The Goddess Anath

A major contribution to Ugaritic scholarship, this Cassuto's work on Canaanite Epics of the Patriarchal Age is a classic authored by one of the greatest Bible scholars. The Goddess Anath — text, translation, and commentary on the Canaanite Epic of the Patriarchal Age — sheds new light on many until now unexplained linguistic usages in the Bible. Among West Semites, Anath was considered to be the chief goddess of love and war, the sister and helpmate of the god Baal. She was a goddess with four differing aspects: mother, virgin, warrior, and wanton. Though a "mother" she was ever a "virgin". Her lust for blood, and or sex, was legendary: once, she slew all Baal's enemies at a feast. She was worshiped throughout Canaan, Syria, and Phoenicia. She was a popular goddess of war and fertility.