This guide introduces the West Semitic divine world without forcing it into a single modern family tree.
Explore the West Semitic figures in the interactive Atlas.
Principal figures
El, Athirat/Asherah, Baal/Hadad, Anat, Astarte, Resheph, Mot, Yam, Shapash.
How this religious system was organized
Ugaritic texts illuminate one Late Bronze Age city and cannot stand for every West Semitic tradition.
Divine names, titles, and relationships change by city, language, and period.
Baal Cycle narratives are literary and ritual evidence, not one universal scripture.
How to read the family tree
Genealogy is only one layer. City, sanctuary, household, profession, political office, ritual calendar, title, and historical period may matter more than biological descent. Relationships shown in the Atlas identify their evidence type.
Evidence guide
- Primary text or inscription: direct historical witness with its own context.
- Archaeological or visual evidence: object, monument, image, or excavated setting.
- Later literary or folklore evidence: valuable but later than the period described.
- Modern reconstruction or association: clearly labelled contemporary interpretation.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one complete West Semitic family tree?
No. Sources and local traditions vary, and a single diagram is a learning model rather than one ancient canonical chart.
Are similar gods from other cultures the same?
Ancient people sometimes identified foreign and local gods, but modern comparison should preserve historical differences and identify the evidence for each link.
Continue exploring
Use the Atlas filters, Family Tree mode, historical timeline, comparison tool, and source indicators to move from this overview to individual figures.
Last reviewed: August 1, 2026.
