The 'ilhm, also known as 'ilahuuma or 'ilahiima, are the deities worshipped by the people of the Semitic cultures, such as the Canaanites, Phoenicians, Philistines, Moabites and people of Ugarit.
Overview[]
The pantheon of the 'ilhm consists of dozens deities, who operated out of Mount Zephon, which is led by high god, who is called Elyon. So far only El, Yam and Baal have held this positions.
The primordials El and Athirat were seen as the progenitors of the pantheon (mirroring the original YHWH and his Asherah), and had 70 children, who served as the patron deities across the Levantine cultures, such as Chemosh being the god of the Moabites or Milcom being the god of the Ammonites. Baal, the god of the storms, would eventually rise to become the head of the pantheon by defeating Yam, the god of the sea, and Mot, the god of the underworld.
Locations[]
- Mount Zaphon - Abode of Baal & Anat
- Manbaa al-nahrayn - Abode of El
Notable 'ilhm[]
Most of the 'ilhm are deities, but there are also monsters and demons that can be considered part of 'ilhm.
The main 'ilhm[]
- El - First King of the Gods, original 'ilhm
- Athirat - First Queen of the Gods
- Dagan - God agriculture, patron of the Philistines
- Baal - God weather and agriculture, new king of the gods, patron of Ugarit
- Astarte - Goddess of war, hunting, and love
- Anat - Goddess of war and the hunt, new queen of the gods
- Kothar-wa-Khasis - God of craftsmanship, advisor to Baal
The national 'ilhm[]
- Chemosh - Patron of Moab
- Deber - Patron of Ebla
- Milcom - Patron of Ammon
- Qos - Patron of the Edom
Other 'ilhm[]
- Hauron - God of magic and exorcisms
- Attar - God of the Morning Star
- Qetesh - Heavenly goddess
- Resheph - God of pestilence
- Qeteb - God of destruction
- Gad - God of luck
- Shapash - Goddess of the sun
- Yarikh - God of the moon, patron of Jericho
- Nikkal - Spouse of the Yarikh
- Arsay - Goddess of the Underworld, daughter of Baal
- Pidray - Goddess of the weather, daughter of Baal
- Tallay - Goddess of dew, daughter of Baal
- Dadmish - Goddess of Healing
- Shalim - God of dusk
- Gupan - Messenger of Baal
- Ugar - Messenger of Baal
Defeated 'ilhm[]
- Yam - God of the sea, defeated by Baal
- Mot - God of the underworld and death, defeated by Baal and Anat
Demonic and monstrous 'ilhm[]
- Lotan - sea monster, under the service of Yam
- Arsh - sea monster, likely under the service of Yam
- Atik - calf monster, associated with El
- Dabibu - female demoness, daughter of El
- Habayu - demon of inebriation
- Ishatu - Burning canine demon