Specific deities known as ' El, ' Al or ' Il include the supreme god of the ancient Canaanite religion [10] and the supreme god of East Semitic speakers in Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia. [11] Among the Hittites , El was known as Elkunirša ( Hittite : 𒂖𒆪𒉌𒅕𒊭 Elkunīrša ).

El was the head of the Ugaritic pantheon. [27] . He was regarded as a creator deity [28] and was addressed as the father of the other gods and of mankind. [29] . He was also the king (mlk) of the gods. [30] . His dwelling is described as "the source of the rivers, in the midst of the confluence of the two deeps." [31] .

Aug 5, 2018 · El was a Semitic deity known across Mesopotamia and the Near East. References to him appear over 500 times in the Ugaritic texts, and he was the father of the gods of the Ugaritic pantheon. His symbol was a bull, which represented his strength.

El, the general term for “deity” in Semitic languages as well as the name of the chief deity of the West Semites. In the ancient texts from Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) in Syria, El was described as the titular head of the pantheon, husband of Asherah, and father of all the other gods (except for Baal). His most common epithet was “the ...

Nov 13, 2016 · El was known as the supreme god of the Canaanites in the mythology of the ancient Near East. He was the father of gods and men and the creator deity. He is sometimes depicted as a bull and known for his tremendous power and strength.

In the Ugaritic texts, the god. ‘il. or El is clearly portrayed as the supreme god of the Bronze Age Canaanite pantheon and shares many similarities to Israel’s patriarchal deity. It was during this same period that Canaanite culture has been thought to flourish in Syria-Palestine.

The Ugaritic civilization, a Canaanite culture flourishing around 3000 BC, worshiped a deity named El. He served as the chief god, often depicted as an aged, fatherly figure, much like other ancient gods representing authority and wisdom. Ugaritic texts recorded El’s name using cuneiform symbols resembling the English letters "i" and "l."

Feb 21, 2025 · The deity El is the highest-ranking Canaanite god, holding the supreme position among all other Canaanite deities. His name signifies the concept of divinity in general, particularly within Semitic languages.

In the study of ancient religions, one intriguing question arises: Is the Hebrew god "El" a copy of the Ugarit's supreme deity named "El"? Let's explore this topic and understand the distinctions between these two deities.

In the mythology of the ancient Near East, El was the supreme god of the Canaanites*. He was the creator deity, the father of gods and men, and the highest judge and authority in all divine matters and human affairs.