Ancient Near East, Syro-Hittite, ca. early 1st millennium BCE. A charming bronze statue of the god Baal (Ba'al), depicted in stride and wearing his characteristic pointed cap, which towers over his minimalist visage. His slender body presents broad shoulders and a left arm that bends before him that may have previously held a weapon, such as the spear and club he brandishes in the famous stela from the Ras Sharma acropolis (now at the Louvre: AO 15775). Size: 1.3" W x 3.3" H (3.3 cm x 8.4 cm); 6.8" H (17.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Baal was a god worshipped across the ancient Near East, a storm god associated with the fertility of the land, whose worship is specifically noted in the Bible. Dry summers were believed to be Baal's time in the underworld; his return in the autumn brought renewing rains to the landscape. The Levant - unlike Mesopotamia and Egypt - relied upon rain for their agriculture rather than river irrigation. "Baal" was the Semitic word meaning "lord" or "master" and Baal became the divine patron of the royal houses of Canaan.

Provenance: ex-Nancy and Dr. E.F. Simpson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from 1970 to 2000

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#172277

Losses to proper right arm, left hand, and feet. Chipping, nicks, and abrasions to surface, all commensurate with age. Rich patina throughout.