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Baal with Thunderbolt

Baal with Thunderbolt, also known as Baal with Vegetation Spear or the Baal stele, is a white limestone bas-relief stele from the ancient kingdom of Ugarit in northwestern Syria. Discovered in 1932 during excavations at the Temple of Baal in Ugarit’s acropolis, it depicts Baal, or Hadad, the god of storm and rain and also agriculture, alongside a smaller male figure. Its artistic style has been described as blending Egyptian and Syrian elements, and historian Nicolas Wyatt saw it as evidence of the importance of Egyptian influence in Syrian art. It is considered the most important of the Ugaritic stelæ and is displayed at the Louvre in Paris.

Stele of Baal with a horned deity raising a thunderbolt and holding a spear, with a smaller figure beside him.
Baal with Thunderbolt stele, showing a horned deity raising a thunderbolt and holding a spear.
November 2012 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Baal with Thunderbolt carved on a weathered stone stele, shown with a horned figure holding a club and a stylized plant-like shaft beside a smaller figure.
Baal with Thunderbolt carved on a weathered stone stele, with a horned figure and a smaller attendant figure in relief.
January 2026 © · CC0
Stele of Baal with Thunderbolt, showing a horned deity raising a weapon above his head, with a small figure below and a plant-like emblem at the side.
Stele of Baal with Thunderbolt from Ugarit, depicting the deity in relief with a raised weapon and smaller figures below.
October 2007 © · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
Two carved stelae on display in a museum hall, with visitors walking past in the background.
Two carved stelae, including Baal with Thunderbolt, displayed in a Louvre museum hall.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 fr
Profile close-up of Baal with a horned helmet and raised arm.
Close-up of Baal with a thunderbolt, showing the figure’s horned helmet and profile.
June 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleBaal with Thunderbolt
Object typeStele
Alternative namesBaal with Vegetation Spear; the Baal stele; Stèle du Baal au foudre

Physical characteristics

ShapeArched, wider at the base

Materials

MaterialWhite limestone

Historical context

Religious significanceBaal was one of the most important gods of the Levant
OriginAncient kingdom of Ugarit, northwestern Syria (present-day northwest Syria)
Mythological backgroundUgaritic texts from Ras Shamra describe Baal's battles against Mot, god of death and drought, and against Yam, god of the sea

Discovery and provenance

Original locationProbably inside the Temple of Baal
Excavation directorClaude F. A. Schaeffer
Discovery placeNear the Temple of Baal in the acropolis of Ugarit (Ras Shamra), on its southern slope
Discovery date1932

Location and ownership

Current locationLouvre Museum, Paris

Iconography and meaning

Weapon at beltCurved dagger in a sheath at the belt
Historical interpretationNicolas Wyatt identified the work as illustrating the importance of Egyptian influence in Syrian art
InterpretationThe king humbly submits to Baal and receives the god's protection; the size difference contrasts divine power with the king's weakness
SymbolismThe horned helmet and thunderbolt represent fertility; the tree-like spear symbolizes lightning and the benefits of rain
Additional figureA much smaller male figure, probably the king of Ugarit, standing on a horned altar/pedestal and praying in ceremonial dress
Pedestal decorationCarved mountains and sea, or wavy lines possibly symbolizing mountains and sea
Main figure stanceStanding on a large pedestal
ClothingStriped kilt or loincloth with a wide belt
HairBraided hair with long locks falling over the back, right shoulder, and chest
HeadgearHorned helmet / high horned headdress
Main figure gestureRight hand raised brandishing a club or battle-mace; left hand holding or planting a thunderbolt/spear into the ground
Main figure orientationFacing right
Main figure positionCenter of the stele
Depicted figuresTwo standing male figures
Depicted deityBaal (or Hadad), the Semitic/Canaanite god of storm and rain, and agriculture

Appearance

Artistic styleBlends Egyptian and Syrian artistic elements
Figure characterizationBaal is portrayed as a vigorous, young, graceful, athletic deity marching forward

Significance

SignificanceConsidered one of the most important Ugaritic stelae discovered