Who was Baal‘s wife?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

According to research, Baal‘s wife was the goddess Asherah in ancient Canaanite religion. Asherah was the goddess of fertility and motherhood, and she was often worshipped alongside Baal as his divine consort.

God‘s Wife in Ancient Near East Religions

In the ancient Near East, most male gods had female goddesses as wives or consorts. Some examples:

  • In Mesopotamia, the sky god Anu‘s wife was the goddess Antu.
  • The Babylonian national god Marduk‘s wife was the goddess Sarpanit.
  • The storm god Hadad‘s wife was the goddess Atargatis.

Similarly, for the Canaanite storm and fertility god Baal, his wife/consort was Asherah, the goddess of fertility, sexuality, and motherhood.

Who exactly was Asherah?

  • Asherah was an important goddess in the ancient Levant and Canaanite territories. She was worshipped from the early Bronze Age through classical antiquity.

  • She was often titled "the Queen of Heaven" and represented sacred trees or wooden poles that served as earthly residences for the goddess.

  • Asherah was associated with fertility, nurturing, the sea, and healing snakes. She later became connected also with holiness and wisdom.

Evidence of Baal and Asherah Worship Together

Archaeological evidence confirms that Baal and Asherah were often worshipped together in the ancient Levant:

  • Inscriptions from Ugarit in Syria show the two deities were considered a divine couple.

  • Figurines and plaques depicting both Baal and Asherah have been found together, suggesting their dual cultic status.

  • The Hebrew Bible contains polemics against the worship of Baal and Asherah, confirming their intertwined status in rival polytheistic religions.

So in summary, based on ancient Near East texts and archaeological evidence, the Canaanite fertility and storm god Baal‘s wife was the goddess Asherah. They were often jointly worshipped as an ancient divine husband and wife pair.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

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