zoom_in Click to enlarge

Mot

▲ ▼

description Mot Overview

Mot is the ancient Canaanite and Ugaritic deity of death, drought, and the underworld, often personified as the ultimate antagonist of life and fertility. In the Ugaritic texts known as the Baal Cycle, he is portrayed as the son of the supreme god El and a primary rival to Baal, the god of storms. The mythological narrative centers on their cosmic struggle for kingship, during which Mot swallows Baal, bringing drought to the earth before being ultimately defeated and subjugated. Worshipped in the ancient city of Ugarit, Mot represented the destructive forces of the summer heat and the barren desert.

help Mot FAQ

Who is Mot in the Ugaritic Baal Cycle?

Mot is the deity of death, drought, sterility, and the underworld in the Ugaritic mythological texts. He is presented as a son of the high god El and as a major rival of Baal.

What happens between Mot and Baal?

Mot overcomes Baal, and Baal descends into the underworld while drought follows. The goddess Anat later attacks Mot, allowing Baal's return and the restoration of fertility and kingship.

Where do stories about Mot come from?

The main surviving evidence comes from the Ugaritic tablets found at the ancient city of Ugarit, near modern Ras Shamra in Syria. These texts are usually grouped within the Baal Cycle and were written in the Ugaritic language.

Is Mot the same figure as Satan or Hades?

Mot belongs to the ancient Canaanite and Ugaritic religious world and should not be treated as a direct equivalent of Satan or the Greek Hades. His role combines death, drought, famine, and seasonal sterility within the Baal Cycle.

swap_horiz

Looking for Mot alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward