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Arts & Communication Culture as a drive for art and architecture

particular) immensely contributed to the understanding (god of death), and Yam (god of seas and rivers). Among
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of this culture and religion by providing crucial knowledge the ruins of the city, two of these gods, Baal and Dagan, are
of the Canaanite religion throughout the whole area. prominently represented by two big temples. Their ruins
For example, a tablet was discovered listing 60 names of clearly indicate that these two temples were the dominant
popular gods and goddesses in the kingdom of Ugarit and superstructures of the Acropolis during the city’s life. The
other Canaanite sites. Under the direction of Schaeffer, temples’ footprint (Figure 2) shows that they follow the
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the archeological mission to Ugarit, which started in architectural principles of Middle Bronze Age temples,
1929, uncovered two major superstructures, or temples, while Ugarit’s architecture has always been distinguished
on the Acropolis, along with three smaller sanctuaries in from surrounding civilizations by its developed principles
different excavated areas of the site. 11,13 Therefore, based and techniques. 8,15
on the analysis of archeological reports, texts, and onsite
architectural analysis and reading of the religious buildings The city also comprises small local sanctuaries located
in the city, this paper develops an understanding of how in different areas, well-connected to their surrounding
religious practices, as well as social, ritual, and cultural fabric. These sanctuaries (small and local temples), such
dimensions, influenced the Ugaritic people’s architectural as the Sanctuary of Rhytons and the New Sanctuary, had
and urban planning and forms of their central and local simpler forms and were dedicated to the smaller-scale,
religious buildings. everyday religious, and, perhaps, other social activities.
Three local sanctuaries have been unearthed in Ugarit;
2. Religious building in Ugarit they are known in the publications of the French mission
as the Sanctuary of Rhytons in the city center (Figure 3A),
Ugarit’s inhabitants followed the Canaanite religion and the New Sanctuary in the old royal area (Figure 3B), and
worshiped many deities whose throne was ascended by El, the Royal Sanctuary in the new royal zone (Figure 3C).
the father of all Canaanite gods. Discoveries in the city By analyzing the floor plans and compositions of the two
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have confirmed the worship of several gods, including buildings, it can be recognized that the first two sanctuaries
El and Athirat (the father and mother of all gods, who share the same design principles, despite the long period
were worshiped throughout the kingdom), Baal (god of that separated their construction.
thunderstorms, fertility, and agriculture), Dagan (or Dagon
in some publications; god of fertility, multiplying, and The position of the two large temples (Baal and Dagan)
cereals), Anat (goddess of war), Kothar (god of crafts), Mot at the highest point of the site reflects their symbolic

Figure 2. The Acropolis area, Ugarit. Produced by the author using AutoCAD software and based on the author’s fieldwork in 2013.

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 3 doi: 10.36922/ac.3132