Ugaritic god Ḥorān. Possible Syro-Canaanite origins of the Serpent of brass

Abstract

The article considers a variant for the origin of the Serpent of brass also known as Nehushtan. Following the hypothesis of the pre-monotheistic origin of the image, it can be assumed that the Serpent of brass was not originally an attribute of Yahve, but was an idol or votive of one of the Semitic deities associated with healing. The most appropriate god in terms of the worship time and common attributes is the Syro-Canaanite Ḥorān, whose veneration was widespread during the late Bronze Age. Being a deity representing the forces of primordial chaos, Ḥorān was considered the creator of poisonous snakes and, possibly, was originally a dragon himself. According to the currently known cuneiform texts of Ugarit, Ḥorān was a conjurer, healer and defender against snakebites. Also, one of the most important functions of Ḥorān was to protect the royal power granted by the gods from the unworthy. The name of the deity Ḥorān is etymologically close to the creature Seraph in Hebrew, which in turn was represented as a flying, fire-breathing serpent. In the Tanakh, traces of the existence of Ḥorān in the culture of the Jews are preserved in the form of stable phraseological units using his name, while each time he appears in the context of the measure of God’s righteous judgment: all-consuming and incinerating, like fire, anger, striking the wicked, but not scorching the righteous. All of the above suggests a fairly ancient origin of the Serpent of brass and its connection with the Ḥorān as an independent pagan deity or spirit in the service of the Lord.