Endnote 10 – Is Psalm 45 an Erotic Poem?

For a translation of the myth, see Simon B. Parker, ed., Ugaritic Narrative Poetry, SBL Writings from the Biblical World Series 9 (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997), pp. 49–80. On the phallic imagery, see Delbert R. Hillers, “The Bow of Aqhat: the Meaning of a Mythological Theme,” in Orient and Occident, Festschrift for Cyrus H. Gordon, ed. Harry H. Hoffner, Alter Orient und Altes Testament 22 (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1973), pp. 71–80. Since 1929, the Syrian site of Ras Shamra, ancient Ugarit, has yielded hundreds of clay tablets dating from the 15th to 13th century B.C.E. In addition to diplomatic and economic material, dozens of tablets treat religious matters: myths, legends, rituals and incantations. Even more than the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Ugaritic tablets have revolutionized Old Testament studies, illustrating the Canaanite cultural milieu out of which and against which Israel arose.