The first, or ancient, mythical beings appeared at the beginning of the tree of gods, and since the first contact of heaven with earth, mountain giants, giants of civilization and giants of kingdoms appeared, as well as demons, headed by “Typhon” who fought Melqart in particular.
Then other types of these mythical beings appeared with the appearance of the gods El and Baal, and they had some evil or good divine qualities; but they did not rise to the level of gods, and we can sort these beings into three types:
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| Five Mysterious Mythical Creatures in Canaanite Mythology |
Table of Canaanite Mythical Beings
| Being | Role in Canaanite Mythology |
|---|---|
| Sons of Elim | Bearers of White and Red Death; linked to pride and the spirit of the living; embody destructive purification. |
| Cherubim | Forces commanded by Baal; guardians of the dead; deceptive demons with many forms, associated with sacrilege and death. |
| Rephaim (Refum/Rapha'im) | Ancient giants connected with healing and fertility; participants in Baal’s coronation myth; attendants of El’s banquets. |
| Canaanite Sphinx | Hybrid lion–human figure influenced by Egypt; appears in inscriptions from Arwad and Cyprus; linked to the Tree of Life. |
| Phoenix | Fire-bird symbol of rebirth from ashes; hybrid form tied to renewal and transformation. |
| Winged Jinn | Semi-divine winged beings with bird heads and human bodies; hold ritual objects; appear in Canaanite, Assyrian, and Aramaic art. |
The Sons of Elim
Death was in the hands of the sons of Elim, and the death they carried was called the “White Death” and the “Red Death”, and until it reached the earth, it broke the thorn of glory and pride, because the spirit of the living can be the center of some demons where they glorify pride.The cherubim
Servants of Baal and guardians of the dead
They were natural forces commanded by Baal, called demons, who could conquer foreign countries by “invisible hands” and crush everything under their feet. They were numerous and fought like armies, and their immediate leader was called the “guardian of the dead”, an ambassador of Baal, and some invited him to the table, groveled to him and offered sacrifices to him as if he were a god.Rituals of deception and sacrilege
His form is cruel, he can change into many forms, and the curse does not affect him, and if he gives advice to anyone, he must do the opposite of his advice, because he is a liar. The guardian of the dead has his own ritual, characterized by cunning leading to sacrilege, and he rejoices in disgrace and laughs at those who flounder to get rid of him.
Names and roles of the death demons
The cherubim were demons who were said to be the sons of the god El and the goddess Rhea, the goddess of the earth, including the god “Death” who is a god. There are many names for some of them such as “the one who blinds vision”, “the one who makes healing impossible” and “the one who crushes by destroying his appearance.” These demons used to appear naturally in the other world, where their task is to watch over the dead and teach them the customs of life after death.
The act of death performed by the demons was called “purification by destruction.” In other words, mortality is a kind of purification of man or existence from man; man goes to rest near his Great Mother. The epic of the Great King mentions such an act: “Now these are the words of Lucifer, the blind man, the bearer of the cause of death, the tyrant, whom I will fight - it is a declaration from my mouth - to the end, and with purifying destruction I will break him.”
Infographic – Canaanite Mythical Beings at a Glance
- ⚔️ Sons of Elim: Bearers of White and Red Death, symbols of destructive purification.
- 👁️ Cherubim: Servants of Baal, guardians of the dead, deceptive demons with many forms.
- 🗿 Rephaim: Giants tied to healing, fertility, and Baal’s royal coronation rituals.
- 🦁 Canaanite Sphinx: Lion–human hybrid influenced by Egypt, linked to the Tree of Life.
- 🔥 Phoenix: Fire-bird reborn from ashes, symbol of renewal and transformation.
- 🪽 Winged Jinn: Bird-headed, winged beings in Levantine and Assyrian art, semi-divine protectors.
© historyandmyths.com — Educational use
The Rephaim
Giants linked to healing and fertility
They are good beings representing the race of giants in the era of Gil-El, and their Canaanite name was “Refum” and the Hebrew name was “Rafa'im”. These beings are associated with the healing of diseases, especially infertility, and may refer to the entire population of the underworld.The myth of Baal’s coronation with the Rephaim
El invites the Rephaim to attend a party at the temple; but they are slow to arrive, so he insists, and they saddle their horses and ride until they arrive at El's farm, where Daniel welcomes them and offers them fruit. At the temple, they slaughter a calf and offer a drink. El announces that Baal will be crowned king and sits on the throne. They encounter two gods, Rafa-Baal and Hili, whom El thanks for attending the ceremony of “pouring oil” on Baal's head, which crowns Baal as king.
At the end of the myth, a person (perhaps a god) appears and addresses him, announcing the completion of his house, and that Anah will kiss his lips and lead him to the temple, where he finds those who praise and praise El, after which Anah leaves him and flies to heaven, and we believe that this boy is Baal himself, and that his father El is the one who addressed him. The temple's priests then slaughtered sacrifices and poured wine, and the ceremony lasted for seven days.
But we don't know what happened next. This incomplete legend of the Raphaelites is not consistent with being part of Daniel's story; it is the legend of Baal, the building of his house and his coronation as king; but the Raphaelites have a strong presence, and the text understands that they are like servants of the god El, attending his parties and banquets and working to make these parties successful and regulate them.
Tale Creatures in Canaanite Lore
The Canaanite Sphinx
The Canaanite Sphinx (a man with the body of a lion) appears to be greatly influenced by the Egyptian Sphinx; we have received from the city of Arwad (around the ninth century BC) a beautiful alabaster inscription decorated from above with a wonderful decorative inscription, showing a winged Sphinx wearing the Egyptian double crown, and at the bottom of the painting is a low altar or table. Another inscription of the Sphinx on a spiral crown of early Ionic columns, found in Cyprus, shows us a symmetrical figure of the Sphinx centered on the Tree of Life.
The Phoenix
It is a bird with the body of an animal, which may be a lion, and has a relationship with fire and rebirth from ashes.
The Winged Jinn
They are generally the winged creatures that appear in Canaanite sculptures and inscriptions, including the Jinn who holds a whip in his left hand and a ball in his right hand, and has a bird's head and a human body and is equipped with wings. Such beings were frequent in the Assyrian and Aramaic traditions and signified semi-divine beings.
They took another form; they have a bird's head, wings and a human body, which are variations of the Sphinx and the Phoenix.
Key Takeaways
- The Sons of Elim embody the destructive forces of death, symbolizing purification through mortality.
- The Cherubim act as Baal’s servants and guardians of the dead, representing deception and sacrilege.
- The Rephaim are giants associated with healing, fertility, and Baal’s coronation ceremonies.
- Fairy-tale creatures like the Sphinx, Phoenix, and Jinn blend Canaanite beliefs with Egyptian and Mesopotamian influences.
- These beings reflect the Canaanite worldview of death, rebirth, and divine authority shaping human destiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Sons of Elim in Canaanite mythology?
They were beings linked to White and Red Death, symbolizing destructive purification and the limits of human pride.
What role did the Cherubim play in Canaanite belief?
They acted as Baal’s servants and guardians of the dead, feared for their cruelty, deception, and power over mortals.
Who are the Rephaim?
They were ancient giants connected with healing, fertility, and participation in Baal’s coronation ceremonies.
What is unique about the Canaanite Sphinx?
A hybrid figure with lion body and human head, influenced by Egyptian art, often depicted beside the Tree of Life.
What does the Phoenix symbolize in Canaanite lore?
It represents fire, rebirth, and renewal from ashes, mirroring nature’s cycle of life and transformation.
Who were the Winged Jinn?
Semi-divine beings with bird heads, wings, and human bodies; protectors and intermediaries appearing in art and ritual.
How do these mythical beings reflect Canaanite beliefs?
They illustrate the interplay of death, rebirth, and divine authority within Canaanite religion and society.
Are Canaanite mythical beings connected to other cultures?
Yes, figures like the Sphinx, Phoenix, and Jinn show strong Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Levantine influences.
Sources
- Day, John. Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan. Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.
- Pardee, Dennis. Ritual and Cult at Ugarit. Society of Biblical Literature, 2002.
- Smith, Mark S. The Ugaritic Baal Cycle, Vols. 1–2. Brill, 1994–2009.
- Wyatt, Nicolas. Religious Texts from Ugarit. Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
- Wright, David P. “The Study of the Rephaim.” Journal of Biblical Literature 109, no. 1 (1990): 29–47.
Written by H. Moses — All rights reserved © Mythology and History
