The demythologization of Baal: From prince of Ugarit to banalization of YHWH

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.16.003.DS05

Abstract

Given the importance of mythology for understanding ancient theoretical construction and religious praxis, the aim of the article is to analyze the cultural-religious interaction between the peoples of the Levant, and to show to what extent the Ugaritic myth of Baal may have exerted an influence on the religiosity of ancient Israel. Firstly, the article focuses on the Baal cycle, which is of fundamental importance to any discussion of Ugaritic religion in general. It then highlights the influence of the myth of Baal and the religiosity built on its foundations on the way ancient Israel lived and expressed their experiences of faith. The study was carried out using qualitative bibliographical research with a hermeneutic approach. The main results achieved focus on the direct opposition between Baal and Yahweh, the transfer of characteristics from Baal to Yahweh and, finally, the evidence of a process of demythologization of the figure of Baal until it became a characterization of YHWH himself in the context of the institutionalization of monolatry.

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Author Biography

Aíla L. P. de Andade, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Recife, PE, Brasil.

Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Recife, PE, Brasil. Doutora em Teologia, e-mail: [email protected]

Published

2024-12-17

How to Cite

Natel, A., & L. P. de Andade, A. (2024). The demythologization of Baal: From prince of Ugarit to banalization of YHWH. Pistis Praxis, 16(3), 446–457. https://doi.org/10.7213/2175-1838.16.003.DS05