Chapter 16:

Canaanite Religion and

Cosmology
- The Gods -
The many myths and deities of the Canaanite cultures from Anatolia
to the borders of Egypt were original developed in isolation, and later Anat (Lesser Goddess)
merged into a single mythology as trade and intermarriage brought
The devoted sister of Baal-Hadad, this daughter of El and Asherah was the
ideas as well as gods and people to different regions.
pantheon’s warrior-princess, even fiercer than her brother in battle. When
In Canaan, the god of Israel was identified with El, head of Baal was defeated by the evil god Mot, Anat descended into the underworld,
the Canaanite pantheon, and was worshiped as such, causing Eresh, slew Mot, and used the god’s entrails to resurrect Baal. She then
understandable friction between the Lord’s priests and the priests of planned to kill the rest of the gods for allowing Baal to go alone into danger,
El. Each male Canaanite deity had a female partner, and some scholars but was restrained by her reborn brother, who taught her the ways of peace.
have argued that Asherah was worshiped by the women of Israel
Anat may have also been a precursor to the Greek goddesses Athena
throughout much of the Biblical period as “the bride of the Lord.”
(in her warrior aspect) and Aphrodite (in her fertility aspect). She was
During Israel’s most cosmopolitan periods (the reigns of Solomon and
widely worshiped in Egypt during the time of the Hyksos, and may
his successors) the worship of Baal and other Canaanite deities was
have influenced the cult of Sekhmet. Anat’s worship was widespread
tolerated and accepted by many (although not the Biblical prophets),
throughout Canaan. As with the Babylonian Ishtar, her temples were
especially in the northern kingdom.
leading centers of temple prostitution.
Canaanite worship was scattered and influenced by local cults; in one
In her fertility aspect, Anat was depicted as a nude figure standing upon
city, one aspect of Baal might be recognized as the supreme deity,
a lion and bearing serpents and/or lotus blossoms.
in another city, a different aspect of Baal would be supreme, and in
yet another, it might be El or a mixture of Baal and El; in one city Anat’s holy weapon was the short-spear. Her holy animal was the lion.
Asherah could be the bride of Baal, while in another it was Anat (or Anat’s teraphim grants a +2 competence bonus to all Intimidate checks.
both).
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
The Canaanite pantheon was worshiped by the Amorites, Canaanites, ranks of the Intimidate skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight 1-5 lb.
Phoenicians, Edomites, Philistines, and Aramaeans, and (to some
extent) by less devout Israelites. The major difference between these
cultures was the god they recognized as chief deity: in Philistia it was Asherah (Intermediate Goddess)
Melkart, in Moab it was Chemosh, in Aram it was Baal-Hadad, and Later known as Astarte, under the influence of the Babylonian Ishtar,
in Ammon Milcom (also known as Melech) was the principal deity. she was the queen of Heaven and the loving, faithful wife of El; her only
Some Canaanite deities (such as Anat and Reshep) were adopted by moment of unfaithfulness was when she offered herself to Yam-Nahar
the Egyptians. in order to alleviate his tyranny, an offer that so enraged Baal-Hadad
Table 16-1 shows the members of the pantheon who received that he challenged the evil god.
widespread worship. Asherah came from the sea and was venerated by the people of the
Phoenician coast. She provided comfort for women and mothers. When

Table 16-1: Canaanite Deities

Deity Alignment Domains Typical Worshipers
Anat, Goddess of War N Earth, Protection, War, Fertility Druids, Fighters, Qedeshot, Women
Asherah, Goddess of Fertility NG Animal, Fertility, Heaven, Plant, Water Clerics, Sorcerers, Qedeshot, Women
Baal(-Hadad), God of Thunder LN Air, Strength, Thunder, War Fighters, Sailors, Soldiers
Baal-Melkart, King of the City LN Sun, Strength, Protection, Fire, Plants, War Tyrians, Carthaginians
Chemosh, God of the Moabites N Water, War, Travel Moabites, Farmers
Dagon, God of the Philistines N Water, War, Plants Philistines
El, God of the Sky LG Good, Law, Knowledge, Fighters, Clerics, Farmers
Protection, Strength, Heaven
Kosharoth, Helpers of Heroes and Gods NG Animal, Healing, Knowledge Druids, Bards, Fighters
Kotar, God of Craftsmen NG Good, Protection, Strength Fighters, Artisans
Melech, God of Murder NE Death, Evil, Trickery Thieves, Assassins, Necromancers
Mot, God of Sterility LE Death, Destruction, Earth Sorcerers, Clerics
Reshep, Lord of Plagues NE Pestilence, Thunder, War Fighters, Assassins, Syrians
Shapash, the Sun Goddess LG Knowledge, Law, Sun, Travel Clerics, Fighters, Messengers
Yam-Nahar, Monster of the Sea CE Chaos, Evil, Water Sailors, Tradesman
Yarikh, the Moon God N Desert, Plant, War Druids, Fighters
Zebub, Lord of the Flies LN Animal, Pestilence, Fire, Knowledge Ekronites

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The Canaanite Daniel

Daniel is also the name of one of the greatest heroes of
Canaanite mythology, a cycle of legend that’s far older (and
much different) than the late Hebrew tale of the Exile.
This Daniel was a devotee of Baal who mourned for seven
days because (unlike his brothers) he was childless. Daniel’s
heroism was so renowned that El himself answered his
prayer, and Daniel’s wife Danatay gave birth to a beautiful
and fierce son, Aqhat. At a feast to celebrate Aqhat’s
marriage, the gods gave Aqhat the gift of a splendid bow,
which was coveted by the goddess Anat. When Aqhat
refused to give away his bow to the goddess, Anat cursed him
to die if he ever transgressed against the gods.
Despite the severity of Anat’s curse, Aqhat wasn’t very mindful
of it, and so later that day, when it came time to sacrifice
portions to the gods, he neglected to offer them the finest
pieces of meat. The curse was immediately invoked and
Aqhat was torn apart by eagles. Aqhat’s younger sister Pughat
disguised herself as Anat to track down the killers and slay
them, and the mournful Daniel looked through their entrails
for his son’s remains. Unfortunately, he found only Aqhat’s
body and not his spirit, so the dauntless hero descended into
Eresh to look for his son, where he encountered the rephaim.
Alas, Aqhat was never restored to life.

El was uncaring, Asherah often interceded for those who petitioned him
to intervene in a just cause.
Asherah’s symbol was the Asherah pole, which was either a wooden idol
planted in her temple or a tree planted in her name often next to an altar
to Baal. The Israelite priests considered these objects an abomination on
the same level as the idols of Baal, and kings who burned Asherah poles
were considered righteous by the prophets.
Asherah’s holy weapon was the staff. Her holy animal is a cow (wife of
El, the bull).
Asherah’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Heal checks.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
ranks of the Heal skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-5 lb.

Baal (-Hadad) (Intermediate God)

Baal was prince of the gods, rider of the clouds, son of El (or in some
sources Dagon), and bravest of the gods. This storm god was the most
widely worshiped of all the gods of Canaan.
Among his many heroic deeds were two great mythological battles: first
against Yam-Nahar, then against Mot. Yam-Nahar was lord of the sea, who
had been given divine authority by El but was using his power to become
a tyrant. Yam-Nahar terrorized even the gods until he insulted El’s wife
Asherah. Baal refused to tolerate the insult, so wielding the divinely crafted
maces Yagarish (“Chaser”) and Ayamari (“Driver”) he battled and defeated
him. Mot was the god of death; their battle ended with Baal’s defeat. As
Baal took the rain clouds with him into Eresh, the world experienced seven
years of terrible drought, until his sister Anat entered the underworld,
defeated Mot, and used the death god’s entrails to resurrect her brother.
Baal built his home on Mount Tsaphon, with the reluctant permission of El,
who begrudged giving his son such a magnificent mansion. Its windows were
specially crafted by the god Kotar to allow Baal to send his storms to earth.
Baal means “Master,” and it’s a title that’s also been attached to the
names of many deities (including the fly god Zebub, one of the Baal’s
many nemeses).
Baal’s main festival was in early summer, a lament for his death
(symbolic of the barren days of summer heat) followed by a celebration
of his resurrection. He was closely associated with the Babylonian
Bel-Marduk.

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Baal’s holy weapon was the longspear. His holy animal was the ram begrudged any god who does Baal a service. El was also the host of
(although in some places where his worship has been mingled with El’s, the ritual feast association, the Marzeah, which (among other events)
the bull is also sacred to him). sponsored an annual Feast of the Dead.
Baal-Hadad’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Climb checks. El’s holy weapon was the iron-shod great staff. His holy animal was the
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 bull. (Perhaps this is why the Canaanites saw the golden calf of the northern
ranks of the Climb skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb. kingdom of Israel, as a legitimate symbol of both El and the Lord.)
El’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Spot checks.
Baal-Melkart (Lesser God) Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
ranks of the Spot skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.
Melkart was the chief god and protector of the powerful cities of Tyre and
its colony Carthage. Asherah (under the name Astarte) was his bride.
Melkart’s temples were huge, constructed on large open areas. The greatest Kosharoth, The
temple was constructed on an island created in the harbor lagoons by King
Hiram, the same king whose engineers designed the Temple in Jerusalem.
(Lesser Goddesses)
Melkart’s temple was built around its two great pillars, one silver, one gold. These seven wise women were among the greatest servants of the
gods. They were guardians of the marriage bed and childbearing.
Melkart was linked by the ancient Greeks to the demigod Heracles; like Traditionally, the Kosharoth were invoked when agreeing to a marriage
Heracles he was depicted as a “champion of champions” who wrestled the price. They were also the friends of heroes, and came to Earth as
gods, wore a lion skin, and founded great games (the Actia Melkartia). swallows to secretly lend assistance to humanity’s greatest champions.
His manifestations included pillars, the planet Mars, and the eternal flame
to which offerings (including human sacrifices) were made. The Kosharoth’s holy weapon was the dagger. Their holy animal was the
swallow.
Melkart’s holy weapon is a burning torch. His holy animals are the lion
and the sea-horse. The teraph of the Kosharoth grants a +3 competence bonus to all
Perform (dance) checks.
Baal-Melkart’s teraph grants a +1 competence bonus to all Strength-
based skills. Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
ranks of the Perform (dance) skill; Market Price: 90 gp; Weight: 1-5 lb.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5

Kotar-wa-Khasis (Lesser God)

ranks in two Strength-based skills; Market Price: 200 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.

Chemosh (Lesser God) Kotar was the craftsman of the gods, a master smith who forged
weapons for Baal, crafted divine furniture of silver and gold for Asherah,
Also known as Athtar (in Arabia) and Baal-Maon, Chemosh was and built Baal’s palace. He also opened Baal’s window to allow storms to
the primary deity of the Moabites who lived southeast of the Dead fall on the earth, which earned him the title “The Opener.”
Sea; Chemosh was worshiped along with the other members of the
Canaanite pantheon. Some of Solomon’s foreign wives erected altars Kotar’s holy weapon was the warhammer. His holy animal was the kingfisher.
to him in the Hinnon Valley south of Jerusalem. He was related to the Kotar’s teraph grants a +1 competence bonus to all Craft checks.
Babylonian deity Shamash.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
Chemosh’s holy weapon was the half-spear. His sacred animal was the pig. ranks in two Craft skills; Market Price: 40 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.
Chemosh’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Diplomacy checks.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 Melech (Lesser God)
ranks of the Diplomacy skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb. Not much is known about this evil god, except that he was greedy,
desired human sacrifice, and wasn’t liked at all by the Israelites, who
Dagon (Intermediate God) wrote his name, Melech (“King”), with the vowels of shame (“boshet”),
rendering it Molech. Most Canaanites only sacrificed to him when in
Patron god of the Philistines, considered by some to be an aspect of El. dire need of his assistance (e.g., to defeat an invading army).
This god was half-man and half-fish, and worshiped as the slayer of
Lotan (Leviathan). Melech’s holy weapon was the dagger. His holy animal was the crow.
Dagon’s holy weapon was the trident. His holy animal is a fish. Melech’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Knowledge
(religion) checks.
Dagon’s teraph is often stored aboard Phoenician and Philistine ships in a
small shrine. It grants a +2 competence bonus to all Profession (sailor) checks. Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 ranks
of the Knowledge (religion) skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5

Mot (Lesser God)

ranks of Profession (sailor); Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 5 lbs .

El (Greater God) The name of this god of sterility meant “Death.” This most fearsome of the
Canaanite gods held the scepter of bereavement in one hand, while in the
El, literally “high” or “god,” a title rather than a personal name, is the other he grasped the scepter of widowhood, and his jaws and throat were
father of the gods, the qedesh (“holy one”). El lives on Mount Lel at said to be large enough to swallow the world. After Baal defeated Yam-
the source of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where he looked down Nahar, the prince of the gods haughtily sent a message to Mot demanding
on the world from his great throne. He is wise and splendid beyond that he remain in the underworld city of Miry and not trouble the living
description, but was also subject to human frailties such as a tendency to world. Mot was insulted by this arrogant demand, which led to an epic
drink to excess. In his youth, he ventured out into the open sea, where battle between the gods. Mot defeated Baal and imprisoned him in Eresh,
he met Asherah and her companion Rohmaya. After offering them a causing a drought as Baal was no longer available to bring storms to Earth.
roasted bird, they agreed to become his wives. Later they gave birth to Fortunately Baal’s sister Anat tracked the death god down and defeated
Shachar and Shalim (Dawn and Dusk), bringing order to the world. him, then used Mot’s remains to resurrect his brother. However Mot would
El was depicted as a bearded grey-haired patriarch with bull horns on be reborn seven years later, forcing Baal and Anat to start the cycle again.
his helmet. The Babylonians equated him to Enlil/Ellil. His greatest son Mot’s holy weapon was the mace. His holy animal was the vulture.
(in most cultures) was Baal, but their relationship was often tumultuous,
for El never favored Baal in his son’s disputes with other gods, and Mot’s teraph grants +1 point of damage to an inflict spell (three times
per day).

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Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, inflict minor wounds; fought repeatedly (hence there were still storms at sea). (The Bible
Market Price: 38 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb. attributes the defeat of Yam, Tiamat, to the god of Israel.)
As Nahar, Yam was a river god who ferried people from the living world
Reshep (Lesser God) to the netherworld of Eresh.
Reshep was a god of war and pestilence whose worship was particularly strong Yam-Nahar’s holy weapon was the longspear. His sacred animal was the
in Syria. His cult made its way into Egypt and he was worshiped as a minor barracuda.
war deity during the 28th Dynasty (after the conquests of Ashurbanipal). Yam-Nahar’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Knowledge
He is depicted in Canaan as a warrior with a gazelle motif on his (weather) checks.
helmet, and in Egypt as a gazelle-headed man. He is subservient to Mot Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 ranks
within the Canaanite pantheon, although his role varied over time, from of the Knowledge (weather) skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.
pestilent scourge to fertility god (for one could ensure the fertility of the

Yarikh (Lesser God)

fields by convincing Reshep to stay away).
Reshep’s holy weapon was the battle axe. His holy animal was the gazelle.
This was the moon god of the Canaanites, a man with many titles,
Reshep’s teraph grants a +3 competence bonus to all Listen and Spot including illuminator of the heavens and lord of the sickle (a reference to
checks performed on a battlefield. the crescent moon). His wife was Nikkal, goddess of desert blooms, and
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 his nightly dew caused her fragrant flowers to bloom in the desert. Yarikh
ranks of the Listen and Spot skills; Market Price: 180 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb. was the patron god of the city of Jericho, which was named after him.
Yarikh’s holy weapon was the sickle. His sacred animal was the dove.
Shapash (Lesser Goddess) Yarikh’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Bluff checks.
Goddess of the Sun, Shapash saw all that happened on Earth by day, Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
then guarded the souls of the dead by night. She was a major deity of the ranks of the Bluff skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-10 lb.
Ugaritic pantheon during the early 1st millennium BCE, but was then

Zebub (Lesser God)

subsumed into a lesser role by the Canaanites, becoming El’s messenger.
Shapash also mediated disputes between other gods and was the goddess of
justice. She had a large following in Arabia, and also had roots in Babylon. Zebub (or Baal-Zebub; “Lord of the Flies”) was the chief god of the
Shapash’s holy weapon was the shortsword. Her holy animal was the antelope. city of Ekron. His priests had a reputation as seers and were consulted
by rulers beyond Philistia, including the Israelites. He was an enemy of
Shapash’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Diplomacy checks. Anat and Baal-Hadad.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5 Zebub’s holy weapon was the dagger. His holy animal was the fly.
ranks of the Diplomacy skill; Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 1-5 lb.
Rotting meat was left as an offering in front of his teraph to attract flies.

Yam-Nahar (Intermediate God)

Zebub’s teraph grants a +2 competence bonus to all Knowledge (dreams)
checks.
This wild, chaotic, Earth-encircling sea serpent (Yam means “Ocean”) Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
personified ocean waters, winter floods, and the storms of the ranks of the Knowledge (dreams) skill, Dreamer Feat; Market Price: 80
Mediterranean. Baal eventually subjugated him, although they still gp; Weight: 1-5 lb.

- Canaanite Temples -
Early Canaanite temples consisted of a simple sanctuary room and a
courtyard. In the sanctuary, facing the entrance, was a stone altar for
sacrifices that was similar to the Israelite altar of burnt offerings (see p. 185).
Canaanite Priests
The Canaanite priesthood was a hereditary profession, passed down
Over time, Canaanite temples developed into more sophisticated
from father to son or mother to daughter, etc. Priests were known to the
buildings that included an exterior courtyard, an entrance porch, and
Canaanites as khenem (for game purposes, treat them as members of the
a main room with an alcove (sometimes called the Holy of Holies)
cleric class). They wore long ceremonial robes, and shaved their faces to
that held cult objects like incense altars, libation tables, offering stands,
distinguish themselves from the (bearded) common people.
and figurines of bronze, silver, and gold. Some temples also had seated
statues of the gods, and an Asherah pole, a phallic symbol devoted to
the goddess Asherah, was erected at the front of the temple as a symbol
of fertility. The contrast between using stone to depict male deities and
Teraphim
wood for females was very important in Canaanite religious symbolism. Along with temple worship, Canaanites employed small idols devoted
to individual deities. These teraphim were typically placed in household
Among the services offered by the temples were the qedeshem and
shrines, and sacrifices of incense, food, and drink were made to them.
qedeshot (“holy ones”), or temple servants. These men and women
A poor person would typically have a teraph of his patron deity, while
were the representatives of the gods, charged with making the people
a rich man might have dozens of teraphim, those of all the major
more fertile. Prior to marriage, Canaanites presented their children to
Canaanite gods as well as minor and regional deities (including deities
the qedeshot and qedeshem so they might lose their virginity in a holy
of other cities he might plan to visit).
ceremony. Far more than prostitutes, they were men and women of
learning, revered as healers and highly respected in the community.
When temples were not available, stone altars could be set up in the
highest place in the area. A cult object (such as a golden idol) was often
The Planes
The Canaanites believed in a three-plane universe: the heavens, the
set up in the area to mark it as a place devoted to worship and sacrifice.
underworld (Eresh), and Earth. Heaven was the place where the gods
Human sacrifice was rare but not unheard of among Canaanites. lived, although some deities took up residence away from the company
Typically, it happened only during the most extreme times of famine, of their peers. The dead, good and evil, were all thought to go to the
drought, or war. Some deities (especially Melech) may have enjoyed it same place, the dark, dry, dreary underworld of Eresh, ruled over by
more than others. Mot from within his dismal city of Miry.

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