The Goddess Anath

Largely based on texts discovered at Ras-Shamra, this book is a major contribution to Ugaritic scholarship.

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 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 slayed all Baal's enemies at a feast.

She was worshiped throughout Canaan, Syria and Phoenicia. She was a popular goddess of war and fertility.