Ancient 'Poem of Aqhat' Trivia Quiz

Answer: 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!

Answer: 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!

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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 adapted the rival mythology to suit their own mythological framework.

Answer: 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.

Answer: El

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

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.