BAAL   (Ba' al)   (master,   owner).
BAAl worship is known from the many SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES and for the ones who believe only in what their eyes can see, excavations at UGARIT (the modern Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast opposite the northeastern tip of the island of Cyprus) brought to light many religious artifacts.
Many of these ancient documents, now known as the RAS SHAMRA TEXTS, are liturgies of or words spoken by those participating in the rituals at the festivals.
In the RAS SHAMRA texts BAAL (also called Aliyan - the one who prevails -) is referred to as "ZABUL" (Prince), "LORD OF THE EARTH" and "THE RIDER OF THE CLOUDS." This harmonizes with a representation of BAAL, showing him as holding a club or mace in his right hand and a stylized lightning flash with a spearhead in his left.   He is also depicted as wearing a helmet with horns, suggesting an intimate connection with the BULL (in other myths it is named RAM), as a symbol of fertility.
Normally from late April to September there is hardly any rain in Palestine.   In October the rains start and continue throughout winter and into April, resulting in abundant vegetation.
The changes of the seasons and the resulting effects were thought to come in cycles because of the never-ending conflicts between the gods.
The cessation of the rains and the dying of vegetation were attributed to the triumph of the god MOT (death and aridity) over BAAL (rain and fertility), compelling BAAL to withdraw into the depths of the earth. The beginning of the rainy season was believed to indicate that BAAL was awakened to life. This, it was thought, was made possible by the triumph of BAAL's sister Anath over Mot, allowing her brother BAAL to return to his throne. The mating of BAAL with his wife, ASHTORETH, was believed to ensure fertility for the coming year.
 The BULL ( RAM) is not shown in the earliest Babylonian Zodiacs. It appears in the charts of Ancient Egyptian astronomers. It can be seen on the walls of the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses the Great, near the Valley of the Kings in Thebes.
(RAM is a male sheep. BULL is an uncastrated male of the bovine or OX family. It is represented as the first sign of the Zodiac.).