TYPE: Grain and Fertility God
ORIGIN: Western Semitic (Canaanite)
INFORMATION:
The father of Baal in ugaric creation epics. A major sanctuary was built in his honor at Mari [Syria} and he awas recognized in parts of Mesopotamia where he acquired the consort Salas. Worshiped mainly at Gaza and Asdod, but also the supreme god of the Philistines. Known in biblical references as Dagon (Judges 16.23). Mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Maccabees. The cult is thought to have continued until circa 150 BCE. Israelite misinterpretation of the Ugaritic root Dagan led to the assumption that he was a fish god, therefore attributes include a fish tail.