Zakar-Baal
Encyclopedia
Zakar-Baal was the king of Byblos
(or Gebal), a Phoenicia
n city on coast of Lebanon
, during the 11th century BCE. His reign was contemporary with pharaoh
Ramesses XI
of Egypt
(1099-1069 BCE). As he is a character in the Story of Wenamun
, an Egyptian
work of historical fiction, it is not entirely certain if Zakar-Baal was a historical personage.
era (or Year 23 proper of Ramesses XI) as a person of the highest importance.
About a hundred years before the Story of Wenamun, the Egyptian
s had expelled the Sea Peoples
from Egypt and now Egypt was in trouble. The Sea People had settled in Phoenicia
.
At this time, even the supremacy of the king of Egypt is placed under scrutiny. The current pharaoh of the day, Ramesses XI, is never even mentioned during Wenamun's account. In the Story of Wenamun, Thebes
is under the control of Herihor
– the High Priest of Amun
. After the victory of Ramesses III
over the Sea Peoples, a very slow decay characterized Thebes in times of division of Egypt; even then, despite its limited political power, Thebes had an edge over all the rest.
Based on events in Wenamun's tale, however, Zakar-Baal does not appear to feel that Herihor or Smendes
(the prince of the Delta region) are superior to him. He most likely sees them as his equals, men fully capable of autonomous rule, and who even handle judicial matters that are within their jurisdiction.
Like him, however, they are still under the authority of the pharaoh. However, Zakar-Baal does enter into his own contracts and trade agreements, which would be against any sort of vassal/liege compact typical of that era. Illustrative of this fact, he will still not give the cedar logs to Wenamun just out of duty, as did his fathers, but wishes for payment in advance. By the time of Zakar-Baal, the pharaoh may be little more than the underlying stability factor in the region, and not of much real consequence unless he were to make war.
Zakar-Baal refused to see Wenamun for twenty-nine days and finally one of Zakar-Baal's priests had a frenzy of prophesying and demanded that they heed the idol and Wenamun.
Zakar-Baal does recognize Amun
as a god who is present not just in Egypt, but in every land. According to the narrative, he believes that Amun will be helpful to all who believe in him, and so helps Wenamun at least partially out of a duty to the god whom he represents, rather than out of any sense of duty to Egypt. The religious symbolism of Zakar-Baal has also been noted by Mormon
theologians for its similarity to the story of Laban
in the Book of Mormon
.
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
(or Gebal), a Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n city on coast of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, during the 11th century BCE. His reign was contemporary with pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI
Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
(1099-1069 BCE). As he is a character in the Story of Wenamun
Story of Wenamun
The Story of Wenamun is a literary text written in hieratic in the Late Egyptian language...
, an Egyptian
Egyptian language
Egyptian is the oldest known indigenous language of Egypt and a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. Written records of the Egyptian language have been dated from about 3400 BC, making it one of the oldest recorded languages known. Egyptian was spoken until the late 17th century AD in the...
work of historical fiction, it is not entirely certain if Zakar-Baal was a historical personage.
Literary sources
What little is known of Zakar-Baal comes from the Story of Wenamun, dated to Year 5 of the Renaissance or wḥm mswtWhm Mswt
The period of Ancient Egyptian history known as wehem mesut can be literally translated as Repetition of Births, but is usually referred to as the Era of the Renaissance. It began in about year 19 of the reign of Ramesses XI, around the end of the New Kingdom and the start of the Third...
era (or Year 23 proper of Ramesses XI) as a person of the highest importance.
About a hundred years before the Story of Wenamun, the Egyptian
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
s had expelled the Sea Peoples
Sea Peoples
The Sea Peoples were a confederacy of seafaring raiders of the second millennium BC who sailed into the eastern Mediterranean, caused political unrest, and attempted to enter or control Egyptian territory during the late 19th dynasty and especially during year 8 of Ramesses III of the 20th Dynasty...
from Egypt and now Egypt was in trouble. The Sea People had settled in Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
.
At this time, even the supremacy of the king of Egypt is placed under scrutiny. The current pharaoh of the day, Ramesses XI, is never even mentioned during Wenamun's account. In the Story of Wenamun, Thebes
Thebes, Egypt
Thebes is the Greek name for a city in Ancient Egypt located about 800 km south of the Mediterranean, on the east bank of the river Nile within the modern city of Luxor. The Theban Necropolis is situated nearby on the west bank of the Nile.-History:...
is under the control of Herihor
Herihor
Herihor was an Egyptian army officer and High Priest of Amun at Thebes during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses XI although Karl Jansen Winkeln has argued that Piankh preceded Herihor as High Priest at Thebes and that Herihor outlived Ramesses XI before being succeeded in this office by Pinedjem I,...
– the High Priest of Amun
High Priests of Amun at Thebes
While not regarded as a dynasty, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes were nevertheless of such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c.943 BC, after this period their influence declined...
. After the victory of Ramesses III
Ramesses III
Usimare Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty and is considered to be the last great New Kingdom king to wield any substantial authority over Egypt. He was the son of Setnakhte and Queen Tiy-Merenese. Ramesses III is believed to have reigned from March 1186 to April 1155 BCE...
over the Sea Peoples, a very slow decay characterized Thebes in times of division of Egypt; even then, despite its limited political power, Thebes had an edge over all the rest.
Based on events in Wenamun's tale, however, Zakar-Baal does not appear to feel that Herihor or Smendes
Smendes
Hedjkheperre Setepenre Smendes was the founder of the Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt and succeeded to the throne after burying Ramesses XI in Lower Egypt – territory which he controlled...
(the prince of the Delta region) are superior to him. He most likely sees them as his equals, men fully capable of autonomous rule, and who even handle judicial matters that are within their jurisdiction.
Like him, however, they are still under the authority of the pharaoh. However, Zakar-Baal does enter into his own contracts and trade agreements, which would be against any sort of vassal/liege compact typical of that era. Illustrative of this fact, he will still not give the cedar logs to Wenamun just out of duty, as did his fathers, but wishes for payment in advance. By the time of Zakar-Baal, the pharaoh may be little more than the underlying stability factor in the region, and not of much real consequence unless he were to make war.
Zakar-Baal refused to see Wenamun for twenty-nine days and finally one of Zakar-Baal's priests had a frenzy of prophesying and demanded that they heed the idol and Wenamun.
Zakar-Baal does recognize Amun
Amun
Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu , was a god in Egyptian mythology who in the form of Amun-Ra became the focus of the most complex system of theology in Ancient Egypt...
as a god who is present not just in Egypt, but in every land. According to the narrative, he believes that Amun will be helpful to all who believe in him, and so helps Wenamun at least partially out of a duty to the god whom he represents, rather than out of any sense of duty to Egypt. The religious symbolism of Zakar-Baal has also been noted by Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
theologians for its similarity to the story of Laban
Laban (Book of Mormon)
Laban was the name of a person in the first part of The Book of Mormon, a scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement. Although he only makes a brief appearance in the narrative, his brass plates would play an important role amongst the Nephites, who are the book's main protagonists.-Laban:In the...
in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
.