Kothar-wa-Hasis
Canaanite · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Divine smith, architect, and magician 'Skilled-and-Wise'; dwells at Memphis and Caphtor and arms the gods and heroes.
Domains
- craft smithing
- wisdom magic
Powers
- Forge enchanted weapons and name them for victory
- Raise palaces of cedar, silver, and gold
- Craft the composite bow given to Aqhat
Epithets
- 𐎋𐎘𐎗 𐎆 𐎃𐎒𐎒 'Skilled-and-Wise' — the divine craftsman's standard double-nameKTU 1.17 v (Aqhat) (primary)
- 𐎅𐎊𐎐 𐎄 𐎅𐎗𐎌 𐎊𐎄 'Hayyin the deft-handed / skilled of both hands' — epithet of KotharKTU 1.4 i 23-24 (Baal Cycle) (primary)
- hyn the Skilful One (also linked to Ea/Hurrian Ea)Ugaritic epithet hyn of Kothar; Smith, Ugaritic Baal Cycle (secondary)
Relations
- equated with: PtahKothar 'whose throne is Memphis' is standardly read as identified with Ptah, the craftsman of Memphis. Preserves the divine artificer; Ptah's creation-by-word theology has no Ugaritic counterpart.M. S. Smith, The Ugaritic Baal Cycle, vol. I (1994), on KTU 1.3 VI (Kothar's seat at Memphis) (secondary)
- interpretatio: HephaestusReciprocal of greek_hesiod_hephaestus.interpretatio — Philo equates Chousor (Kothar-wa-Hasis) with Hephaistos. Preserves the divine smith-architect who arms the gods; breaks on Kothar's magic-and-incantation side and his seat at distant Memphis and Caphtor.Philo of Byblos apud Eusebius, Praep. ev. 1.10.11 (Chousor = Hephaistos) (primary)
Sources
- existence: Ugaritic Baal Cycle (KTU 1.1–1.6) (primary); Aqhat Epic (KTU 1.17) (primary); Philo of Byblos / Sanchuniathon (Chusor the craftsman), via Eusebius (primary)