Egyptian And Near Eastern Mythologies

The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Persia, the Middle East and North Africa developed rich mythological traditions filled with gods, goddesses, legendary heroes and supernatural beings. These myths sought to explain the creation of the world, the forces of nature, life and death, kingship and the struggle between order and chaos, and they gave rise to some of history's most enduring figures and stories, from the gods of ancient Egypt to the deities and heroes of Mesopotamian, Persian and other regional traditions.

Please share your Egyptian and Near Eastern Mythology stamps and covers.

Statue of the Nile River god

The statue of the River Nile god, found in 1513 in Campo Marzio where it was probably part of the decoration of the Iseo Campense, dedicated to the Egyptian deities Isis and Serapis. Egypt is represented by the presence of a sphinx, on which the figure of the Nile supports himself, and by some animals. The statue is exhibited in the Vatican Museum.

This SS shows the Campo Marzio statue, issued by Egypt on March 1, 1949 to publicize the 16th agricultural and industrial exhibition, Cairo, Egypt.

Baal - The Canaanite Supreme god

Baal, meaning "Lord," was a title applied to several deities in the ancient Near East, but the best-known Baal of Canaanite mythology was the powerful storm, rain and fertility god closely identified with Hadad. He is often depicted holding a thunderbolt, somewhat like Zeus in Greek mythology, and was compared or identified with other storm gods such as the Anatolian Teshub and, later, the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. In the Hebrew Bible, Baal became especially associated with the Canaanite deity whose worship was strongly opposed by the Israelite prophets.

Baal, based on stele of Baal with thunderbolt found in Ugarit, Issued by the Palestinian Authority on June 15, 1998.

The stamp depicts the Canaanite god Baal, a bull symbolizing his power and fertility, and a view of an ancient Canaanite city, generally identified as Tyre.