Chronological timeline of texts tagged with Kothar wa-Hasis
About This Tag
Kothar wa-Hasis is the craftsman god of Ugaritic literature, whose name means skilled and wise. He builds the houses of the gods, forges the weapons that let Baal defeat the sea, fashions thrones and furnishings of gold and silver, and makes the bow given to the hero of the Aqhat story. His home lies far away in Crete or Egypt, casting him as the source of foreign artistry, and later Phoenician tradition remembered him as Chousor, an inventor and first discoverer of crafts. The wider culture located exceptional skill in a divine source and told of a master craftsman who arms the gods and builds and adorns their dwellings. Hebrew writers drew on this pattern while reshaping it, placing the gift of extraordinary skill in human hands granted by God and tracing the origins of metalwork and the arts to named ancestors rather than to a deity.
Note: Dates shown in this timeline are approximate and based on scholarly estimates.
Back to TagKTU 1.1 / Genesis 4:22
2300 B.C.E.
KTU 1.1
Ancient Near East
Then they indeed set their faces towards Kothar-wa-Hasis, towards Egypt, of all of which he is god. Create the throne of his dwelling, Egypt the land of his inheritance, over a thousand miles, ten thousand leagues. At the feet of Kothar they bowed and fell down, they paid him homage and honoured him. And they said to Kothar-wa-Hasis, they declared to Hayin, who is the ambidextrous craftsman: “Message of Bull El your father, word of the Wise One, your progenitor: Kothar, build, place in the foundry, prepare in the mountain a dwelling. Grasp your spear and your mace; let your feet hasten to me, let your legs hurry to me, towards the mountain, towards Mount Throne. For I have a word that I would say to you, a message that I would repeat to you: A word of tree and whisper of stone, the sighing of the heavens to the earth, of the deep to the stars. A word unknown to men, and which the multitudes of the earth do not understand. Come, and I shall reveal it in the midst of my divine mountain, Saphon.”
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Genesis 4:22
Hebrew Bible
17 Cain was intimate with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock. 21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute. 22 Now Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who heated metal and shaped all kinds of tools made of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
1500 - 1300 B.C.E.
The Baal Cycle
Ancient Near East
Now, I bring up a second matter Please prepare a gift for Lady Athirat of the Sea A present for the Creator of the Gods. The Skilled One approaches the bellows With tongs held by Hasis. He molds silver, he pours gold He molds silver in the thousands Gold he pours by the myriads. He molds a grand canopy and couch A grand dais two myriads in weight A grand dais coated in silver Covered with fluid gold. A grand throne with a seat of gold A grand footstool overlaid in electrum. Grand laced sandals With gold poured over them. A grand table adorned with figures Creatures from the Earth's foundation. A grand bowl with flocks like Amurru's Carved like the beasts of Yaman With buffalo by the myriads.
5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
Exodus 31:3
Hebrew Bible
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in skill, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to make artistic designs for work with gold, with silver, and with bronze,
1500 - 1300 B.C.E.
The Baal Cycle
Ancient Near East
A present for the Creator of the Gods. The Skilled One approaches the bellows With tongs held by Hasis. He molds silver, he pours gold He molds silver in the thousands Gold he pours by the myriads. He molds a grand canopy and couch A grand dais two myriads in weight A grand dais coated in silver Covered with fluid gold. A grand throne with a seat of gold A grand footstool overlaid in electrum. Grand laced sandals With gold poured over them. A grand table adorned with figures Creatures from the Earth's foundation.
6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition)
1 Kings 7:14
Hebrew Bible
13 King Solomon sent for Hiram of Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. He had the skill and knowledge to make all kinds of works of bronze. He reported to King Solomon and did all the work he was assigned. 15 He fashioned two bronze pillars; each pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference.
1500 - 1300 B.C.E.
The Baal Cycle
Ancient Near East
A vent in the midst of the palace? And Mightiest Baal retorts: You shall not install a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace. And Kothar-wa-Hasis responds: You will revert, Baal, to my suggestion. Kothar-wa-Hasis inquires again: Please hear, Mightiest Baal: Shall I not fit a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace? And Mightiest Baal retorts: You shall not install a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace. So that Pidray, Daughter of Light
6th Century B.C.E.
Ezekiel 41:4
Hebrew Bible
2 The width of the entrance was 17½ feet, and the sides of the entrance were 8¾ feet on each side. He measured the length of the outer sanctuary as 70 feet and its width as 35 feet. 3 Then he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the jambs of the entrance as 3½ feet, the entrance as 10½ feet, and the width of the entrance as 12¼ feet. 4 Then he measured its length as 35 feet and its width as 35 feet, before the outer sanctuary. He said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.” 5 Then he measured the wall of the temple as 10½ feet and the width of the side chambers as 7 feet, all around the temple.
1500 - 1300 B.C.E.
The Baal Cycle
Ancient Near East
A vent in the midst of the palace? And Mightiest Baal retorts: You shall not install a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace. And Kothar-wa-Hasis responds: You will revert, Baal, to my suggestion. Kothar-wa-Hasis inquires again: Please hear, Mightiest Baal: Shall I not fit a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace? And Mightiest Baal retorts: You shall not install a window in the house A vent in the midst of the palace. So that Pidray, Daughter of Light
5th Century B.C.E.
Jeremiah 9:21
Hebrew Bible
20 I said, “So now, you wailing women, listen to the Lord’s message. Open your ears to the message from his mouth. Teach your daughters this mournful song, and let every woman teach her neighbor this lament. 21 ‘Death has climbed in through our windows. It has entered into our fortified houses. It has taken away our children who play in the streets. It has taken away our young men who gather in the city squares.’ 22 Tell your daughters and neighbors, ‘The Lord says:“The dead bodies of people will lie scattered everywhere like manure scattered on a field. They will lie scattered on the ground like grain that has been cut down but has not been gathered.”’”