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Oriental Institute

El and Baal

3_ElandBaal_OI These two idols from the Oriental Institute in Chicago are thought to represent the gods El (left) and Ba’al (right), are often mentioned in the Biblical narrative.  The mythology behind this father-son pair comes mostly from the Bronze Age city of Ugarit (1450-1200 BC).  While El and his consort Asherah were the chief gods, Ba’al was the powerful storm god who achieved great victories over the sea and death with the aid of his sister, Anath.