Who is the earliest known forerunner of Anat in ancient Mesopotamian texts?
The earliest known forerunner of Anat is a deity named Hanat attested in texts from Mari and worshiped in a city sharing her name located in Suhum. Wilfred G. Lambert argues that Anat should be identified with this goddess Hanat though Jean-Marie Durand disputes this connection.
What specific actions does Anat perform after Baal dies at the hands of Mot in Ugaritic mythology?
Anat kills Mot threshes his remains with a blade winnows them with a sieve burns them in fire grinds them with a millstone and scatters them for birds to eat. She also mourns him and announces the news to El following his death.
When was Anat introduced to Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period and which ruler claimed her as his mother?
Anat was introduced to Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period likely by the Hyksos who ruled the Nile Delta for approximately one century with Avaris as their capital. The pharaoh Ramesses II referred to himself as the beloved of this goddess and called her his mother.
Where were four inscribed votive objects dedicated to Anat discovered on Cyprus and what do they indicate about her nature?
Four inscribed votive objects dedicated to Anat have been discovered in Idalion on Cyprus including a horse binder dated to the seventh century BCE and a spearhead dated to the fifth or early fourth century BCE. These artifacts suggest she retained her warlike nature in Phoenician religion.
How is Anat referenced in the Hebrew Bible and what conclusion does Steve A. Wiggins draw about her presence there?
The only certain references to Anat in the Hebrew Bible appear as theophoric names like Shamgar ben Anat in Judges 3:31 and place names such as Beth-Anath in Joshua 19:38. Steve A. Wiggins concludes that Anat was only vestigially present in the Kingdom of Israel.