Canaanite Legend of Ugarit: Daniel, Aqhat, and the Enchanted Bow

The Pious Daniel and His Devotion

The epic recounts that the righteous and wise man Daniel feared his gods and offered sacrifices to them.
sacrifices and rituals for his dead ancestors” and protected his father against enemies
He maintains him and washes his clothes. He participated in Baal's feasts in the temple of the god Baal.
between people because he was a well-known judge; but he always prayed to the gods to give him a son to succeed him.

The Birth of Aqhat: A Divine Blessing

After seven days of fervent prayers to the god Baal, the deity took pity on him and interceded with the supreme god El to grant Daniel fertility. El granted his request, and Daniel’s wife bore a son, whom they named Aqhat. To celebrate this divine blessing, Daniel held a seven-day feast attended by the birth goddesses, Kotharat, in their honor.

The Epic of Aqhat, the legend of Danel and his son Aqhat. Alphabetic cuneiform, Ugaritic. 14th–13th century BC. Discovered in Ras Shamra (House of the Great Priest). Housed in the Louvre, Department of Oriental Antiquities. Located in Sully Wing, lower ground floor, Room B, Display 12. Inventory No. AO 17323. Excavated by Claude Schaeffer, 1931. Reference: Louvre.fr

The Gift of the Divine Bow

One day, Daniel encountered Kothar, the god of craftsmanship and arts, carrying an Enchanted bow. Impressed, Daniel invited Kothar to his home and held a grand feast in his honor. At the end of the banquet, Kothar gifted the Enchanted bow to Daniel, who in turn passed it on to his young son, Aqhat, to train in hunting and archery.

The Jealousy of Anat

When the goddess Anat beheld the Enchanted bow in Aqhat’s hands, she coveted it and attempted to bribe him with gold and silver in exchange. Aqhat, however, firmly refused, praising the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Enchanted bow made from Lebanese cedarwood, wild bull sinews, mountain goat horns, and reeds. He advised Anat to gather similar materials and request Kothar to craft her a bow. Despite his advice, Anat insisted on acquiring Aqhat’s bow.

Aqhat’s Defiance and Anat’s Wrath

Anat escalated her offer, promising Aqhat immortality in exchange for the Enchanted bow. Aqhat, however, remained steadfast, rejecting the offer and accusing Anat of deceit, stating that she had no power to grant immortality. He also questioned why she desired a weapon she did not know how to use. Offended by his defiance, Anat sought her father, El, and threatened him, vowing to drench his white hair in blood unless he avenged her humiliation. Yielding to her demands, El assigned the task to Yatpan, a creature Anat transformed into an eagle and concealed in her belt.

Female Votive Figurine of Anat, bronze, early 2nd millennium BC.
Depicts Anat, fertility goddess, Baal’s sister and consort.
Walters Art Museum, Accession No. 54.2487

The Assassination of Aqhat

Anat, accompanied by a flock of hawks, soared above Aqhat. Yatpan, like a flash of lightning, swooped down and seized Aqhat’s soul. However, Anat did not intend to kill him but only to steal his bow. In her despair, she wept over her unintended act, especially as the Enchanted bow itself broke and vanished. As a consequence of Aqhat’s death, the land became barren, vegetation withered, and famine struck the region.

Daniel’s Grief and Oath of Vengeance

Upon learning of his son’s fate, Daniel was overwhelmed with grief. Observing the hawks circling above, he tore his garments and pleaded with the heavens to release the withheld rain. His daughter, Pughat, saw her father in distress, surrounded by hawks, and she too broke into tears. Daniel wandered the desolate fields, holding a stalk of wheat, lamenting Aqhat’s absence and wishing for his son to gather the harvest and store it in granaries. His servants mourned alongside him, and Daniel swore to exact vengeance on the murderers.

The Search for Aqhat’s Remains

Daniel prayed to Baal to strike down the circling hawks. In response, the god broke their wings, causing them to plummet to the ground. Daniel searched their bellies for his son’s remains. His initial attempts proved futile, but finally, in the stomach of a hawk named Samal, he found Aqhat’s bones. He gave his son a proper burial and warned the remaining hawks that Baal would shatter their wings should they ever hover over Aqhat’s tomb again. Returning to his palace, he declared seven years of mourning for his fallen son.

Pughat’s Revenge

Determined to avenge her brother, Pughat prayed to the gods for justice. She adorned herself with jewelry, perfumed her body, and disguised herself in elegant attire. She sought guidance from a group of nomads, who directed her to a being named Yatpan, unaware that he was the very assassin of her brother. Likewise, Yatpan did not recognize her as Aqhat’s sister. He welcomed her into his home, shared wine with her, and unwittingly confessed to the murder of Aqhat. Seizing the opportunity, Pughat intoxicated him further before drawing a hidden sword from beneath her garments and decapitating him.

The Return of Fertility and Possible Resurrection of Aqhat

Some interpretations suggest that the epic hints at Aqhat’s resurrection, possibly in a symbolic sense, leading to the restoration of fertility and the revival of the land. As the pastures flourished once more, life and prosperity returned to the kingdom.

Parallels with Other Myths

The Epic of Aqhat shares striking similarities with various myths from different cultures:

The Greek Myth of Orion – Similar to Aqhat’s fate, Orion is slain by Artemis (Diana), later transformed into the constellation Orion. His disappearance marks the end of April, while his reappearance in July coincides with drought and barrenness, mirroring the consequences of Aqhat’s death.
The Story of Judith and Holofernes – The episode of Pughat avenging her brother by beheading Yatpan closely resembles the biblical tale of Judith decapitating Holofernes.
Aqhat’s Birth and Biblical Parallels – The miraculous birth of Aqhat bears resemblance to the birth stories of Isaac, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist, all of whom were granted to their parents after divine intervention.
Daniel’s Patience and Endurance – Daniel’s suffering and resilience resemble the endurance of Keret (another Ugaritic hero), the biblical Job, and the protagonists of Babylonian dialogues on divine justice, such as the hero of “I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom.”

The Canaanite Age of Heroes

These mythological and epic similarities stem from interconnected traditions in the ancient Near East. A clear lineage of semi-divine heroes emerges in Canaanite mythology:

El fathered Keret, a figure renowned for patience and devotion.
Keret’s son, Daniel, was known for his wisdom and endurance.
Daniel’s son, Aqhat, embodied youth, vitality, and heroism.

This succession of legendary figures suggests the existence of a Canaanite Age of Heroes, akin to other mythological golden ages, such as:

The Sumerian Heroic Age, featuring figures like Enmerkar, Lugalbanda, and Gilgamesh.
The Greek Heroic Age, home to Achilles, Heracles, and Perseus.

In contrast to the earlier generation of gods such as El, who produced legendary figures like Phoenix and Europa, the subsequent generation gave rise to heroic mortals, establishing the mythic Canaanite tradition.