Syrian and Palestinian religion

Introduction
Nature and significance
Sources of modern knowledge
Institutions and practices
Gods, mythology, and worldview
- El
- The Baal cycle
- Other early gods
- Developments in the 1st millennium bce

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

sites in Syrian and Palestinian religion

Related Questions

How did Anath respond after Baal was swallowed by Mot?
How did Baal defeat the sea god Yamm in the Baal cycle?
How did Greek influence help spread the cult of Atargatis?
How did Phoenician religion spread to Carthage and other Mediterranean colonies?
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How did the Baal cycle explain the continuing struggle between life and death?
How did the geography of Syria and Palestine encourage the development of many local religions?
How do temples and archaeological objects help researchers study ancient religion?
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When did the religions of ancient Syria and Palestine flourish?
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Which Greek and Roman writings provide information about Syrian religion?
Which ancient peoples practiced the religions of Syria and Palestine?
Which animals were most commonly used in sacrifices in ancient Syria and Palestine?
Which characteristics defined Hadad as a storm god?
Which deities were worshipped by the Philistines according to biblical and archaeological evidence?
Which god did King Mesha of Moab credit for his military victories?
Which objects commonly furnished temples in ancient Syria and Palestine?
Which titles were given to Baal in the myths from Ugarit?
Why are inscriptions from the 1st millennium BCE often difficult for historians to interpret?
Why did Baal seek to build a palace in the Baal cycle?
Why did ancient rulers act as intermediaries between gods and their people?
Why is it difficult to connect ancient religious texts with excavated objects?
Why was a temple described as the house of a god in ancient Syria and Palestine?
Why was the bull associated with Hadad and Teshub?

Philosophy & Religion Ancient Religions & Mythology

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Syrian and Palestinian religion

ancient religion

Written by

Simon B. Parker

Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible, Boston University. Author of The Pre-Biblical Narrative Tradition.

Simon B. Parker

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

History

Syrian and Palestinian religion, beliefs of Syria and Palestine between 3000 and 300 bce. These religions are usually defined by the languages of those who practiced them: e.g., Amorite, Hurrian, Ugaritic, Phoenician, Aramaic, and Moabite. The term Canaanite is often used broadly to cover a number of these, as well as the religion of early periods and areas from which there are no written sources. Knowledge of the religions of these groups is very uneven;...