Baal and Mot Story Explained – Canaanite Myths

Baal and Mot Story

Anat's descent into the underworld

When she goes down to the underworld, she encounters Mot and asks him about Baal. He boasts that he killed Baal, so she kills him and uses all means of torture such as cutting, burning, and grinding him to avenge her brother and husband Baal.

Anat tells El about a dream she saw and asks him to interpret it for her, or he may have been the one who saw the dream and wanted to tell Anat about its interpretation. Because of the damage to the document, it is no longer possible to determine the owner of the dream, whether it is El or Anat, but the interpretation of the dream implies that Baal will return alive again, as the vision of fat and honey suggests the return of goodness again, represented by the god Baal, who returns after seven years of absence.

Baal's victory over Mot.

Baal and Mot are once again challenged to a duel. the goddess Shabash intervenes and tells Mot that El is on Baal's side. Mot is forced to recognize Baal's kingship, and this is where the text ends.

Text of the legend

'[Have you then forgotten, Baal, that I can surely transfix you], '[ you],

'for all that you smote Leviathan the slippery serpent '(and) made an end of the wriggling serpent,

'the tyrant with seven heads? 'The heavens will burn up (and) droop (helpless), 'for I myself will crush you in pieces,

'I will eat (you)………………… (and) forearms.

'Indeed you must come down into the throat of divine Mot,

'into the miry depths of the hero beloved of El.' The gods did depart and stayed not;

then indeed they set (their) faces towards Baal (in) the heigh.t(s) of Zephon;

and Gupn and Ugar gave (him the) answer: The message of divine Mot, 'the word of the hero beloved of El (is this): ' "But my appetite is an appetite of lions (in) the waste,

"just as the longing of dolphin(s) is in the sea ' "or a pool captivates wild oxen ' "(or) a spring as it were herds of hinds." "If it is in very truth my desire to consume 'clay', ' "then in truth by the handfuls" I must eat (it),

"whether my seven portions are (already) in the bowl ' "or whether Nahar has to mix the cup. "[So] Baal has invited me with my brothers

"(and) Hadad has called me with my kinsfolk! ' "But (it is) to eat bread with my brothers ' "and to drink wine with my kinsfolk! "Have you then forgotten, Baal, that I can surely transfix you,

 [ …… ]you, ' "for all that you smote [Leviathan the slippery serpent]

' "(and) made an end of [the wriggling serpent], ' "the tyrant [with seven heads]?

"[The heavens] will burn up [(and) droop (helpless)], ' "[for I myself will crush] you [in pieces],

"[I will eat (you) (and) forearms]. ' "[Indeed, you must come down into the throat of divine Mot],

' "[into the miry depths of the hero beloved of El]'"

'['[A lip to the] earth, a lip to the heavens, '[…] a tongue to the stars! 'Baal must enter his innards '(and) go down into his mouth. 'Because he has scorched the olive(s),( 'the produce of the earth and the fruit of the trees, 'mightiest Baal is afraid of him, 'the rider on the clouds is in dread of him. 'Depart, tell to divine Mot, 'Repeat to the hero beloved of El: ' "The message of mightiest Baal, ' "the word of the mightiest of warriors (is this): ' "Hail, o divine Mot! ' "I am your servant, yes, yours forever." '

The gods did depart and stayed not; then indeed they set (their) faces towards divine Mot within his city 'Miry', where a pit is the throne on which (he) sits, filth the land of his heritage. They lifted up their voices and cried: 'The message of mightiest Baal, 'the word of the mightiest of warriors (is this): ' "Hail, divine Mot!

' "I am your servant, yes, yours forever." ' Divine Mot did rejoice, [he lifted up] his voice and cried: 'How (is it that) [Baal] invites me [with my brothers], '[how (is it that)] Hadad calls me [with my kinsfolk]? '[ ] my bread

[ ] he has cut up

[ ] depart

i '[ 'great is the seat [ '[ ' ] he has cut up] [depart] great is the seat […]

[……….] tbe land

it shall belong to your son

'of your son

. . . . like 'the star(s) [ Truly I must. call Mot [……….]

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, much

' "Sheger, much ............

 ' "Truly I must call Mot

 ' "the beloved one within

 'And go, gods ......

 'and tell to ...........

 ' "with much sheep

 ' "much sheep

 ' "Ithm...........

 ' "Truly I must call Mot

 ' "the beloved one within

 Andgo[ ]

 [go]

 'and to seek [ ]

 'a hundred [ ]

 'do you seek [ ]

 He lifted up his voice [and cried):

 'Where then is Baal [ ]

 'where is Hadad [ ]

 Baal arose [with his seven pages],

 with [his] eight ['boars'

 he came near [ ]

 food[ ]

 while [the gods] did eat [(and) drink]

 and they were supplied with a suckling [of the teat];

 with [a salted] knife [they did carve a failing],

 they did drink [flagons of wine],

 from cups of gold [the blood of trees],

(from) cups of silver [ ]

 flagon(s)

 and they

 they went up; new wine [ ]

 the house of El [ ]

 for a ruler [ ]

 'Who has sent [ ]

 'has sent [ ]

 'do you recount [ ]

 'the reviler [ ]

 [Baal]

[ ] mightiest

[ baal ] your torch

[ ] your

[ ] the life of a calf

 'I will put him in a hole of the earth-gods.

 'And as for you, take your clouds,

 'your winds, your thunder-bolts (and) your rains,

 '(take) with you your seven pages

 '(and) your eight "boars",

 '(take) with you Pidray daughter of mist,

 '(take) with you Tallay daughter of showers.

 'Then of a truth do you set your face

 'towards the rocks (at the entrance) of my grave.

 'Lift up a rock on (your) two hands,

 'a wooded height on to (your) two palms,

 'and go down (into) the house of "freedom" (in) the earth,

be counted among those who go down into the earth, 'and do you know inanition like mortal men.' Mightiest Baal obeyed.

He loved a heifer in the pasture(s),

a cow in the fields 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.'

[Mightiest] Baal did clothe him with [his robe],

[ ] him as a gift for the [beloved one]

[ ] to his breast

[Then indeed they set (their) faces]

 [towards El at the source(s) of the rivers],

 [amid the springs of the two oceans];

 [they penetrated the mountains) of Ei]

 [and] entered [the massif of the king, the father] of years.

 [They lifted up their voices and cried]:

 'We [two] did go round [to the edges of the earth],

 'to the limits of the watery region.

 'We two did reach "Pleasure" the land of pasture(s),

"Delight" the fields by the shore of the realm of death.

We two did happen upon Baal; he had fallen to the ground.

Mightiest Baal is dead, 'the prince lord of earth has perished!' Thereupon Latipan kindly god

did come down from (his) throne (and) did sit on the footstool,

[and] (he did come down) from the footstool (and) did sit on the ground.

He poured straw of mourning on his head,

dust of wallowing on his crown; for clothing he covered himself with sackcloth.

 he scraped (his) skin with a stone,

 with a flint for a razor

 he shaved (his) side-whiskers and beard;

 he harrowed his collar-bone,"

 he ploughed (his) chest like a garden,

 he harrowed (his) waist like a valley.

 He lifted up his voice and cried:

 'Baal is dead

'What (will become) of the people of Dagon's son,

 'What of (his) multitudes?

 'After Baal I would go down into the earth.

 (Then) Anat also went to and for and scoured

 every rock to the heart of the earth,

 every hill to the heart of the fields.

 She reached 'Pleasure [the land] of pasture(s),

 'Delight' the fields [by the shore] of the realm of death;

  she [happened upon] Baal; he had fallen [to] the ground.

  [For clothing] she covered herself with sackcloth;

Of Baal

 she scraped (her) skin with a stone,

 with a flint [for a razor]

 she shaved (her) side-whiskers and beard;

 [she harrowed] her collar-bone,

 she ploughed (her) chest like a garden,

 she harrowed (her) waist like a valley, (saying):

 'Baal is dead!

 'What (will become) of the people of Dagon's son,

 'what of (his) multitudes?

 'After Baal we would go down into the earth.'

 Shapsh the luminary of the gods came down to her,

 as she sated herself with weeping

 (and) drank tears like wine.

 She cried aloud to Shapsh the luminary of the gods:

 'Hoist, I beseech you, mightiest Baal on to me.'

 Shapsh the luminary of the gods obeyed,

 she lifted up mightiest Baal,

 she surely put him on to the shoulder of Anat,

 (and) she took him up to the recesses of Zephon;

 she wept for him and buried him,

 she put him in a hole of the earth-gods.'

 She slew seventy wild oxen

 as a

 'For mightiest Baal,

she slew seventy oxen

 [as a] ..........

 for mightiest Baal,

 [she] slew seventy sheep

 [as a] ..................

 for mightiest Baal,

 [she] slew seventy harts

 [as a...............]

for mightiest Baal,

 [she slew] seventy mountain-goats

 [as a...........for]

mightiest Baal,

 [she slew seventy] asses

 [as a...............for]

mightiest Baal.

 She put his [ ]

in [ ]

[ ] him (as befitted) a brother-in-law

of the gods.

 [Then] indeed she set (her) face

 towards [El] at the source(s) of the rivers,

 amid the springs of the two oceans;

 she penetrated the mountain(s) of £

 and entered the massif of the king, father of years.

 She did homage at the feet of £ and fell down,

 she prostrated herself and did him honour;

 she lifted up her voice and cried:

 'Now let Athirat and her sons rejoice,

 'Elat and the company of her kinsfolk;

 'for mightiest Baal is dead,

 'for the prince lord of earth has perished '

 cried aloud to dame Athirat of the sea,

 'Hear, o dame Athirat of the sea,

 'give one of your sons that I may make him king.'

 And dame Athirat of the sea answered:

 'Yes, let us make (him) king that has knowledge (and)

 intelligence.'

 But Latipan kindly god answered:

 'One feeble in strength cannot run like Baal

 'nor release the lance like Dagon's son when the time

 is right.'

 But dame Athirat of the sea did answer:

 'No! let us make Attar the terrible king.

 'Let Attar the terrible be king!'

Thereupon Attar the terrible

 went up into the recesses of Zephon;

 he sat on the seat of mightiest Baal,

 (but) his feet did not reach the foot-stool,

 his head did not reach its top.

 And Attar the terrible spoke:

 'I cannot be king in the recesses of Zephon.'

 Attar the terrible came down,

 he came down from the seat of mightiest Baal,

 and became king over the whole broad earth.

[ ] (they) drew water from casks

[ ] (they) drew water from barrels.

[............]

[.........]

[A day, days] passed,

 and [the damsel Anat] sought him.

 Like the heart of a [heifer] (yearning) for her calf,

 like the heart of a ewe (yearning) for her lamb,

 so the heart of Anat (yearned) after Baal.

 She seized Mot by the hem of (his) garment,

 she constrained [him] by the end of (his) robe;

 she lifted up her voice and cried:

 'Do you, Mot, give up my brother.'

 But divine Mot did answer:

 'What (is this that) you desire of me, o virgin Anat?

 'I myself went to and fro and scoured

 'every rock to the heart of the earth,

 'every hill to the heart of the fields.

 'My appetite did lack humans,

 'my appetite (did lack) the multitudes of earth.

 'I did reach "Pleasure" the land of pastures),

 ' "Delight" the fields by the shore of the realm of death.

 'I it was who confronted mightiest Baal,

 'I who made him (like) a lamb in my mouth,

(and) he was carried away like a kid in the breach of my windpipe.'

 Shapsh the luminary of the gods did glow hot,

 the heavens were wearied by the hand of divine Mot

 A day, days passed,

 from days (they passed) into months

 (as) the damsel Anat sought him.

 Like the heart of a heifer (yearning) for her calf,

 like the heart of a ewe (yearning) for her lamb,

 so the heart of Anat (yearned) after Baal.

 She seized divine Mot,

 with a sword she split him,

 with a sieve she winnowed him,

 with fire she burnt him,

 with mill-stones she ground him,

 in a field she scattered him;

 his flesh indeed the birds ate,

 his limbs' indeed the sparrows consumed.

 Flesh cried out to flesh

for Mot has perished [ ]

 'And if [mightiest Baal] is alive,

 'and if the prince lord [of earth] exists,

 '(then) in a dream of Latipan kindly god,

 'in a vision of the creator of creatures,

 'the heavens should rain oil,

 'the ravines should run with honey,

 'that I may know that mightiest Baal is alive,

 'that the prince lord of earth exists.'

 In a dream of Latipan kindly god,

 in a vision of the creator of creatures,

 the heavens rained oil,

 the ravines ran with honey.

 Latipan kindly god did rejoice;

he placed his feet on the footstool

 and parted (his) throat and laughed;

 he lifted up his voice and cried:

 'Even I may sit down and be at ease,

 'and (my) soul within me may take its ease;

 'for mightiest Baal is alive,

 'for the prince lord of earth exists.'

 El cried aloud to the virgin Anat:

 'Hear, o virgin Anat.

 'Tell to Shapsh the luminary of the gods:

"The furrows in the fields are cracked, o Shapsh,

 ' "the furrows in the fields of El are cracked.

 ' "Baal should be occupying the furrows in the plough-land.

 

 ' "Where is mightiest Baal,

 ' "where is the prince lord of earth'?" '

 The virgin Anat departed;

 then indeed she set (her) face

 towards Shapsh the luminary of the gods;

 she lifted up her voice and cried:

 The message of the bull El your father,

 'the word of Lapitan your sire (is this):

 ' "The furrows in the fields are cracked, o Shapsh,

 ' "the furrows in the fields of El are cracked.

 ' "Baal should be occupying the furrows in the plough land.

 ' "where is the prince lord of earth?" '

 And Shapsh the luminary of the gods answered:

 Tour sparkling wine from a vat,

 'let the children of your family wear wreaths,

 'and I will seek mightiest Baal.'

 And the virgin Anat answered:

 'Where (and) whither (you go), o Shapsh,

 'where (and) whither (you go), may El protect [you],

 'may [ ]

protect you!

 'Let [sparkling wine] be poured [from a vat]

Baal seized the sons of Athirat

 he smote the great ones with the broad-sword,

 he smote the 'pounders' of the sea with the mace,

 he dragged the yellow ones of Mot to the ground.

 (Then) did Baal [sit] upon the throne of his kingdom,

 [on the cushion] on the seat of his dominion.

 (A day, days passed),

from [days] (they passed) into months,

 from months into years.

 Then in the seventh year

 divine Mot [ ]

 to mightiest Baal;

 he lifted up his voice and cried:

 'Because of you, Baal, I have suffered abasement,

 'because of you I have suffered splitting with the,

 sword,

 'because of you I have suffered burning with fire,

 'because of you [I have suffered grinding] with

 mill-stones,

 'because [of you] I have [suffered winnowing] with

 the riddle,

 'because of you I have suffered [ ] in

 the fields,

 'because of you I have suffered scattering in the sea.

 'Give one of your brothers that I may be fed,'

 'and the anger that I feel will turn back

(But) if [you] do not [give] one of your brothers,

 'behold I shall [   ]

 'I shall consume [mankind],

 'I shall consume the multitudes [on earth].'

 And he [ ]

[ ]

[ ]

[(Let)] divine Mot [ ]

 '[let him eat] his seven pages!'

 [And] divine Mot [answered]:

 'But look! Baal has given me my own brothers to eat,

 'the sons of my mother to consume!'

 He returned to Baal (in) the recesses of Zephon;

 he lifted up his voice and cried:

 'You have given me my own brothers, Baal, to eat,

 'the sons of my mother to consume.'

 They eyed each other like burning coals;

 Mot was strong, Baal was strong.

 They gored like wild oxen;'

 Mot was strong, Baal was strong.

 They bit like serpents;

 Mot was strong, Baal was strong.

 They tugged like greyhounds;

 Mot fell down, Baal fell down on top of him.

 Shapsh cried out to Mot:

 'Hear, I beseech you, o divine Mot.

 'How can you fight with mightiest Baal?

 'How of a truth shall the bull El your father hear you ?

 'Indeed he will pull up the support of your seat,

 'indeed will overturn the throne of your kingdom,

'indeed will break the sceptre of your rule.'

 Divine Mot was afraid,

 the hero beloved of was in dread.

 Mot roused himself at her call,

 he [lifted up his voice and cried]:

 'Let them seat Baal [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 contribution,

 'do you indeed drink the wine of oblation.

 'Shapsh, the shades are under you;

 'Shapsh, the ghosts are under you;

 'the gods (come) to you,

 'behold! the dead (come) to you.

 'Kothar is your companion

 'and Khasis your intimate.

 'In the sea are Arsh and the dragon;'

 'let Kothar-and-Khasis banish (them),

 'let Kothar-and-Khasis drive (them) away!

Written by Elimelek the Shubanite,"

 disciple of Atn-prht, chief of the priests,

 chief of the shepherds, ' the master,

 (in the reign of) Niqmad king of Ugarit,

 sire of Yrgb (and) lord of TArmn."

The Myth of Baal and Mot: Explained and Analyzed

• In this myth, Baal has undergone a major evolution, as he is described as a rider of the clouds of the clouds that sends rain to all creatures, including plants, animals, and humans. The storm and the flood have become his weapons. His voice is thunder, and he is the master of lightning and thunderbolt.

• The god Mot feels Baal's growing importance and importance, especially after Baal was able to win the victory of the monsters of the underworld. Baal's victory over the monsters of the underworld, so Mot had to bring Baal down to the underworld to the underworld because Baal threatens him personally.

• This myth provides us with evidence of the extent of influence between ancient civilizations from the accurate description it gives us of the underworld, as we find an accurate description of the house of Mot, where filth fills the house.an accurate description of the house of death, where filth fills the house, and we find a description of the food of the god of death. Which is based on clay, and this is consistent with the legends of ancient civilizations that talk about the underworld or the world of the dead, whether it's Egyptian or Mesopotamian mythology.

• The inhabitants of Ugarit realized and believed in the return of a person after death to his origin, i.e. clay, and that the god Mot relied on two sources for his food: plants and clay. The disappearance of Baal leads to the grief of nature through the dryness of the olives and the lack of fruit and thus the lack of fertility of the land. Such events are not limited to Baal's absence but include other gods and demigods. 

• The myth shows us the nature of the relationship during this phase between El on the one hand and Yam and Mot on the other. Yam is El's beloved, and they are also similar in terms of hostility to Baal. Here we find Baal submitting to Mot's invitation to descend into the underworld without any resistance. He decides not to confront Mot and not to clash with him, although the text does not tell us why this is the case. Baal is portrayed as a weak god who is unable to protect himself.                  

• There is a similarity between this There is a similarity between this myth and the myth of Aqhat ben Daniel through who conveyed the news of Baal's death to El two boys who told him that Baal was dead, and those who conveyed the news of Aqhat's death were also two messengers Baal's recognition of Mot's sovereignty meant that the rain stopped and entered a period of drought. We previously mentioned the story of Aqhat, the son of Daniel, in an earlier article. You can check it out here: Canaanite Legend of Ugarit: Daniel, Aqhat, and the Enchanted Bow

• This myth has shown us the Ugaritic people's knowledge of the custom of making offerings to the gods and the multiplicity of these offerings These offerings in terms of number and variety, the wind was an effective weapon in ancient mythology In ancient mythology, the wind was an effective weapon, as it appeared as an effective weapon of Baal, as the weapons of the god Baal indicate his activity. The absence of the god Baal naturally leads to the disappearance of some of these weapons.

• Baal plays a major role in the process of fertilizing herds, in addition to his ability to fertilize Plants and crops due to his rains.

•  Baal and Mot cannot rule at the same time The supremacy of one on the surface of the earth means the absence of the other in the undergrounder's descent from his throne signaled the beginning of mourning for Baal's death, which continues with El's second stage of mourning, in which he covered himself in dirt and dust and then scratched his body.

• The similarity in the roles played by Anat in this myth and Ishtar in the Babylonian myth in terms of their descent in search of Baal and Tammuz, respectively respectively .We have previously covered the story of Ishtar’s descent to the Underworld in another article. Feel free to check it out here: Ishtar Descent into the Netherworld

• El becomes a weak god, unlike what happened in the first part of the myth in the first part of the myth, we find that El does not intervene in the appointment or selection of a substitute for Baal, but leaves this decision, despite its seriousness, in the hands of Ethert, so El did not practice kingship himself kingship himself, but he appointed his representative, and we find that Baal is the king. Yam is king, albeit temporarily. Then Baal reigns again.” Then we find Baal abdicating the position of viceroy to Mut. But for a number of reasons Mot cannot serve as El's viceroy. Attar is appointed, but he can't do the job, and we find Baal returning to the position.

• The alliance between Baal and Anat was not for the benefit of Baal and Anat, but for the benefit of all beings. by killing Mut to make way for the return of Baal.

•  As long as Baal is alive, the land is fertile. But when the land is barren, it is a sign that Baal is dead, and it is known that the period of lasts for seven years and then comes back to life for another seven years This is the life cycle of agriculture.

• When Baal is victorious, there is goodness and fertility When the god Mut is victorious, there is drought and death. He divided the powers that he possessed among his sons, Yam, God of the seas, Mot, God of the underworld, and Baal, God of the clouds.

• A group of scholars believe that Mot was not forced to submit to Baal's authority because of his fear of Baal. But he was afraid of Shabash and El. Evidence that Mut was the one who returned to challenge Baal again, but El's attitude made him submit to him.

• The goddess Shabash is described as a judge Perhaps because she resolved the dispute between the gods, and if such a belief is true, it shows that this This myth is older than all the myths that characterize the goddess Shabash as a goddess.

• Baal's victory over Mot The end of this myth reflects Baal's essential characteristic as a fertility god. His presence means life for Ugarit and his absence means death. The results of the conflict between Baal and Mot do not only affect the two gods but also the manifestations of the universe.

• In many Ugaritic myths, we are used to Anat's presence and participation alongside Baal, but this myth shows that Anat is completely on Baal's side. She fights by his side and for him in his absence, she doesn't fight alongside Baal for Baal's sake. For Baal but for all beings.” This explains her importance to the people of Ugarit. The idea of resurrection after death existed in Ugaritic culture, and this resurrection was exclusive to the Ugaritic gods, while humans were deprived of this right, and they realized this and were convinced of it.

•  It is certain that this myth was written early in the history of the Ugaritic Kingdom, as the Ugaritic pantheon had not yet fully materialized in this period The Ugaritic pantheon will continue for quite some time until it reaches the stage where each god takes his rightful place.

• Baal gained great importance in Ugaritic society Ugaritic society because of the great role he played as a rain god and his important role in fertility and its direct impact on people's lives because their lives are based on agriculture, He sacrificed himself for the survival of the people of Ugarit. El's primary mission is to maintain the cosmic order and issuing final judgments aimed at achieving this end.

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