[OT] Canaan Cosmogony

Canaan, about 1450-1200 BCE [Primary source is the Baal cycle.  A full account is missing due to incomplete and damaged text.  Later details of their cosmogony have Greek influences]

• Gods such as chaos, ether, air, wind and desire were produced from the egg Mot. The egg was populated with creatures who remained motionless until opened.

• The sky and heavenly bodies were formed. Later the waters were separated from the sky, and the gods were formed.

• There were twin mountains, Targhizizi and Tharumagi, which held the firmament above the earth-circling ocean, bounding the earth.

• Baal Hadad (sky and storm god, associated with the west wind) and Yam (god of the chaotic sea, also called "Judge Nahar {River}" the same as, or in league with Lotan / Leviathan, a Dragon / Serpent) live with the Canaanite high god El on mount Lel, the source of the rivers and two oceans, as well as where those waters meet those of the firmament. 

• El holds a council of the gods ("Elohim";  note "El" is usually a generic description for "god" in the Old Testament, and "Elohim" {words ending with "im" are plural in Hebrew} is the most common designation for "God" in the Old Testament ).

• After a dispute between El and Baal, Yam is made king of the gods, becoming the "darling of El."

• Yam must drive Baal from his throne, but Baal triumphs, killing Yam.

• Baal is rewarded with a palace and feast to which Mot (god of death, drought & sterility -- seemingly different than the egg Mot) is invited.

• Mot is insulted with an offering of bread and wine when he prefers flesh and blood, and suggests eating Baal.  Later he kills Baal.

• Anat, Baal's sister and lover, kills Mot and Baal is resurrected.  Seven years later, Mot also resurrects, but El has pronounced Baal his favorite, and Mot recognizes Baal as king.

• The victory of Anat was perpetuated year after year in ritual celebration.  Canaanites reenacted their struggle against sterility to ensure the creativity and fertility of the world, celebrating the death of a god, the quest of the goddess, and his the triumphant return to the divine sphere.

• Baal is often depicted as Yahweh's antagonist in the Old Testament. However, like Baal, Yahweh  is depicted as a god of the storm, who's voice is as thunder and sends lightning (Ps.18:10–16).  Both are the "rider of the clouds" (Isa.19:1; Ps. 68:5), dominating the sea (ym) and vanquishing the primordial dragon (Ps. 74:13–14; Isa. 27:1; 51:9–10; Job 26:12–13). They are both also responsible for human and natural fertility.

• more info here here here and here.  Photo: Ba'al with raised arm.