Ancient Semitic religion
Ancient Semitic religion encompasses the polytheistic religions of the Semitic peoples from the ancient Near East and Northeast Africa. Since the term Semitic represents a rough category when referring to cultures, as opposed to languages, the definitive bounds of the term “ancient Semitic religion” are only approximate but exclude the religions of “non-Semitic” speakers of the region such as Egyptians, Elamites, Hittites, Hurrians, Mitanni, Urartians, Luwians, Minoans, Greeks, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Medes, Philistines and Parthians.
Semitic traditions and their pantheons fall into regional categories: Canaanite religions of the Levant (including the henotheistic ancient Hebrew religion of the Israelites, Judeans and Samaritans, as well as the religions of the Amorites, Phoenicians, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites and Suteans); the Sumerian-influenced Mesopotamian religion; the Phoenician Canaanite religion of Carthage; Nabataean religion; Eblaite, Ugarite, Dilmunite and Aramean religions; and Arabian polytheism.
Semitic polytheism transitioned into Abrahamic monotheism by way of Yahwism, a variety of Canaanite paganism centred on Yahweh, the national god of the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In this process, Yahweh was syncretized with El, the supreme god of the Canaanite pantheon, whose name “El” אל, or elah אלה is a word for “god” in Hebrew, cognate to Arabic ʼilāh إله, and its definitive pronoun form الله Allāh, “(The) God”.
Ancient Semitic paganism refers to the diverse, polytheistic religions of the Semitic peoples in the ancient Near East and Northeast Africa, categorized by region into Canaanite (Levant), Mesopotamian, and Arabian traditions. Key deities like El and Baal, mythic cycles of death and rebirth, and agricultural themes were common. These traditions, rooted in earlier Mesopotamian mythologies, form the polytheistic backdrop from which the Abrahamic monotheistic faiths later emerged.
Key Characteristics
- Polytheism and Henotheism: Most ancient Semitic religions were polytheistic, but some, like aspects of ancient Hebrew religion, also practiced henotheism (the worship of one god while acknowledging the existence of others).
- Regional Diversity: The tradition is broad and includes:
- Canaanite Religions: Practiced in the Levant, featuring a pantheon headed by El and Asherah, with prominent deities like Baal and Astarte.
- Mesopotamian Religions: Influenced by earlier Sumerian traditions, these cultures included the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians
- Arabian Polytheism: The ancient polytheistic practices of Arab peoples before the rise of Islam.
- Influence of Mesopotamian Mythology: The earliest roots of Semitic mythology are intertwined with the older Mesopotamian traditions, which included great flood myths found in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
- Themes and Practices: Shared themes included creation, fertility, death, the afterlife, and a great flood. Religious practices involved shrines, sacred groves, and animal sacrifice.
Transition to Monotheism
- The theology of ancient Semitic paganism provided a foundation for the monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
- The transition was likely a process of theological supremacy, where a supreme deity, the “One God,” gained prominence as a culture or people expanded, carrying their specific God with them. The god El, a name appearing in Judaism, is linked to this development.
Examples of Deities and Myths
- El: The ancient father god in Ugaritic religion, considered the supreme deity in the Canaanite pantheon, who is also cognate to Allah in Islam.
- Baal: A significant Canaanite god, associated with warfare, whose cult was viewed negatively in the Hebrew Bible.
- Asherah: The consort of El and a prominent Canaanite goddess.
- Mythology: Common stories included the creation of the world and cycles of death and rebirth, reflecting the agricultural nature of the region.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Ancient_Semitic_religion
[2] wikipedia/en/Ancient_Semitic_religion
[3] https://jackikellum.com/canaanite-religion-canaanite-mythology-gods-and-goddesses/
[4] https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/semitic-mythology
[5] https://www.quora.com/Mythology-What-do-we-know-about-the-pagan-Semitic-god-Ilah-or-Elohim