BABEL

(Heb.) A goo of the Phcenieians and is, worshipped chiefly at Tyre. The term ion to all the Eastern languages, signifies lord orma ter; and this cfarcom tance has probably given rise IS contradictory opinions that prevail n Ing this divinity. Servius (in Am. I.), who la followed by:it. b. xi. c. 4.), observes that Baal in the Kim i. id two significations: Die one denoting other equivalent to the Greek Zivc. Accord Baal and Zcv( be words of similar import in different languages, we may apply to the former what Varro relates of the latter, that the number of divinities worship in der this title amounted to three hundred. This opinion, it would appear, was held also by Milton, tlieae came ther who, from the bordering flood Of oli! Kuphralei, to the brook (hit parU Egypt from Syrian ground, had general name a i if Haalim awl AataroUi, 4c. 4c. robable that the Baal of the Phoenicians, and the Belus of the Babylonians, whose worship was so a iduously cultivated (Herod, i.), were one and the same divinity. The priests of Baal amounted to 450; and, among other fered upon his shrine, the Bible mentions human victims. To the zealous devotion paid by the Eastern nations to this divinity, and the wide circulation of his Worship, the adoption of his name in the appellation of distinguished individuals, such as Hannibal, Belshazar, Asdrubal, tec, hears ample testimony. (Selden, de Hits St/- d 8 Connection, h. v.) [s. 127]