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The 'Poem of Aqhat' is an epic poem from what ancient culture of the Middle East?

Canaanite. The ancient Canaanites are also known to us today as the Phoenicians or Phoenikes (a Greek word meaning purple/red). The Phoenicians were a seagoing people who created settlements in various places around the Mediterranean, most famously in Carthage. The Romans transliterated the word Phoenikes to poenus, from whence we get the term 'punic' to describe the Carthage!

The 'Poem of Aqhat' was discovered in a 1930s excavation of what ancient city?

Ugarit. Ugarit was first uncovered in 1928, and yielded some wonderful finds for researchers interested in ancient Canaanite culture and history, including the poem described here!

On what medium is the 'Poem of Aqhat' recorded?

clay. The clay tablets containing the 'Poem of Aqhat' were the third set found at the site Ras Shamra (aka Ugarit). The first two sets contained the 'Poem of Baal' and the 'Poem of Keret', both figures of ancient Canaanite myth.

What is the counterpart poem to the 'Poem of Aqhat'?

Poem of Baal. Baal was the ancient god of fertility, and his fascinating story is traced in the 'Poem of Baal', the first mythical story discovered at Ugarit. Interestingly, when the Hebrews moved into the area populated by the Canaanites, they took possession of the Baal myth and transformed it into their own myth, centered in YHWH.

Aqhat was the son of what legendary royal figure of wisdom and righteousness?

Danel. Danel (or Daniel) was an ancient king of Canaan, according to the poem. He and his wife Danatay were childless and entreated the god Baal to bestow upon them a son. Baal gains permission from his father El to assist Danatay in becoming fertile, allowing for the child Aqhat to be born.

The beginning of the poem involves the birth of Aqhat. What creator god assists in Aqhat's birth?

El. El (aka Latipan) was the creator god of Canaanite myth, married to Athirat and father to Baal.

What gift does Aqhat's father receive on behalf of his newborn son, when the baby Aqhat is born?

bow and arrows. The craftsman god Kothar-Khasis (meaning: skillful and clever) is invited to the birth feast of Aqhat. Upon arriving he presents a wonderfully crafted bow and arrow set to Daniel, to be given to Aqhat when he comes of age.

Aqhat is offered immortality in exchange for this weapon by a goddess which he refuses. What is her name?

Anat. Anat, sister of Baal and goddess of the hunt, offers eternal life to Aqhat for the bow and arrow set, but Aqhat refuses, wanting to keep the wonderful gift for himself. Spurned, Anat promises revenge upon Aqhat at a later date if he ever transgresses against the gods. Meanwhile, Danel insists to his son that he always remain obedient and loyal to the gods, offering them his prize kills on the hunt.

After this refusal, the vengeful goddess sends a henchman to slay Aqhat. What type of creature does this henchman take the form of?

Eagle. Apparently, Anat discovered that Aqhat had not left his finest kills in sacrifice to the gods, and used this opportunity to send her follower Yatpan, as an eagle, to kill Aqhat. He is able to finish the deed with the help of various other birds of prey, and Aqhat dies.

Aqhat's father eventually recovers Aqhat's remains. Following a mourning period, Aqhat's sister sets out to seek revenge. What is her name?

Pughat. Pughat laments the fact that her brother has been killed, and that a subsequent drought has fallen upon the land, and she swears revenge on the killers of Aqhat. Disguised as the goddess Anat, she seeks out Yatpan. Unfortunately for us all, the last fragment of the story is missing, and we don't know for certain the outcome! Was she trying to seek yatpan's aide, or was she there to kill him? Perhaps we'll never know.