El and Asherah, the chief divine couple of the Canaanite pantheon, produced the seventy gods including Mot, Yam, Anat, Astarte, and Athtar.
After Baal's death at the hands of Mot, Asherah proposed Athtar as a candidate to sit on Baal's empty throne on Mount Zaphon. Athtar attempted but proved too small for the seat.
Athtar is the male counterpart of Astarte in Canaanite religion, sharing the astral Venus association. When Baal descended to the underworld, Athtar attempted to claim his throne but proved too small for the seat.
When Baal was slain by Mot and absent from his throne, Attar attempted to take his place. But sitting on Baal's throne on Mount Zaphon, Attar found it too large — his feet did not reach the footstool — and descended to rule the earth instead.
Chemosh had astral associations connecting him to Athtar, the Venus deity. A Moabite compound deity 'Ashtar-Chemosh' appears in the Mesha Stele, suggesting a cultic fusion of the two gods.
After Baal's death, El and Asherah proposed Athtar as a replacement king. Athtar ascended Baal's throne on Mount Zaphon but was too small to fill the seat and stepped down.
When Mot swallowed Baal and the divine throne stood empty, Athtar was proposed as a replacement king. Athtar's failure to fill Baal's throne underscored the cosmic crisis that Mot's killing of Baal had caused.
When Baal's throne on Mount Zaphon stood empty after his death, Athtar was placed upon it as a replacement king. But Athtar proved too small — his feet did not reach the footstool — and he descended to rule the earth instead.
Yarikh (moon) and Athtar (Venus) were both astral deities in the Ugaritic pantheon. Both appear in offering lists and ritual texts, representing the major celestial bodies venerated alongside the sun goddess Shapash.
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