This new conceptual out-of Phoenician myths which was preserved of Philo because of Eusebius (like biblical observes on the same subject) used to be aren’t thought about which have suspician from the important scholarship and thought to be mostly an invention by Philo, without any independent worth since the a way to obtain experience with Phoenician faith. Which skeptical feelings as disappered using new data recovery away from religious epic literary works off Ugarit to the north Syrian coast (1927-1937).
Such significant poetical messages discover of the D.F.A great. Schaefer for the some tips demonstrated that gods out of Philo happen names for the high part now better-identified off Ugarit as well as off their provide.
This new Philo myths is actually described as a comparable ethical ditch and ancient barbarity that have fondness having detailed brands and you will personifications which can be found at Ugarit.The types of degree indicate little change in the message regarding Canaanite mythology between c. 1400 BC and you may 700 BC. Of a lot details of Philo’s membership, not just in the problem of one’s brands away from deities, however in the mythological surroundings as well come into over agreement with the Ugaritic mythology and late Phoenician inscriptions. Students are, for this reason, justified from inside the taking, at the least provisionally, the data preserved by the Philo which do not include subjective interpretation on the their part.
Due to the fact myths regarding old Ugarit mean, this new religion of the Canaanite peoples is a harsh and you will debased sorts of routine polytheism. It absolutely was for the beautiful virility-cult worship off an especially lewd and orgiastic form, and that proved to be way more important than any other characteristics faith from the ANE.
Canaanite deities, on the one-hand, introduce superior fluidity out of identification and you can setting, so that it is often extremely hard to solve the domain of various gods or even describe their kinship to 1 various other. This is exactly one of many grossly irrational regions of Canaanite faith, indicative of their corrupt character. Simultaneously, Canaanite deities keeps most of the time etymologically clear brands, a fact which appears to suggest the fresh Canaanite pantheon because symbolizing good cruder and a lot more ancient form of polytheism.
Miscellaneous epigraphic and you can literary supplies show the fresh new labels of one’s head gods and you will goddesses of many Canaanite citaies in numerous attacks.
Este is the term whereby the ultimate Canaanite goddess try identified. It is including a reputation where Jesus is named inside the the outdated Testament — El, the new Jesus (Elohim) off Israel ( el elohe yisrael: Gen. ). In the most common prose they occures more frequently with an adjunct: Este Elyon (one particular higher God, Gen. ), El Shaddai (usually, God-almighty, Gen. 17:1), Este Hai (The fresh lifestyle Jesus, Josh. 3:10), and also aren’t regarding the plural away from majesty, Elohim. During the Hebrew poetry El is much more frequent, in which it really stands oftentimes without having any adjunct (Ps. , 33, 48; ; Jobs 8:3).
The expression El are a general name to own “god” inside Northwest Semitic (Hebrew and you will Ugaritic) and as such it is also included in the existing Testament for heathen deities or idols (Ex boyfriend. ; Ps. ; Is actually. ). The initial common term is ‘ilum ; shedding the fresh new mimation while the nominative instance ending ( you ) gets ‘el when you look at the Hebrew. It actually was likely an enthusiastic adjectival development (intransitive participle) regarding options “is strong, powerful” ( ‘wl ), meaning “The brand new Solid (or Strong) One to.”
