Kothar-wa-Khasis
Also known as: Kothar, Kothar-and-Khasis, Chousor (in Philo of Byblos)
Mythological Narrative
The craftsman god, 'Skilful and Wise', who makes Baal's two clubs, builds his palace of cedar and silver, and brings the fateful bow to the house of Danel.
Scholarly Commentary & Evolution
## Skilful and Wise
Kothar-wa-Khasis has a double name, "Skilful and Wise", and is treated as a single god. He is the divine smith and builder, and he also knows incantations: when he names Baal's clubs he speaks words of power over them. His homes are far away, in Kaphtor (Crete) and Ḥkpt (Memphis, the city of the Egyptian craftsman god Ptah), which reflects Ugarit's position in a trading world that reached from the Aegean to Egypt.
## Maker of weapons
In the Baal Cycle he makes two clubs for Baal and names them Yagrush ("Driver") and Ayyamur ("Expeller"); the second fells Yam (KTU 1.2 IV). He also forges the lavish gifts Baal and Anat take to Athirat (KTU 1.4 I), and the silver and gold palace on Zaphon.
## The window
While building the palace, Kothar-wa-Khasis twice proposes a window and Baal twice refuses; at last Baal agrees, and the window becomes the rift in the clouds through which his thunder sounds (KTU 1.4 V-VII). The exchange is a small comic scene, with the craftsman patiently saying "you will come back to my words".
In the Epic of Aqhat he arrives at Danel's house carrying a bow and arrows; Danel's wife serves him food and drink, and the bow passes to Aqhat, setting off the tragedy (KTU 1.17 V).
Cross-Pantheon Parallels & Archetypes
Academic Discussion & Critique
Exchange peer-reviewed hypotheses, comparative Indo-European etymologies, and archaeological field interpretations regarding Kothar-wa-Khasis.
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Ptah
Creator god and patron of craftsmen, head of the Memphite Triad. The Memphite Theology credits Ptah with creating the world and the other gods through the thought of his heart and the command of his tongue, rather than through physical acts alone.
Hephaestus
God of fire, metalworking, and crafts. Son of Hera (and possibly Zeus), cast from Olympus due to his lameness but later readmitted.
Anat
The young warrior goddess of Ugarit, Baal's sister and fiercest ally, who wades through battle, bullies El into granting Baal a palace, finds Baal's body, and destroys Mot.
Athirat (Asherah)
El's consort, 'Lady Athirat of the Sea' and 'Creatress of the Gods', mother of the seventy sons of El, who can persuade El when no one else can.