Deities of the ancient Near East |
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Religions of the ancient Near East |
Baal Marqod (in Greek alphabet: ΒΑΛ ΜΑΡΚΟΔ, in Latin alphabet: BALMARCOD, restored in Phoenician: 𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤓𐤒𐤃, romanized: bʿl mrqd) [1] [2] was a Phoenician god of dancing. [3] [4] He is attested in Greek and Latin inscriptions from the Maronite monastery in Deir al-Qal'a (near Beit Mery), which was built on a sanctuary dedicated to Baal Marqod, built in the first century CE. [5] [3] Although 19th century scholar had made some different hypotheses of the nature of this god, he is commonly explained as " Baal of dancing" or "lord of dancing" (Baal is both a noun meaning "lord" and a divine name). [1] [6] [4] The name is believed to correspond with his Greek title κοίρανος κωμων (κῶμοι implies games and dances). [1] [7] it is unknown whether he is called so because he was considered the creator of dancing or because dancing was merely the proper way to worship him. [6]
The inscriptions often addressed him as "Iupiter Optimus Maximus Balmarcod" (not Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus [8]). [9] [10] In one inscription he was called also Μηγριν, meaning threshing floor, as in Hebrew grn), and it may mean that Baal Marqod was also the protector of the crops. [11]
Baal Marqod is mentioned in the modern play Le Martyre de saint Sébastien. [12]
Deities of the ancient Near East |
---|
Religions of the ancient Near East |
Baal Marqod (in Greek alphabet: ΒΑΛ ΜΑΡΚΟΔ, in Latin alphabet: BALMARCOD, restored in Phoenician: 𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤌𐤓𐤒𐤃, romanized: bʿl mrqd) [1] [2] was a Phoenician god of dancing. [3] [4] He is attested in Greek and Latin inscriptions from the Maronite monastery in Deir al-Qal'a (near Beit Mery), which was built on a sanctuary dedicated to Baal Marqod, built in the first century CE. [5] [3] Although 19th century scholar had made some different hypotheses of the nature of this god, he is commonly explained as " Baal of dancing" or "lord of dancing" (Baal is both a noun meaning "lord" and a divine name). [1] [6] [4] The name is believed to correspond with his Greek title κοίρανος κωμων (κῶμοι implies games and dances). [1] [7] it is unknown whether he is called so because he was considered the creator of dancing or because dancing was merely the proper way to worship him. [6]
The inscriptions often addressed him as "Iupiter Optimus Maximus Balmarcod" (not Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus [8]). [9] [10] In one inscription he was called also Μηγριν, meaning threshing floor, as in Hebrew grn), and it may mean that Baal Marqod was also the protector of the crops. [11]
Baal Marqod is mentioned in the modern play Le Martyre de saint Sébastien. [12]