The latest abstract out-of Phoenician myths that has been preserved away from Philo by way of Eusebius (such biblical notices on the same subject) was previously aren’t thought about that have suspician of the critical grant and you will thought to be primarily a development by the Philo, with no independent well worth since a supply of experience in Phoenician religion. So it suspicious thinking just like the disappered owing to the fresh new data recovery of religious impressive literature away from Ugarit toward north Syrian coastline (1927-1937).
These types of high poetical texts found by D.F.A good. Schaefer within the several strategies have shown that the gods off Philo bear labels from inside the highest part today really-identified regarding Ugarit together with off their source. New Philo mythology are described as an identical ethical ditch and you can ancient barbarity with affection to possess descriptive brands and you may personifications which might be available at Ugarit.
This new resources of degree mean little improvement in the content away from Canaanite mythology ranging from c. 1400 BC and you will 700 BC. Of many details of Philo’s account, not only in the challenge of brands off deities, but in the fresh new mythological environment also come into done agreement with the Ugaritic mythology and you will later Phoenician inscriptions. Scholars is actually, for this reason, justified within the taking, about provisionally, all the data preserved by the Philo that don’t cover subjective interpretation to the their region.
The fresh divinities and therefore profile on the mythological messages regarding Ugarit was indeed evidently perhaps not odd to the area, but were current certainly one of all Canaanites, because they brear merely a vague link to the most famous deities worshipped in the city itself
Because mythology out of ancient Ugarit mean, the fresh religion of your Canaanite individuals try a harsh and you may debased sort of ritual polytheism. It had been with the sexy fertility-cult worship out of a particularly raunchy and you may orgiastic type, and this became even more important than nearly any other character faith about ANE.
The latest Ugaritic deities are now best-known by hundreds regarding religious texts matchmaking in the 15th and you will early fourteenth century BC which were found in a library situated during the a creating situated ranging from Ugarit’s a couple higher temples, you to definitely intent on Baal as well as the almost every other so you’re able to Dagon
Canaanite deities, towards one hand, introduce superior fluidity regarding character and you will setting, so that it is often nearly impossible to solve the specific domain name of different gods or to explain their kinship to just one several other. This will be among the really unreasonable regions of Canaanite religion, indicative of their corrupt nature. In addition, Canaanite deities features in most cases etymologically transparent brands, an undeniable fact and that seems to point to the fresh new Canaanite pantheon since the representing a great cruder and much more ancient form of polytheism.
Miscellaneous epigraphic and literary offer show the fresh brands of one’s master gods and you can goddesses many Canaanite citaies in various attacks.
Este ‘s the label which the ultimate Canaanite deity was identified. This might be and a reputation in which Jesus is known as from inside the the existing Testament — El, this new Jesus (Elohim) out-of Israel ( el elohe yisrael: Gen. ). In the most common prose it occures more frequently with a keen adjunct: El Elyon (the most high God, Gen. http://datingranking.net/tr/fastflirting-inceleme/ ), El Shaddai (traditionally, God-almighty, Gen. 17:1), Este Hai (New lifestyle Goodness, Josh. 3:10), and incredibly commonly on plural regarding majesty, Elohim. For the Hebrew poetry Este is far more constant, in which it stands usually without having any adjunct (Ps. , 33, 48; ; Work 8:3).
The word Este try a general title to have «god» into the Northwest Semitic (Hebrew and you will Ugaritic) and as such it is reasonably included in the existing Testament having heathen deities otherwise idols (Ex. ; Ps. ; Try. ). The first common title is ‘ilum ; dropping new mimation and also the nominative case end ( u ) becomes ‘el for the Hebrew. It absolutely was almost certainly an adjectival creation (intransitive participle) in the supply «becoming strong, powerful» ( ‘wl ), meaning «The Strong (otherwise Strong) You to.»
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