Canaanite Religion: Temples, Offerings, Rituals and Cults | Middle East And North Africa

Home | Category: Late Stone Age and Copper and Bronze Age / Canaanites and Early Biblical Peoples / Canaanites and Early Biblical Peoples

CANAANITE RELIGION

Canaanite sacred trees

Canaanite religion, a fertility or nature religion, reflected the major concerns of the populace - increase and productivity. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art: “Although there existed no single state theology, the major gods reflect local geographical concerns about the fertility of the earth and the importance of water as well as relationships to the sky and the underworld.”

One of the Amarna Letters, from the Late Bronze Age, 14th century B.C., which can be interpreted as an expression of devotion from a follower to God, reads: “To the King my lord, my sun, my god, the breath of my life... your slave and dust under your feet. At the feet of the King my lord, my sun, my god, the breath of my life, I bowed down seven times seven times. I heard the words of the tablets of the King my lord, my sun, my god, the breath of my life, and the heat of your slave and the dust under the feet of the King, my lord, my sun, my god, the breath of my life, is exceeing glad that the breath of the King my lord, my sun, my god has gone out to his slave and to the dust under his fee. Who is your servant but a dog? and they prostrate themselves before the Pharaoh Seven times and seven times on both back and belly.” [Source: James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts, Princeton, 1969, web.archive.org]

Websites and Resources: Bible and Biblical History: ; Biblical Archaeology Society biblicalarchaeology.org ; Bible History Online bible-history.com Bible Gateway and the New International Version (NIV) of The Bible biblegateway.com ; King James Version of the Bible gutenberg.org/ebooks ; Jewish History Websites: Jewish History Timeline jewishhistory.org.il/history Jewish History Resource Center dinur.org ; Center for Jewish History cjh.org ; Jewish History.org jewishhistory.org ; Internet Jewish History Sourcebook sourcebooks.fordham.edu ;

Canaanite Magic, Snake Worship and Child Sacrifice

On Canaanite magic and spells, I Samuel reads: 6:4-5 reads, When they asked, 'What gift shall we send back to him?' they answered, 'Send five tumors modelled in gold and five gold rats, one for each of the Philistine princes, for the same plague afflicted all of you and your prices. Make models of your tumors and of the rates which are ravaging the land,, and give honor to the God of Israel.”

Child Sacrifice: The desolate Valley of Hinom, just south of the Old City in Jerusalem, is where the ancient Canaanites reportedly conducted human sacrifices in which children were immolated in front of their parents. Philo of Byblos ((A.D. 4th century, Porphyry) wrote: “It is the custome among the ancients, in times of great calamity, in order to prevent the ruin of all, for the rulers of the city or nation to sacrifice to the avenging deities the most beloved of their children.”

On Egyptians snake worship practiced around the time of the Canaanites, Philo of Bylos wrote in Eusebius 1.10: “Taautus (Thoth) first consecrated the basilisk, and introduced the worshipo of the serpent-tribe; in which he was followed by the Phoenicians and Egyptians. For this animal was held by him to be the most inspirited as it exhibits an incredible celebrity, moving by its spirit without either hands, or feet, or any of those external organs, by which other animals effect their motion....Taautus has laid down in the sacred books, wherefore this animal is introduced in the sacred rites and mysteries. [Source: Cory, Ancient Fragments., pp.22-23]

Temples and Religious Structures in the Canaanite Era

Migdol temple in the Canaanite site of Pella in Jordan

John R. Abercrombie of the University of Pennsylvania wrote: “Large single room structures with thick walls and an fortified entrance appear in Middle Bronze Age (2200 - 1570 B.C.) IIB and continue to be used throughout the Late Bronze. Uncovered at a number of sites in Palestine, Syria and Egypt (Megiddo XI, Shechem, Tell Mardikh, Ras Shamra, Alalakh Stratum III, Tell el-Yahudiyeh and Tell ed Dab'a Stratum E), the identification of these structures as temples is based on the discovery of mythological texts near two such structures at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit), the types of artifacts found in the structures themselves, and on a biblical reference perhaps to the temple at Shechem. A different structure, often identified as a bamah or high place (Gezer), consists of ten standing stones with a large rectangular stone base that may have served for libations or as a base for inscribed stela. [Sources: John R. Abercrombie, University of Pennsylvania, James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts (ANET), Princeton, Boston University, bu.edu/anep/MB.html |*|]

“Several large temple complexes from Lachish, Hazor and Beth Shan are constructed in the Late Bronze Period (1570 - 1200 B.C.). The three fosse temples at Lachish provide an instructive view of cultic aspects. The last and best preserved temple consisted of a long room with benches around the sides, niches in the walls, and a mud-brick altar built on a step platform. Numerous animal, bird and fish bones were found in the complex and pits just outside. Almost all animals (sheep or goat, ox and only two wild beasts) were young and represented by only the metacarpal of right foreleg (see, Leviticus 3:1-17, 7:15-18, 29-34). Astragali were also found in only the first phase of the complex (Structure 1). The temples had a rich assortment cylinder seals and scarabs, faience and paste beads, faience and stone vessels, statuary, figurines and pottery. (For comparison purposes, see Tell Mevorakh shrine (Late Bronze Age), Tell Qasile (Iron I), and Sarepta shrine (the late the late Iron Age - Persian shrine at Sarepta).) |*|

“The Beth Shan complex has both Egyptian and Palestinian elements. The overall structure of the temple has been thought to parallel contemporary temples in Egypt, although one can note many features (e.g. benches, raised altars, storage bins, piazza around the structure, and deposit pits) that occur in local temples at Lachish and elsewhere in the region. The types of artifacts in the Beth Shan VII and later VI temple, built on the same design, suggest rituals of Palestine and Egypt. Votive offerings found around the inner and outer altars seem akin to egyptian practices. The presence of animal bones near the outer altar is suggestive of animal sacrifice known at other contemporary and later sites in Palestine. Depiction of Egyptian and Palestinian deities further suggest the mix practices in this structure during the thirteenth-twelfth centuries. |*|

The temple complex at Beth Shan continues into Iron I. The two temples, often identifed at the Temple of Astarte and Dagon, have elongated rooms with pillars, an altar, and portico entrance. Although the contents of the temples are less replete than that of Stratum VII and VI, they show continuity in contents with the other temples, thus suggestive of a continuation of cultic practices. |*|

inside a Canaan temple

“At Tell Qasile in Philistia, a building with altars and benches has three stages of construction in Iron Age (1200 - 550 B.C.) I. The last phase parallels the fosse temple at Lachish as well as similar thirteenth and twelfth century temples in the Aegean world. In the hill country a few contexts have been identified as bamot, high places.At Mt. Eba, a bamah, dated to the thirteenth-twelfth century, had an enclosure wall around a large rectangular altar. Ash, bones and pottery were found. Generally the charred remains of goats, sheep, ox and deer cut off at the joint (See Late Bronze Age (1570 - 1200 B.C.) temples.) |*|

“By comparison to the Late Bronze Age, fewer structures in the late Iron Age are identified as temples. At Arad a structure inside the fortress there is thought to be a temple. It lacks the tri-part division of the Temple of Solomon. It does have, however, many of the features of a shrine at Sarepta in Phoenicia, including a stone pillar and an altar with channels. Interestingly, the contents of both religious structures differ somewhat. For example at Sarepta, Pritchard found a collection of figurines, ivory fragment, clay mask and amulets, artifacts absent from the Arad temple. The collection from Sarepta is more akin to those from the Late Bronze Age. It may be useful to compare the structure and artifaces to the Late Bronze shrine at Tell Mevorakh and the Fosse Temples at Lachish. |*|

“One temple at Hazor proves particularly instructive and on a somewhat superficial evidence been compared to the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6-7). The temple has three rooms. An entrance portico is flanked by two pillars. In many ways, this interesting structure is similar to one at Tell Atchana (Alalakh) dated also to the thirteenth century. The following artifacts found in the structure at Hazor are: basalt basin, basalt bowl, basalt statue of seated man on chair, bronze figurines, cylinder seals and faience beads. |*|

Temple Construction Texts

"Building Inscriptions of Yehimilk of Byblos (10th century B.C.): A house built by Yehimilk, king of Byblos, who also has restored all the ruins of the houses here. May Ba'Ishamem and the Lord of Byblos (or Lady of Byblos) and the Assembly of the Holy Gods of Byblos prolong the days and years of Yehimilk in Byblos, for (he is) a righteous king and an upright king before the Holy Gods of Byblos! [Source: James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts (ANET) p. 653. Princeton, 1969, web.archive.org ^^]

rounded altar of Megiddo temple

Temple Construction: "Yehawmilk of Byblos (5th - 4th century B.C.): I am Yehawmilk, king of Byblos, the son of Yeharba'l, the grandson of Urimilk, king of Byblos, whom the mistress, the Lady of Byblos, made king over Byblos (5th - 4th c. B.C.). I have been calling my mistress, the Lady of Byblos, [and she heard my voice]. Therefore, I have made for my mistress, the Lady of Byblos, this altar of bronze which is in this [courtyard], and this engraved object of gold which is in front of this inscription of mine, with the bird (winged sun ?) of gold that is set in a (semiprecious) stone, which is upon this engraved object of gold, and this portico with its columns and the [capitals] which are upon them, and its roof: I, Yehawmilk, king of Byblos, have made (these things) for my mistress, the Lady of Byblos, as I called my mistress, the Lady of Byblos, and she heard my voice and treated me kindly. )" [Source: ANET., p.656. Lidzbarski, Handbuch der nordsemitischen Epigraphiik Weimar, 1898), p. 416, pl. 3. ^^]

“May the Lady of Byblos bless and preserve Yehawmilk, king of Byblos, and prolong his days and years in Byblos, for he is a righteous king. And may [the mistress,] the Lady of Byblos, give [him] favor in the eyes of the gods and in the eyes of the people of this country and (that he be) pleased with the people of this country. [Whoever you are,] ruler and (ordinary) man, who might [continue] to do work on this altar and this engraved work of gold and this portico, my name, Yehawmilk, king of Byblos, [you should put with] yours upon that work, and if you do not put my name with yours, or if you [remove] this [wark and trans[er this work [rom its leoundation] upon this place and [ ..., may] the mistress, the Lady of Byblos, [destroy] that man and his seed before all the Gods of Byblos.” ^^

Cultic Objects in the Canaanite Era

“Cultic Objects from Beth Shan: The two earliest and complete temples provide a rich assortment of supposed cultic objects. Votive stele as well as metal and pottery statuary may represent deities and their worshippers. Kernoi, fragments of house models and large cylindrical pottery stand, some of which are decorated with birds, snakes and figurines, may be utensils used in the cultic practices. Other objects found in the complexes parallel the repertoire found at Lachish Fosse Temple, Tell Mekovrakh, Tell Qasile and other structures with similar architectural features as that of these two so-designated temples at Beth Shan. |*|

snake decoration on a pot from Rumeilah, Al Ain, UAE

Caanite objects that have been that may be cultic objects include: “Throne of deity (Beth Shan VIII locus 1068); Minature altar (Beth Shan VIII locus 1086); Hathor? Wand or castanet/clapper (Beth Shan VII locus 1072); Fragment of large incense burner of snake box ? ( Stratum VII); the early Iron Age Incense burner (Beth Shan V); the early Iron Age Shrine House or Incense burner (Beth Shan V); Cultic? ceramic box and lid (Beth Shan VII & VI); Bread model? (Beth Shan VII locus 1068); Polished deer astragali (Beth Shan VIII-VII locus 1068); Polished antler tine (Beth Shan VIII-VII locus 1068); Grotesque Jar (Beth Shan, Stratum VII); Elephant-headed cylindrical cup, 29-103- 862 (Beth Shan VII locus 1264); Beth Shan kernos (Beth Shan Stratum VIII-VII). Other objects such as pendants/amulets, cylinder seals, faience and alabaster vessels could be cultic objects. See also, example from Stratum VI Megiddo (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago) |*|

"Cultic Inscriptions of Ben-hadad of Damascus on a dedicated stela (Mid 9th century B.C.) reads: A stela set up by Barhadad, the son of T[abrimmon, the son of Hezion], king of Aram, for his Lord Melqart, which he vowed to him and he (then)'heard his voice. [Source: ANET., p. 655. See: M. Dunand, Bulletin du Musee de Beyrouth, III (1939), pp. 65- 76; vi (1942-43), pp. 41-45)]

Canaanite-Era Temple Offerings and Payments

"The Marseilles Tariff from Temple of Ba'l-zaphon (3rd century B.C.) reads: “Tariff of payments set up [by the men in charge of] the payments in the time of [the lords Hilles]ba'l, the suffete, the son of Bodtanit, the son of Bod[eshmun, and Hillesba'l,] the suffete, the son of Bodeshmun, the son of Hillesba'l, and their colleagues, For an ox, as a whole offering or a substitute offering or a complete whole offering, the priests shall have ten — 10 — silver (pieces) for each. In the case of a whole offering, they shall have, over and above this payment, meat [weighing three hundred — 300]. In the case of a substitute offering, they shall have neck (or knucklebones) and shoulder joints (chuck), while the person offering the shall have the skin, ribs, feet, and the rest of the meat [Source: " ANET., pp. 656-657. G.A. Cooke, A Text-Book ol, NorthSemitic Inscriptions (Oxford, 1903), pp. 112-22 ^^]

“For a calf whose horns are still lacking somewhat and ..., or for a stag, as a whole offering or a substitute offering or a complete whole offering, the priests shall have five — 5 — silver [pieces for each. In the case of a whole offering, they shall have, over and] abovt 'his payment, meat weighing one hundred and fifty — 150. In the case of a substitute offering, they shall have neck (or knucklebones) and shoulder joints, while [the person offering the sacrifice] shall have the skin, ribs, feet, [and the of the meat] ^^

For a ram or a goat, as a whole offering or a subaj. lute offering or a complete whole offering, the shall have one — 1 — shekel of silver and 2 zr (=a coin) for In the case of a substitute offering, they shall have [over and above this payment, neck] and shoulder joints, while the person offering the sacrifice shall have the skin, ribs, feet, and the rest of the meat...For a lamb or for a kid or for a young stag, as a whole offering or a substitute offering or a complete whole offering, the priests shall have three quarters of silver and [2] zr (=coin) [for each. In the case of a substitute offering, they shall have, over and] above this payment, neck and shoulder joints, while the person offering [the sacrifice] shall have the skin, ribs, feet, and the rest of the meat ^^

Canaanite fertility goddess figurines

For an gnn bird or ass (bird), as a complete whole offering or ass[ offering or a hzt offering, the priests shall have three quarters of silver and 2 zr (=coin) for each. [The person offering the sacrifice] shall have the meat [For] any (other) bird or a holy oblation or a hunt offering or an oil offering, the priests shall have 10 'a (=fodder?) of silver for each [ ... ] ^^

For any substitute offering which they shall have to carry to the God, the priests shall have neck (or knucklebones) and shoulder joints, and for a substitute offering [ ... ] Upon a cake and upon milk and upon fat and upon any sacrifice which someone is to offer as a meal-offering, [the priests shall have ... ] ^^

For any sacrifice which shall be offered by persons poor in~ cattle or poor in fowl, the priests shall have nothing [whatever] Any citizen and any scion (of a noble clan) and any -participant in a banquet for the God and anybody who shall offer a sacrifice [ ... ], those men shall make payment per sacrifice as specified in a written document [which was set up under... ] Any payment which is not specified in this tablet shall be made according to the written document which [was also set up . .. under Hillesba'l, the son of Bodtan]it and Hillesba'l, the son of Bodeshmun, and their colleagues ^^

Any priest who shall accept a payment contrary to what is specified in this tablet shall be fined [ ... ] Any person offering a sacrifice who shall not give the [money for] the payment [which is specified in this tablet... ] The desolate Valley of Hinom, just south of the Old City in Jerusalem, is where the ancient Canaanites reportedly conducted human sacrifices in which children were immolated in front of their parents. ^^

Canaanite Altars in the Bible

Exodus 20:24-26 'An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. And if you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones; for if you wield your tool upon it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it. [Source: John R. Abercrombie, Boston University, bu.edu, Dr. John R. Abercrombie, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania]

Tel Megiddo temple

Deuteronomy 27:5 And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall lift up no iron tool upon them.

II Kings 16:10 When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tig'lath-pile'ser king of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uri'ah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details.

II Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Ashe'rah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had burned incense to it; it was called Nehush'tan.

II Kings 23:5 And he deposed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places at the cities of Judah and round about Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Ba'al, to the sun, and the moon, and the constellations, and all the host of the heavens.

II Kings 11:18 (=II Chronicles23:17) Then all the people went to the house of Ba'al, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they slew Mattan the priest of Ba'al before the altars.

II Kings 21:3 (=II Chronicles33:3) For he rebuilt the high places which Hezeki'ah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Ba'al, and made an Ashe'rah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.

II Chronicles34:4 And they broke down the altars of the Ba'als in his presence; and he hewed down the incense altars which stood above them; and he broke in pieces the Ashe'rim and the graven and the molten images, and he made dust of them and strewed it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

Jeremiah 11:13 For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to burn incense to Ba'al.

Canaanite-Era Sacrifice and Divine Failure

"The Legend of King Keret” (14th century B.C.) has a description of a sacrifice:
Enter [the shade of a pavilion].
Take a lam[b in thy hand],
A lamb of sac[rifice in thy] right hand;
A kid in th[e grasp of thy han]d,
All thy most tempting food.
Take a turtle [dove],
Bird of sacrifice.
[In a bo]wl of silver pour wine,
Honey in a bowl of [g]old.
{Go up to the top of a [to]wer;
Bestride the top of the wall;
Lift up thy hands to heaven,
Sacrifice to Bull, thy father El;
Honor Baal with thy sacrifice,
Dagon's Son with thine oblations.
[Source: James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts (ANET), p. 143, Princeton, 1969, web.archive.org]

"The Tale of Aqhat. (14th century B.C.) seems to indicate what happens when prayers and sacrifices are not answered Seven years shall Baal fail,
Eight the Rider of the Clouds.
No dew,
No rain;
No welling up of the deep,
No sweetness of Baal's voice.
[Source: ANET ., p 153]

Human sacrifices to Baal?

Canaanite-Era Cults and Neomacers

In 2015, Archaeology magazine reported: “Despite its location at the heart of the Shephelah, one of Israel’s most intensively researched regions, the site of Tel Burna had never been excavated. Scholars assumed that there was little there to uncover. But a team led by Itzhaq Shai from Ariel University has discovered, only a few inches below the surface, an abundance of objects, including dozens of beads, a cylinder seal and scarab, goblets, zoomorphic figurines, chalices, and ceramic masks, all within the remains of a large public building. [Source: Jarrett A. Lobell, Archaeology magazine, January-February 2015]

Shai believes that the presence of so many ceremonial items indicates that the structure, which dates to the thirteenth century B.C. and measures more than 5,000 square feet, was an important public space where cultic activities, including feasting, burning incense or other aromatics, offering of votives, and religious processions employing the masks took place. The team also found two very large ceramic pithoi (storage vessels) that were imported from Cyprus, and were likely used to safeguard the religious complex’s tithes or, perhaps, store food for use in cultic activities. The complex at Tel Burna may also have had administrative functions for the larger settlement in the Late Bronze Age, when it covered about 15 acres on the border between the ancient territories of Judah and Philistia.

In 2023, archaeology announced they had found a “necromancer's portal to the underworld” in Jerusalem. According to Business Insider: Israeli researchers discovered possible evidence of "ritual magic" in a deep cave in the Judaean hills. Human skulls were arranged in patterns near oil lamps in the cave, with daggers and axe heads nearby. The artifacts are thought to be necromancer tools, as caves were considered portals to the underworld. Israeli cave researcher Boaz Langford began mapping a cave August 2, 2009 in the Judean Hills, Israel, where 120 gold, silver and bronze coins were found. [Source: Katherine Tangalakis Lippert, Business Insider, November 23, 2023]

Image Sources: Wikimedia, Commons, Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bible in Bildern, 1860

Text Sources: John R. Abercrombie, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania; James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts (ANET), Princeton, Boston University, bu.edu/anep/MB.html; “Old Testament Life and Literature” by Gerald A. Larue, New International Version (NIV) of The Bible, biblegateway.com; Wikipedia, National Geographic, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Times of London, The New Yorker, Reuters, AP, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, and various books and other publications.

Last updated March 2024