What did my ancestors believe in? (Middle east)

by Versti

Lately, I've been thinking about my ancestors, I want to know what religion they followed.My ancestors are mostly from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, I know these countries didn't quite exist back then, but I mentioned them because at these country's locations are where my ancestors mostly lived (this part of the middle east).

What Pagan Gods/Goddesses did they follow? (Pre-Islam, and before Christianity was widely popular).The reason I'm asking is because I know that there are a lot of Pagan Gods/Goddesses, like Odin, Thor, Zeus (mostly followed by Norsemen), but I wanna know about my ancestors beliefs or Pagan gods.

jezreelite

Most of the area you mention followed the ancient polytheistic Levantine/Canaanite religions. The head gods were El, the creator god of the sky, and Asherah, a mother goddess of fertility. Another major gods included:

  • Anat: Goddess of war and hunting. Sister of Baal Hadad.
  • Arsay: Goddess of the underworld. Daughter of Baal Hadad.
  • Ashima: Possibly the goddess of time, but it's unclear.
  • Ashtar: Son of Asherah, but his dominions are unclear; possibly god of the dawn, ground water, and irrigation. A would-be rival to Baal Hadad.
  • Astarte: Goddess of sex, love, and war. Equivalent to the Mesopotamian Inanna/Ishtar.
  • Baal Hadad: God of thunder and rain.
  • Baal Hammon: Patron god of Carthage.
  • Dagon: God of fertility and grain. Sometimes the father of Baal Hadad.
  • Eshmun: God of healing.
  • Ishat and Zabib: Goddess of fire and flames and allies of Yam. Killed by Anat.
  • Kothar-wa-Khasis: Gods of smithing, inventing, and magic.
  • Kotharat: Goddesses of childbirth.
  • Liluri: Goddess of mountains.
  • Lotan: A seven-headed sea serpent allied with Yam. Killed by Baal Hadad.
  • Melqart: The patron god of Tyre. The Greeks viewed him as a sun god, but Phoenician sources are silent about the subject.
  • Mot: God of death and the underworld. Killed by Anat.
  • Nikkal: Goddess of fruit and orchards. Wife of Yarikh. Equivalent to the Mesopotamian Ningal.
  • Pidray and Tallay: Daughters of Baal Hadad. Their dominions are unclear, though they were possibly associated with lightning, dew and drizzle.
  • Qetesh: Goddess of love. Associated with Anat, Asherah, and Astarte.
  • Resheph: God of plagues.
  • Shachar and Shalim: The twin gods of the morning and the evening star. Sometimes, Shachar is described as a goddess, though it varies.
  • Shapash: Goddess of the sun.
  • Yam: God of the sea and chaos. Enemy of Baal Hadad.
  • Yarikh: God of the moon. Husband of Nikkal. Equivalent to the Mesopotamian Nannar/Sin.
  • Ybrdmy: Yet another daughter of Baal Hadad. Her dominions are unclear.

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