Baal with Thunderbolt

Baal with Thunderbolt
Photograph of the stele
MaterialLimestone
Height142 centimetres (56 in)
Width50 centimetres (20 in)
Depth28 centimetres (11 in)
Createdc. 15th century BC
Period/cultureLate Bronze Age
Discovered1932
PlaceTemple of Baal, Ugarit, Syria
Present locationLouvre, Paris
IdentificationAO 15775

Baal with Thunderbolt, Baal with Vegetation Spear, or simply the Baal stele are names given to a white limestone bas-relief stele from the ancient kingdom of Ugarit in northwestern Syria. It was discovered in 1932, about 20 metres (66 ft) from the Temple of Baal in the acropolis of Ugarit during excavations directed by French archæologist Claude Schaeffer. The stele depicts Baal (or Hadad), the god of storm and rain as well as that of agriculture, and a smaller male figure.

Considered the most important of the Ugaritic stelæ, it is displayed at the Louvre in Paris.[1]

Overview

Dimensions

Carved from white limestone, the stele is wider at the base and measures 142 by 50 centimetres (56 in × 20 in).[2] It depicts two standing male figures: the larger representing Baal, and the smaller most likely representing the king of Ugarit.[1]

Figures

Baal

Baal, the god of storms, rain, and agriculture, is the stele's central figure. He is shown facing to the right and standing on a large pedestal.[1] The pedestal bears carved representations of Baal's spheres of power, the mountains and the sea.[3] Baal is shown with a raised right hand brandishing a club or battle-mace overhead. His left hand is stretched in front of him and holds a thunderbolt in the shape of a spearhead that extends towards the ground.[1] The shaft is in the form of a plant, likely a cultivated grain that would be nourished by the storm. The bearded god is shown wearing a helmet decorated with bull's horns, from under which his braided hair falls over his back and his right shoulder. Baal is shown clad only in a kilt with striped decorations. The kilt is held by a finely carved wide belt that also holds a curved dagger.[4]

King of Ugarit

A man, who is shown with a bare head and wearing ceremonial dress, is depicted standing on a horned altar between the spear and the god. His arms, hidden under a braid-trimmed robe, are clasped together in prayer. This smaller figure probably represents the king of Ugarit.[1]

Interpretation

Ugarit
A duck container made from hippopotamus tusk, 13th century BC.
Places
Kings
  • Ammittamru I
  • Niqmaddu II
  • Arhalba
  • Niqmepa
  • Ammittamru II
  • Ibiranu
  • Niqmaddu III
  • Ammurapi
Culture
Texts

The stele is interpreted as showing the king humbly submitting himself to Baal and receiving the god's protection in return. Additionally, Baal is shown thrusting a spear of vegetation into the ground from the sky, symbolising the necessity of the storm for a later harvest.[1] Despite the close relationship between the king and the god depicted in the stele, the difference in size between the two figures is interpreted by historian Mark S. Smith as contrasting the power and glory of Baal with the 'relative weakness of the king'.[5] Baal's fertility attributes are represented by the horned helmet, and the plant-shaped lightning rod he holds in his hand.[6] According to historian Alberto Green, Baal is portrayed as a 'vigorous, young, graceful, athletic deity marching forward'.[7]

Excavation

The stele was discovered in 1932 during excavations at Ugarit directed by French archæologist Claude Schaeffer.[3] While the stele was unearthed about 20 metres (66 ft) from the Temple of Baal on its southern slope,[2] it was probably originally housed inside the temple.[3] Additionally, eight more stelae were recovered from the area, while another fourteen were unearthed in the Temple of Dagon and throughout the city.[1]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baal with Thunderbolt.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Caubet, Annie. "Stela Depicting the Storm God Baal". Louvre. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b Caquot; Sznycer, 1980, p. 24.
  3. ^ a b c Yon, 2006, p. 110.
  4. ^ Schaeffer, 1933, p. 123.
  5. ^ Smith, 2009, p. 21.
  6. ^ Gordon; Sarna, 1997, p. 107.
  7. ^ Green, 2003, p. 165.

Bibliography

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