Baal is mentioned in Nin on page 167, where it says, “Veronica called us back to the

Ram. It was time to head for Banyas, where the Jordan River was born and where people who

worshipped Greek gods had built a temple to the shepherd god Pan. ‘They took up with Pan

when they got rid of that fellow Baal,’ said Astrid.’”

Baal was the supreme male divinity of the Canaanites and the Phoenicians. Ancient

Canaan and Phoenicia consisted of the areas of modern-day Israel, Lebanon, Syria, parts of

Jordan, and northeastern Egypt. The name Baal comes from the Semitic word “Ba’lu,” which

means “lord.” Baal was used as the name of several different gods that all represented this

supreme male deity. Each locality in Canaan and Phoenicia had its own version of Baal. In

Banyas—the place where Nin and her group visit—this version was called Ba'al-gad or Ba'al-

hermon. All of the local versions of Baal were summed up as the plural Baalim.

Baal fulfilled various roles in Canaanite and Phoenician religion and life. He was the god

of the storm, and thus, thunder was considered the roar of his voice. He created and granted

human, animal, and plant fertility. Baal being considered the god of fertility derives from his

connection to rain. As the storm god, Baal controlled rain, and rain is considered life giving

since it causes vegetation to grow. Baal was also the god of justice, and as such, he was greatly

feared by evildoers.

Baal worship occurred on high places in the hills. These high places consisted of an altar

and either a sacred tree, stone, or pillar. Various practices were involved in the worship of

Baal. Offerings of animal sacrifices were made by priests. Worshippers made their sons pass

through fire, or in other words, they offered their children as sacrifices to Baal. Baal worship

also involved the use of male and female holy prostitutes. This was practiced to encourage the

fertility of both the land and the people.

 As Nin makes reference, in about the 3rd century B.C., Baal worship in Banyas was

replaced by the worship of Pan, the Greek half-man, half-goat god of fright.

Works Cited:

"Baal - Easton's Bible Dictionary Online." Bible Study Tools Online. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

"Baal - Smith's Bible Dictionary Online." Bible Study Tools Online. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

Babinski, Edward T. "The Tree of Life and Ancient Tree Worship." Creation vs Evolution /

Intelligent Design / Creation Science. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

Bratcher, Dennis. "Baal Worship in the Old Testament." The Voice. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

"Caesarea Philippi." BiblePlaces.com. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

Frysinger, Galen R. "Banias." Travel Photos of Galen R Frysinger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Web.

20 Oct. 2010.

"Gods and Goddesses, Pagan - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Online."

Bible Study Tools Online. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.