Athirat the Huntress: An Unusual Portrayal in Ugaritic Myth
Athirat is described as the elusive, hunting goddess and shares this characteristic with the goddess Anat. However, this text describes Athirat independently and Ritner argues that the myth of Athirat intersects with the role played by Anat.
This may be the reason why Dijkstra said that other parts can be combined with this text. This legend shows us that Baal tried to seduce Athirat after she returned from her travels. The severe damage to the tablet has left the door open for interpretation among scholars and scholars, as there are those who saw in this painting an attempt by Baal to seduce Athirat.
But there are those who say that this document refers to Athirat pursuing and killing Baal.
Athirat’s Beauty and Power
It is strange that all Ugaritic myths describe Anat as a hunter, and this is the first time we find an Ugaritic text that describes Athirat as a hunter.
There are those who say that this bull is none other than Baal, and on the other hand, there are those who reject such a statement, arguing that the text depicts a case of seduction by Baal to Athirat and also saying that Baal did not receive the title of bull, which was reserved for the god El. After Athirat returns from her hunt, she prepares a great feast to which the Ugaritic gods are invited.
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| Asherah-13th-century-BC-Israel-Museum |
The Text of Athirat the Huntress in Ugaritic Tablets
Return to ..........
Exit
Athirat
to
went out
into the wilderness
She raised her eyes
and looked
any caribou
She watched
Which bull she saw in the pond
Her spear seized in her hands
Her spear in her right hand
She threw the spear at the bull
She dropped (...........) the animal
She returned to her home
The Role of El and Kothar-wa-Khasis
The bull is her father, El.
She gave to eat and she gave him to eat
She gave the food to Kothar-wa-Khasis
Athirat
(Lines 19 to 22 are missing)
Vineyard
Her father
changed
Cover (....)
Armor (.....)
cypress
Cypress Armor
I wore the grandeur of the stars
when she changed
Virgo (.....)
Baal her desire (.......)
The formidable one possesses her beauty
The bold Baal wishes to descend to her
He answered him
The city
takes care of your flesh
Do not give us
.........
Knight of the clouds
Wine and fish parts
for the daring Baal
Knight of the Clouds
| Section | Summary |
|---|---|
| Athirat as Huntress | First Ugaritic text describing Athirat as a hunting goddess, a role usually linked to Anat. |
| Conflict with Baal | Scholars debate whether Baal tried to seduce Athirat or if Athirat pursued and attacked him as the bull. |
| Tablet Fragments | Damaged text shows Athirat hunting in the wilderness, returning home, and offering food to El and Kothar-wa-Khasis. |
| Symbolism | The myth highlights female divine power, hunting as a symbolic role, and Athirat’s beauty and independence. |
| Cultural Meaning | Reflects Ugaritic views of gods as mirrors of human life, the importance of feasting, and Athirat’s place in the pantheon. |
Infographic Summary — Athirat the Huntress
Unique Portrayal
Athirat is described as a huntress — the only Ugaritic text to give her this role, usually reserved for Anat.
Conflict with Baal
Scholars debate whether the myth shows Baal seducing Athirat or Athirat attacking Baal as the bull.
Tablet Fragments
The damaged text depicts Athirat hunting, returning home, and offering food to El and Kothar-wa-Khasis.
Symbolism
The myth highlights female divine power, beauty, and the balance between gods in the Ugaritic pantheon.
Analysis and Symbolism of Athirat the Huntress
- The importance of feminine deities in the Ugaritic kingdom is shown by their presence alongside masculine deities in most Ugaritic myths.
Female Deities and Hunting in Ugarit
- The goddess Athirat is described in this myth as a hunting goddess, but what we do not know is whether Ugaritic women practiced this craft. In fact, the texts available to us do not provide us with evidence that women in Ugarit carried out this activity, although the texts show us that Ugaritic women practiced agricultural and commercial work.
Athirat vs. Anat: Shared Roles or Rivalry?
- Other myths from Ugarit give the status of hunter to the goddess Anat, and here we note that this status is given to the goddess Athirat, and this is what we do not know whether Anat got this title before or after Athirat, or both goddesses got the title at the same time.
- The people of Ugarit looked at the lives and behavior of the gods as they looked at their own lives and behavior, as the gods do everything that humans do, and what distinguishes them from humans is only immortality.
The Ugaritic pantheon evolved during the period of codification of Ugaritic mythology so that the Ugaritic gods began to incarnate their personalities separately and independently of each other so that the feminine Ugaritic gods became an integral part of the Ugaritic pantheon. - If we believe that this myth is part of the Baal cycle, the only period during which the events of this myth could have taken place is the period when Baal returned from absence after his descent into the underworld and his return.
Feasting and Offerings in Ugaritic Religion
- Feasting on the gods in Ugaritic mythology is a very frequent phenomenon, reflecting that the people of Ugarit made offerings to the Ugaritic gods in order to gain their favor and sympathy, and that the gods made such offerings as well.
- The frequent conflicts that Baal engages in against his enemies reflect the attempt to surround Baal with the appearance of a hero who has reached his power because of his strength and superiority.
Key Takeaways from the Myth of Athirat the Huntress
- Athirat is uniquely portrayed as a huntress, a role usually given to Anat.
- The damaged text creates scholarly debate: seduction by Baal vs. Athirat hunting the bull.
- The fragments show Athirat offering food to El and Kothar-wa-Khasis after her return.
- The myth reflects female divine power, beauty, and independence in Ugaritic belief.
- Feasting and offerings highlight Ugaritic ritual life and divine-human parallels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Athirat in Ugaritic mythology?
Athirat is a major Canaanite goddess, often linked with beauty, fertility, and the sea, here portrayed as a huntress.
Why is Athirat described as a huntress?
This myth is the only known text where Athirat is given the role of a hunter, a title usually associated with Anat.
What is the debate about Athirat and Baal in this text?
Some scholars see Baal trying to seduce Athirat, while others suggest Athirat hunts Baal in the form of a bull.
What role does El play in the myth?
The fragments mention Athirat offering food to El, her father, reinforcing his central place in the pantheon.
Why is the text damaged?
The tablets from Ugarit are fragmentary, leaving gaps that make interpretation uncertain.
How does Athirat compare to Anat?
Both are depicted as powerful and sometimes as huntresses, but Athirat here is shown independently of Anat’s role.
What cultural practices appear in the myth?
Feasting and offerings by the gods mirror Ugaritic ritual life and the importance of divine hospitality.
References
- Mark S. Smith, The Ugaritic Baal Cycle. Leiden: Brill, 1994.
- Nicholas Wyatt, Religious Texts from Ugarit. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998.
- Simon B. Parker (ed.), Ugaritic Narrative Poetry. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.
- Gregorio del Olmo Lete and Joaquín Sanmartín, A Dictionary of the Ugaritic Language in the Alphabetic Tradition. Leiden: Brill, 2015.
- John Day, Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan. London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.
