly to raise their heads and informs them that he will answer Yam’s message. The messengers do not bow their heads to honor the Assembly—a supreme insult—and proceed to speak Yam’s harsh words. Yam demands to have Ba’al and his wealth delivered to him. Responding to the insult, Ba’al tries to strike the messengers, but Athtart and Anat restrain him from harming the messengers.

Ba’al delivers himself to Yam, and both verbally battle one another. Kathir has created two magic clubs for Ba’al: Yagarrish to “drive” Yam from his throne, and Ayyamarri to “expel” Yam from his throne. Yagarrish strikes Yam in the middle of his body, but only serves to slow him down; Ayyamarri strikes Yam on the head knocking him unconscious. Ba’al is proclaimed the victor, and holds a feast to celebrate.

Other enemies, allies of Yam, have risen up and 'Anat goes to subdue them. In a gory battle, she collects hands and heads of the enemies she has slaughtered and bathes in their blood. When she finishes the battle, she is still full of bloodlust and thus begins a war in her own home. She sets up her furniture and does battle. Afterwards, she bathes and beautifies herself.

Source
Yamm
Jordan, M. (2005). Dictionary of gods and goddesses. (2nd ed., p. 353). Facts on File.

Khalaf, S. G. (1996, September). Phoenician canaanite religion -- pagan. Retrieved from http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html

Dawson, T. (2011, September 16). Natib qadish: Library of ugaritic literature:.
Retrieved from http://canaanitepath.com/library.htm

Lotan Seven Headed Serpent

Lotan is a seven headed serpent defeated by Baal with the help of Mavet. Anath also claims a role in the defeat of the Serpent. Chthonic entity, sea serpent, supporter and servant of Yammu. Takes the form of a "sea monster" or a "sea serpent." This is probably the same entity, Leviathan, that Yahweh is known for defeating in Hebrew mythology.

Source

Dawson, T. (2011, September). Natib qadish: Inner sanctuary, canaanite gods and goddesses:. Retrieved from http://canaanitepath.com/inner_sanctuary.htm

Khalaf, S.G. (1996, September). Phoenician religion. Retrieved from http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html#anchor119863 

Atik, The Calf of El

Atik, is an enemy of Ba'al.He is known as the 'Calf of El'. 

Source

Siren, C. B. (1998, May 5). Canaanite/ugaritic mythology faq, ver. 1.2:. Retrieved from http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/canaanite-faq.html

 

Picture

Rosario, Nathan. 2006. n.p. Web. 31 Jul 2012. http://nathanrosario.deviantart.com/art/Minotaur-29625734

Ishat, Lady of the Flame

Ishat is a Phoenician Goddess of Fire (Her name simply means "Fire"), called "the Bitch of the Gods". She is mentioned in the Epic of Ba'al as one of the enemies of the God who is destroyed by Anat, the Warrior Goddess. Ishat is called "the Fiery" and is evidentally a Goddess of Fire and Heat; as Ba'al is the God of the Rain and Lightning (personified as the Goddesses Talaya and Pidraya, respectively) who brings life-giving moisture to a dry land, perhaps Ishat represents the burning heat of summer that causes the plants to wither up and die.

Source

Took, T. (2007, December 15). Ishat, phoenician goddess of fire. Retrieved from http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/ishat.html

Arsh, Darling of the Gods

Arsh, Darling of the Gods. He is described as a monstrous attendant of Yamm the sea God. Enemy of Ba'al Hadad, he is defeated by Anat. It is unknown whether Arsh was worshiped in his own right, or was just in the Ba'al epics.

Source

Siren, C. B. (1998, may 5). Canaanite/ugaritic mythology faq, ver. 1.2:. Retrieved from http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/canaanite-faq.html

Picture 

Sweet Deceit. 2011. Graphic. deviantARTWeb. 31 Jul 2012. http://liiga.deviantart.com/art/Sweet-Deceit-259645130

Nikkal, Goddess of the Orchards

Nikkal, Ugaritic nkl, full name Nikkal-wa-Ib, is a goddess of Ugarit/Canaan and later of Phoenicia. She is a goddess of orchards, whose name means "Great Lady and Fruitful" and derives from Akkadian / West Semitic "´Ilat ´Inbi" meaning "Goddess of Fruit".  

She is also called Nikkal-wa-Ib, meaning "Great Lady and Fruitful". She is sometimes simply called 'Ib, "the Fruitful One". Nikkal-wa-Ib has also been interpreted as "Great Lady and Bright", "Great Goddess of Fruit", or "Fruits of the Earth". 

Alternately, Nikkal is sometimes called the daughter of Dagon of Tuttul, who, like Nikkal-wa-Ib, is a Deity of Fertility and Agriculture, specifically a Wheat-God credited with inventing the plow. 

Her Sumerian equivalent is the goddess Ningal. Nikkal has been identified, is often depicted before a date tree, and other important fruit-trees of the area that would have been in Nikkal's orchards are the olive, fig, and apple, along with nut trees such as the pistachio, walnut, and almond. 

Her husband is the Moon-God Jerah, who causes the dew to fall each night and water Her trees so that they may thrive.

Her Story 

Nikkal is the daughter of the Summer-God Khirkhibi, who did not at first want Her to marry Yarikh, and instead suggested He marry either Pidraya or Yabarodmay, both daughters of Ba'al. After a generous bride-price was offered, made up of a thousand pieces of silver, ten thousand pieces of gold, and including necklaces made of lapis lazuli (appropriate coming from a God of the night sky) Khirkhibi relented and the two were wed. 

Sources

Took, T. (2006). Nikkal, phoenician goddess of fruit and orchards. Retrieved from http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/nikkal.html 

Nikkal - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:. (2006). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikkal

Jerah, The Moon God

Jerah is the moon god. He is known as 'The illuminator of myriads (of stars),' 'lamp of heaven,' and 'lord of the sickle.' The latter epithet may come from the appearance of the crescent moon. Other spellings of his name are Yarikh, Jarah, Jorah, and Yarkhibol in Phoenician. Jerah is the father of the Kotharat. He is a patron of the city Qart-Abilim. Jerah was recognized as the provider of nightly dew, and married to the goddess Nikkal, his moisture causing her orchards to bloom in the desert. The city of Jericho bears his name.

His Story

After sunset, he embraces Nikkal-and-Ib and becomes determined to marry her. He seeks Khirkhib out to arbitrate the brideprice, but instead, Khirkhib tries to suggest other potential mates in the daughters of Baal. Undaunted, Yarikh presents a lavish brideprice to Nikkal-and-Ib's family, and the two are wed.

Sources

Siren, C. B. (1998, may 5). Canaanite/ugaritic mythology faq, ver. 1.2:. Retrieved from http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/canaanite-faq.html

Goldenrowley. (2007, July). Yarikh - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Yarikh

Marah, Goddess of the Sweet Waters

Marah is a Canaanite Water-Goddess, considered benevolent and merciful. She is the daughter of the great Mother Goddess Athirat-of-the-Sea, and twin sister to Anat, the Warrior Maiden Goddess. The Phoenician language is closely related to both Hebrew and Aramaic; in Aramaic, the word mrh or mrt can give "Mistress", "Best" or "Bitterness". In Hebrew, mar or marah also means "Bitterness", and Marah is used of a place in the Sinai where Moses and the Israelites stopped at a spring of bitter water. This Hebrew word has also been taken to be the root of the name Mary.

Source

Took, T. (2006). Marah, phoenician water goddess. Retrieved from http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/phoenician.html

Anat, The War Maiden

Anat is a love, and war Goddess.  She is also known as Lady of the Mountain, Virgin Anat, and Mistress of the Sky. Some alternate spellings of her name are Anath, and Antit. She was worshiped mainly in northern Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt.  Her main cult center was in the ancient city Ugarit. Her period of worship was from 2500 BC, around the start of the construction of the pyramids in Egypt,  up until 200 AD.

The sister of Baal, Anat is primarily a fertility goddess. In art she is usually depicted naked, with breasts and vaginal area prominent. In addition to her fertility role, she is a youthful and aggressive goddess of war, a capacity in which she was adopted by Egypt from the end of the Middle Kingdom (early eighteenth century BC) and particularly through the Hyksos Dynasty when she was prominent in Lower Egypt. Known as the “virgin Anat,” she indulged in orgies of violence “wading up to her thighs in blood and gore.”

Her Story

In the classic Canaanite confrontation legend, after the primordial battle between good and evil in the guise of Baal and Mot, Anat searched out the body of Baal. She buried it and caught up with his slayer, Mot, to take appropriate retribution. She cleaved and winnowed, burned and ground Mot in a curious variation of a common theme associated elsewhere with gods of vegetation. In the Legend of Aqhat, she sends an eagle to slay the youth when he refuses to give her his magical bow.

Sources

Jordan, M. Dictionary of Gods. 2nd ed. Facts on File, Inc, p.19. eBook.

Shalem, The Evening Star

Shalem is Known as the God of the Evening Star. The evening star is the planet Venus as seen in the western sky after sunset. He is also known as the contemplation of the day, and 'the stable one' he is connected to the evening star and is paired with Shahar who is connected to the morning star. The two gods are called the 'celestial ones' and correspond to the Greek Castor and Pollux. His name appears in the names Jerusalem 'the foundation of Shalem' and two of David's sons, Absalom 'the father is Shalem' and Solomon 'belonging to Shalem'. It is odd that David would name two of his sons after a Canaanite deity -- the god of the city he captured and made into his capitol unless it was to appease the locals. 

Shalem's consort is called Shulmitu or Shlmanitu and is referred to in Assyrian texts as the "Ishtar of Jerusalem". This is important as these two names are thought to correspond to the two lovers in Song of Songs, Solomon and Shulamite. One would assume Song of Songs was included into the Bible on the mistaken belief that it was referring to King Solomon (who never accurately figures in the book) when in fact it is a sexual-love poem between two Canaanite deities.

Sources
Swezey, T. F. (2002, may 01). Part 5. canaanite diety names that became hebrew word (2). Retrieved from http://www.winternet.com/~swezeyt/bible/oedipus/swezoed5.htm

Shachar, The Morning Star

Shachar is known as the God of the Morning Star. Today we would recognize it as the planet Venus that we see in the morning just as the sun begins its climb into the sky. He is also a war God, and the lord of the dawn. He is mentioned briefly in the holy bible in Isaiah as the father of Helel the Light-Bringer. In the current King James version of the bible, Shachar is translated as the dayspring. It is unknown when he worshiped, but Shachar is part of the Ugarit pantheon. The city was existed from 1450 BCE to 1200 BCE which ended in the migration conquest of the Sea-Peoples.

His Story

Ēl came to the shores of the sea and saw two women who bobbed up and down. Ēl was sexually aroused and took the two with him, killed a bird by throwing a staff at it and roasted it over a fire. He asked the women to tell him when the bird is fully cooked and to then address him either as husband or as father, for he would thenceforward behave to them as they call him. They salute him as husband. He lies with them and they gave birth to Shachar 'Dawn' and Shalim 'Dusk'.

 

Sources

Arora, N. (2011, April). Pictures, photos of ugarit (ras shamra), syria. Retrieved from http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Syria/ugarit/Ugarit.htm

Tever, G. (2011, Septmber). Dayspring in the bible encyclopedia - isbe (bible history online). Retrieved from http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/D/DAYSPRING/

El (god). (2011, July). Retrieved from http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/biblianazar/esp_biblianazar_jehovah04a.htm

Table of gods. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.eskimo.com/~elladan/gods/origin.html

Khalaf, S.G. (1996, September). Phoenician religion. Retrieved from http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html#anchor119863

Anobret, Mother of Ieoud

Anobert is mentioned briefly in the writings of Sanchoniatho as the mother of Iedud, the only begotten son of El. It is unknown whether she was worshiped outright or was just part of the ancient mythology. It is possible that Anobert was worshiped by in Southern Arabia by the Qatabeans, as Anbay, an oracular deity. The Qatabean kingdom lasted from the 4th century to 2nd century BC. Which is about the time the silk road opens from China to Europe.

Her Story

For Cronus, whom the Phœnicians call Il, and who after his death was deified and instated in the planet which bears his name, when king, had by a nymph of the country called Anobret an only son, who on that account is styled Ieoud, for so the Phœnicians still call an only son: and when great dangers from war beset the land he adorned the altar, and invested this son with the emblems of royalty, and sacrificed him.

Sources

The theology of the phŒnicians: from sanchoniatho. (2004, July). Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af01.htm

Mythhome: middle east gods and their associates:. (2008, August). Retrieved from http://www.mythome.org/mideastg.html  

Ancient history of yemen - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qataban

Resheph, The Lord of pestilence

Resheph is the Lord of war and pestilence. Resheph was originally a Syrian God, and was worshiped by the Canaanites, Phoenician, and Egyptians. The Greeks equated Resheph with the God Apollo. He was known to the Sumerians as Nergal. Some alternate spellings of his name are Resˇep-Amukal Rasˇap, Resˇef,and Resˇep-Sulman. His wife is Allat, the Goddess of the Underworld. Resheph was a popular deity. It is unknown when he worshiped, but was introduced into Egypt in the sixteenth century BC. His worshiped survived well into the Hellenistic period where he was worshiped a long side or as Apollo.

Sources

Jordan, M. Dictionary of Gods. 2nd ed. Facts on File, Inc, p.265. eBook.

Allatu, Goddess of the Underworld

Allatu is the Goddess of the Underworld. The Sumerians knew her as Ereshkigal, the Romans connected her with Minerva. She was worshiped in Nabatea, Carthage, Sumeria and around the Levant. The exact time of her worship is unknown, but her shrine was destroyed in Arabia by the Prophet Mohamed in 630 AD.

Her Story

They then adopted Allat as their goddess. Allat stood in al-Ta'if, and was more recent than Manah. She was a cubic rock beside which a certain Jew used to prepare his barley porridge (sawiq). Her custody was in the hands of the banu-'Attab ibn-Malik of the Thaqif, who had built an edifice over her. The Quraysh, as well as all the Arabs, were wont to venerate Allat. They also used to name their children after her, calling them Zayd-Allat and Taym-Allat.

Source

Gibson, D. (2000). Nabataean religion: pantheon. Retrieved from http://nabataea.net/gods.html

Ibn-Al-Kalbi, H. (1952). The book of idols [Translation from Arabic by Nabih Amin Faris]. Retrieved from http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Al-Kalbi/allat.htm

Jordan, M. Dictionary of Gods. 2nd ed. Facts on File, Inc, p.13. eBook.

El Shaddai, Lord of the Mountain

El Shaddai is the God of the Mountain. He is also known as the god of Abraham and as the lord of open wastes. He is also known as the destroyer and the Almighty. An alternate spelling of his name is Sadidus in Sanchuniathon writings. This deity was worshiped in the Amorite city of Shaddai in northern Syria. The Bible does make mention of Abraham worshiping and speaking with this deity. If this is the case, Yahweh could, in fact, be the ancient God Sadidus. This deity is essential to the ancient Israelites, but in Canaanite mythology, he plays a small role. 

His Story

And Kronos, having a son Sadidus, dispatched him with his own sword, because he regarded him with suspicion, and deprived him of life, thus becoming the murderer of his son.

Sources

Shaddai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:. (2011, March). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaddai 

Argyros, G.A. (2008, January). Phoenician chronology:. Retrieved from http://www.argyrou.eclipse.co.uk/myths/bible/PhoenicianChronology.htm  

Manat, Goddess of Fate

Manat is the Goddess of Fate. The Greeks knew her as the Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution. Another spellings of her name is Manawat. She was worshiped by the Nabeteans. The Nabetean kingdom lay just south of Judea. Her worshiped survived until Islam. In 630 AD her temple was destroyed in the raid of Sa'd ibn Zaid al-Ashhali. This was around the time Mecca was conquored by the prophet Muhammad. It is unclear how important she was in the Nabatean mythology, but many children carried her name.

Her Story

The most ancient of all these idols was Manāt. The Arabs used to name their children 'Abd-Manāt and Zayd-Manāt. Manāt was erected on the seashore in the vicinity of al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between Medina and Mecca. All the Arabs used to venerate her and sacrifice before her. The Aws and the Khazraj, as well as the inhabitants of Medina and Mecca and their vicinities, used to venerate Manāt, sacrifice before her, and bring unto her their offerings... The Aws and the Khazraj, as well as those Arabs among the people of Medina and other places who took to their way of life, were wont to go on pilgrimage and observe the vigil at all the appointed places, but not shave their heads. At the end of the pilgrimage, however, when they were about to return home, they would set out to the place where Manāt stood, shave their heads, and stay there a while. They did not consider their pilgrimage completed until they visited Manāt.

Sources

Ibn-Al-Kalbi, H. (1952). The book of idols [Translation from Arabic by Nabih Amin Faris]. Retrieved from http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Al-Kalbi/manah.htm

Gibson, D. (2000). Nabataean religion: pantheon. Retrieved from http://nabataea.net/gods.html

Iedud, the only begotten son of El

Iedud is the only begotten son of El, Father of the Gods. It is unknown when or if Iedud was worshiped outright. The story of Iedud and Jesus are very similar. Both are the 'only begotten' sons, and both were sacrificed by their fathers. The reoccurring storyline of the son dying for the father is a recurring theme in Semitic mythology. Some examples are Abraham, Issac, and El, and Shaddai. If in fact, Iedud is also Jesus, then it is probable that he is the most worshiped deity, surviving into modern times

His Story

It was the custom among the ancients, in times of great calamity, in order to prevent the ruin of all, for the rulers of the city or nation to sacrifice to the avenging deities the most beloved of their children as the price of redemption: they who were devoted this purpose were offered mystically. For Cronus, whom the Phœnicians call Il, and who after his death was deified and instated in the planet which bears his name, when king, had by a nymph of the country called Anobret an only son, who on that account is styled Ieoud, for so the Phœnicians still call an only son: and when great dangers from war beset the land he adorned the altar, and invested this son with the emblems of royalty, and sacrificed him.

Sources

Hare, J.B. (2010). The theology of the phŒnicians: from sanchoniatho.. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af01.htm

Picture 

simonetti, leone. N.d. Graphic. deviantARTWeb. 23 Jul 2011. http://leonesimonetti.deviantart.com/

Baalat, Lady of knowledge, and learning.

Baalat is the protector of the city of Byblos, and a Goddess of wisdom, and learning. Some of her titles are, Lady of Byblos, Mistress, Lady, Queen, and Beloved of Hathor. Some alternate spellings of her name include, Ba'alath, Belit, Baltis, Baaltis, Dione, and Ba'alat Gebal. She was worshiped in the Levant, though the time period for when she was worshiped is unknown. She was eventually assimilated into the Egyptian goddess Hathor. She had a shrine in Gubla. Most images show her in Egyptian style dress. It is unknown how important a role she played in Canaanite mythology. Although Sanchoiatho writes that she is a sister to El.

Sources

Took, T. (2006). Ba'alat, lady of byblos.. Retrieved from http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/baalat.html

Table of gods. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.eskimo.com/~elladan/gods/origin.html

Hare, J.B. (2010). The theology of the phŒnicians: from sanchoniatho.. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af01.htm

Dagon, Lord of grain.

Dagon is a grain and fertility god. His title is Lord of the grain. Some alternate spellings of his name are, Daga, Dagan. Dagon is a Western Semitic deity worshiped by the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Major worship is thought to have ended in 150 BC. Around the time of the Roman censor Cato calls for the destruction of Carthage in the Roman Senate. Dagon was worshiped in the Levant and had major cult centers in Mari, Gaza, and Asdod. Dagon is incredibly crucial to the mythology of the Canaanites. He is the father of the God Baal.

His Story

The father of Baal in Ugaritic creation epics. A major sanctuary was built in his honor at Mari (Syria), and he was recognized in parts of Mesopotamia where he acquired the consort, Salas. Worshiped mainly at Gaza and Asdod, but also the supreme god of the Philistines. Known in biblical references as Dagon (Judges 16.23). Mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Maccabees. The cult is thought to have continued until circa 150 BC. A misinterpretation of the Ugaritic root led to the assumption that he was a fish god. Therefore attributes include a fishtail.

Sources

O'Connell, R. (1999). Mythhome: middle east gods and their associates. Retrieved from http://www.mythome.org/mideastg.html#Semite

Jordan, M. Dictionary of Gods. 2nd ed. Facts on File, Inc, P.70. Print.