The mythological texts of Ugarit have long been of interest to the scholarly world. The rich imagery within these narratives have captured the attention of many, and have been the source of important studies, not just to Ugaritic studies, but to ancient Near Eastern and biblical scholarship as well. This study continues in this tradition by focusing on the imagery of meals and feasting as recorded in the Baal Myth and Kirta and Aqhat epics. By utilizing contemporary approaches to ritual these meal events are examined revealing the manner in which ritual behavior described and defined the different social relationships with the Ugaritic pantheon and the interactions between the divine and mortal realms. In particular, this study will demonstrate the role successful ritual behavior may have played in the organization and presentation of characters within the narratives, as well the role of unsuccessful or failed rituals associated with the meal event, which resulted in greater social chaos and confusion. In so doing, the author posits that one can gain insight into the manner in which Ugaritians believed they could relate with the divine.

Dan Belnap earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 2007. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Brigham Young University.