1 In the kingdom of Ugarit*, Baal, son of El, the father of all ... - JLBK

The following extract from the Legend of Daniel (I D, II, 40-66) discovered on a tablet written by the scribe Ilumilku gives a clear description of the crucial role that ...
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Short Historical Dictionary on Urban Hydrology and Drainage

BAAL In the kingdom of Ugarit*, Baal, son of El, the father of all gods, was the god of rainfall and storm, and the main figure of the Ugaritic mythology. Baal, also named Haddu (or Addu in Mari*), lived on the sacred Mount Sapon located 40 km in the North of Ugarit. “He incarnates on the one hand the storm, irresistible demonstration of power in front of which the most redoubtable element, the sea, has to give in, and on the other hand the rain which falls on the earth, where it brings fertility and allows men to live.” (Caquot et al., 1974, p. 73). The mythological poem Baal and the Death clearly refers to the succession or cycle of rain and dry seasons or years (Calvet, 2001, p. 7-8). The poem may be found e.g. in Caquot et al. (1974) who published a translation of many tablets written in Ugaritic alphabet describing many adventures of Baal.

Figure 1 : Stele of Baal with lightning (limestone, 13th century BC, Musée du Louvre, France, photo Ch. Larrieu) (in Calvet and Galliano, 2004, p. 6).

© Jean-Luc Bertrand-Krajewski - 02/2006

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Short Historical Dictionary on Urban Hydrology and Drainage

The following extract from the Legend of Daniel (I D, II, 40-66) discovered on a tablet written by the scribe Ilumilku gives a clear description of the crucial role that Baal was playing for the Ugarit citizens as the provider of rainfall and fertility: Then Daniel, the man of healing, is praying: “Let the clouds, in the heat of the season, let the clouds make the autumn rain fall, let, in summer, the dew spread over the grapes.” (But) during seven years, Ba’al is going to fail, (he is going to fail) during eight (years), the Rider of the storm clouds. No dew, no downpour, no rising of abysses, no enjoyable voice of Baal.

Alors Danel, l’homme de guérison, prie : “Que les nuages, dans les chaleurs de la saison, que les nuages fassent tomber la pluie d’automne, qu’en été,la rosée se répande sur les raisins.” (Mais) pendant sept ans, Ba’al va faire défaut, (il va faire défaut) pendant huit (ans), le Chevaucheur des nuées. Point de rosée, point d’averse, point de gonflement des abîmes, point d’agréable voix de Ba’al. Caquot et al. (1974), p. 444-445.

Daniel is also referred to by the prophet Ezekiel in the Bible (Ezekiel, 14, 12-20). References Calvet Y. (2001). Le cycle de l'eau au Levant méditerranéen au II° millénaire avant J.-C. Actes du colloque international OH2 "Origines et Histoire de l'Hydrologie", Dijon, France, 9-11 mai 2001, 10 p. Calvet Y., Galliano G., (coord.) (2004). Ougarit, aux origines de l'alphabet. Les Dossiers d'Archéologie, hors-série n° 10, novembre 2004, 88 p. ISSN 1141-7137. Caquot A., Sznycer M., Herdner A. (1974). Textes ougaritiques. Tome 1 : mythes et légendes. Paris (France) : Editions du Cerf, collection "Littératures anciennes du Proche-Orient", 613 p.

© Jean-Luc Bertrand-Krajewski - 02/2006

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