Bel (mythology) facts for kids
Bêl is an ancient word that means 'lord' or 'master'. It was a special title given to different gods in the Mesopotamian religion. This religion was practiced in ancient lands like Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia.
The female version of Bêl is Bêlit, which means 'Lady' or 'Mistress'. In ancient Greek, Bêl was called Belos, and in Latin, it was Belus. The name Bêl is similar to the word Baal, which also means 'lord' in other ancient languages.
The title Bêl was most often used for the important Babylonian god Marduk. This was especially true in Assyria and the New Babylonian Empire. When people talked about Marduk's wife, Sarpanit, they often called her Bêlit. Marduk's mother, a goddess known by names like Ninhursag and Damkina, was sometimes called Belit-ili, meaning 'Lady of the Gods'.
Sometimes, other gods were also called "Lord" and were thought to be connected to Bel Marduk. For example, the god Malak-bel from Palmyra was seen as a messenger of Bel, but he was also a separate god.
Bel of Palmyra, Syria
In the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, there was a main god named Bel. People in Palmyra worshipped him along with other gods like Aglibol and Yarhibol.
Originally, this god was known as Bol. This name came from the word Baal, which usually referred to the god Hadad. But later, the worship of Bel-Marduk became popular in Palmyra. By 213 BC, the god Bol was renamed Bel.
The famous Temple of Bel in Palmyra was built to honor this god. Sadly, this ancient temple was later destroyed by ISIS.
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