Baal with Thunderbolt or the Baal stele is a white limestonebas-reliefstele from the ancient kingdom of Ugarit in northwestern Syria. The stele was discovered in 1932, about 20 metres (66 ft) from the Temple of Baal in the acropolis of Ugarit, during excavations directed by French archaeologistClaude F. A. Schaeffer. The stele depicts Baal (or Hadad), the Aramean god of storm and rain, and is considered the most important of the Ugaritic stelae. The stele is on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.[1]
The stele, carved into the white limestone, is wider at the base and measures 142 by 50 centimetres (56 in × 20 in).[2] It depicts a large standing male figure representing Baal, and a smaller male figure that is thought to be the king of Ugarit.[1]
The central figure in the stele, Baal, 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 a 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]
Between the spear and the god a smaller figure is depicted standing on a horned altar. The smaller figure, most probably representing the king of Ugarit, is shown with a bare head and wearing ceremonial dress. The king's arms are clasped together in prayer, and are hidden under a robe trimmed with braid.[1]
Interpretationedit
The stele is interpreted as showing the king receiving divine protection from the god Baal. Additionally, Baal is shown thrusting a spear of vegetation into the ground from the sky, symbolizing 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]
Excavationedit
The stele was discovered in 1932 during excavations at Ugarit directed by French archaeologist, Claude F. A. 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 14 were unearthed in the Temple of Dagon and throughout the city.[1]
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baal with Thunderbolt.
Yon, Marguerite (2006). The City of Ugarit at Tell Ras Shamra. Eisenbrauns. ISBN9781575060293.
Schaeffer, Claude F. A. (1933). "Les fouilles de Minet-El-Beida et de Ras-Shamra. Quatrième campagne (printemps 1932) : rapport sommaire" (PDF). Syria (in French). 14 (2). Institut français du Proche-Orient: 93–127. doi:10.3406/syria.1933.3730.
Smith, Mark S. (2009). The Ugaritic Baal Cycle. BRILL. ISBN9789004153486.
Gordon, Cyrus H.; Sarna, Nahum M. (1997). Genesis: World of Myths and Patriarchs. New York University Press. ISBN9780814726686.
Green, Alberto Ravinell Whitney (2003). The Storm-God in the Ancient Near East. Eisenbrauns. ISBN9781575060699.
January 01, 1970
baal, with, thunderbolt, baal, stele, white, limestone, relief, stele, from, ancient, kingdom, ugarit, northwestern, syria, stele, discovered, 1932, about, metres, from, temple, baal, acropolis, ugarit, during, excavations, directed, french, archaeologist, cla. Baal with Thunderbolt or the Baal stele is a white limestone bas relief stele from the ancient kingdom of Ugarit in northwestern Syria The stele was discovered in 1932 about 20 metres 66 ft from the Temple of Baal in the acropolis of Ugarit during excavations directed by French archaeologist Claude F A Schaeffer The stele depicts Baal or Hadad the Aramean god of storm and rain and is considered the most important of the Ugaritic stelae The stele is on display at the Musee du Louvre in Paris 1 Baal with Vegetation SpearThe stele of Baal with Vegetation SpearMaterialLimestoneHeight142 centimetres 56 in Width50 centimetres 20 in Depth28 centimetres 11 in Createdc 15th century BCPeriod cultureLate Bronze AgeDiscovered1932PlaceTemple of Baal Ugarit SyriaPresent locationMusee du Louvre ParisIdentificationAO 15775 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Interpretation 2 Excavation 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographyOverview editThe stele carved into the white limestone is wider at the base and measures 142 by 50 centimetres 56 in 20 in 2 It depicts a large standing male figure representing Baal and a smaller male figure that is thought to be the king of Ugarit 1 The central figure in the stele Baal 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 a 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 Between the spear and the god a smaller figure is depicted standing on a horned altar The smaller figure most probably representing the king of Ugarit is shown with a bare head and wearing ceremonial dress The king s arms are clasped together in prayer and are hidden under a robe trimmed with braid 1 Interpretation edit The stele is interpreted as showing the king receiving divine protection from the god Baal Additionally Baal is shown thrusting a spear of vegetation into the ground from the sky symbolizing 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 editThe stele was discovered in 1932 during excavations at Ugarit directed by French archaeologist Claude F A 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 14 were unearthed in the Temple of Dagon and throughout the city 1 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baal with Thunderbolt nbsp Asia portal Baal CycleReferences editCitations edit a b c d e f g Caubet Annie Stela Depicting the Storm God Baal Musee du Louvre Retrieved 27 October 2012 a b Caquot Sznycer 1980 p 24 a b c Yon 2006 p 110 Schaeffer 1933 p 123 Smith 2009 p 21 Gordon Sarna 1997 p 107 Green 2003 p 165 Bibliography edit Caquot Andre Sznycer Maurice 1980 Ugaritic Religion BRILL ISBN 9789004062245 Yon Marguerite 2006 The City of Ugarit at Tell Ras Shamra Eisenbrauns ISBN 9781575060293 Schaeffer Claude F A 1933 Les fouilles de Minet El Beida et de Ras Shamra Quatrieme campagne printemps 1932 rapport sommaire PDF Syria in French 14 2 Institut francais du Proche Orient 93 127 doi 10 3406 syria 1933 3730 Smith Mark S 2009 The Ugaritic Baal Cycle BRILL ISBN 9789004153486 Gordon Cyrus H Sarna Nahum M 1997 Genesis World of Myths and Patriarchs New York University Press ISBN 9780814726686 Green Alberto Ravinell Whitney 2003 The Storm God in the Ancient Near East Eisenbrauns ISBN 9781575060699 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baal with Thunderbolt amp oldid 1177982210, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
