Baal — Lord of Heaven

He was the storm god, the rider of clouds, the lord who defeated the sea god Yam and the death god Mot to claim dominion over the heavens. Baal Hadad — the thundering lord — was the most widely worshipped deity in the ancient Near East before monotheism, his cult spreading from Canaan to Carthage, from Cyprus to Egypt. The Hebrew Bible records the struggle against Baal worship as the central crisis of Israelite religion — the prophets could not stop pointing at him because the people could not stop following him. He offered rain, crops, and victory in battle. He was extremely good at his job. The Phoenicians honored him above all others.

These signs carry the thunderbolt of Baal, the bull that represents his power, the cloud throne, and the storm that brings life to the dry season land.