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Dagon began as a Northwest Semitic (Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian) Mesopotamian fertility god and evolved into a major Northwest Semitic god of grain as well as fish/fishing. The grain is thought to represent fertility.  

He was worshiped in a large, geographical area, from Mesopotamia to Syria, by the Amorites and the cities of Ebla and Ugarit.  He was possibly a major deity in the pantheon of the Philistines.

His name is related to an archaic Semitic root word for "grain", a further clue to his domain.  

Myths & Legends[]

Dagon first appears in the Mari texts around 2500 BC. However, his precise functions are not certain, as he is not well attested in Levantine mythological literature, and rarely in Mesopotamian literature.

Notably, he makes a speech recounting the deeds of Ninurta in the Assyrian myth of Anzu.  In other cases, he has an association with the underworld, being said to keep with him the seven children of Enmešarra.

Bibilical Appearance[]

Dagon is mentioned in the Old Testament as a major god of the Philistines who loses to the Hebrew God.  When the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant in battle, the place it in Dagon's temple as a symbol of his victory.  In the morning, however, Dagon's statue is lying face down on the floor.  The people set it up on its feet, and the next morning it is back on the floor, with its head and hands broken off.

Family[]

Anunnaki Genealogy in Mesopotamian mythology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abzu
 
Tiamat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mummu
 
Kingu
 
Lahmu
 
Lahamu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anshar
 
Kishar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anu
 
Antu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enki
 
Ninhursag
 
Enlil
 
Ninlil
 
 
Nusku
 
Dagon
 
Ninsun
 
 
 
 
Lugulbanda
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ashnan
 
Lahar
 
Ninsar
 
 
Ningal
 
Sin
 
Nidaba
 
Enkimdu
 
Gilgamesh
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sarpanitam
 
Marduk
 
Shamash
 
Inanna
 
Tammuz
 
ʻAṯtartu
 
Ereshkigal
 
Nergal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aruru
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ninazu

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • 'Dagon' is an name of an active item from the game DOTA 2.
  • A god from the Cthulhu Mythos is also named Dagon.
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