BAAL The Canaanite rain god, and son of El, Baal defeated the sea god Yam, and built for himself a house on Mount Saphon, seizing possession of numerous cities. Baal then declared that he would no longer acknowledge the authority of Mot, the god of death, and banished him to the deserts of the Earth, there to eat only dust. Mot then challenged Baal to meet him at his own abode, to taste his own fare, mud. Frightened at this dreadful summons to the land of the dead, but unable to back out, Baal coupled with a calf to give him strength, then set out. It was left to Anat, and Shapash the sun goddess to bring back the corpse of Baal, where the other gods mourned and mutilated themselves, placing Athar on the vacant throne.