Meet Nin-Dorothy or Nindy, as we like to call her. Nindy is from somewhere in the vicinity of Mesopotamia, although no one really knows where, not even Nindy. This is going to be a problem for her, as you'll soon see. She's the great-granddaughter of El, the king of the gods, who lives 'at the source of the rivers, in the hallow of the abysses' ... which is just a fancy Mesopotamian way of saying on a mountain between two rivers. At one time El was a firebrand — a real hellfire and brimstone kind of god — but he mellowed in his old age and is now a kindly old man who enjoys raising bulls, designing new worlds, and provoking his children into full scale wars. Nindy has great affection for him.

She lives with her Uncle Ba'al (who happens to be the God of Thunder and Fertility), her Aunt Anat aka Auntie An the Goddess of the Hunt (who when provoked could be as blood-thirsty as El had once been), and her grandfather Dagan (who was himself a pretty important god of agriculture and storms until Ba'al fought his way out of the underworld to take his place as Ba'al the Conqueror). Recently great-grandfather El gave Uncle Ba'al permission to build a house on the mountain of the gods. So, now, their new house of gold, silver, and lapis lazuli sits incongruously on a farm high on the slopes of Mount Tsephon in Syria.

Most of the time, Nindy enjoys farm living well enough. The winter rains and spring mists her grandfather creates nourish the crops and are a great source of happiness to the people, as well as to Nindy herself. And when Uncle Ba'al isn't battling his cousins Yam and Mot, things are generally peaceful. The people call Ba'al the "Rider of the Clouds," and more than anything Nindy wants to ride them with him. If only he didn't think she was too young!

One day, after Nindy had been out visiting the local farmers, she returned home ready to enjoy a party. Auntie An had invited all the gods to a feast to celebrate the completion of the new house. Nindy got home just in time to hear Ishat the Firey ('the bitch of the gods' who was also one of her uncle's enemies) say that someone had convinced great-grandfather El to set Nindy's dog Jojo in the night sky to guard the River of Heaven. Ishat, sitting stiff and prim with her lips pursed, was there to collect him. The wicked old witch! She had never liked Jojo anyway.

This would never do! Take Jojo away? Nindy wouldn't allow it. She would take him and run away! She suddenly saw herself and Jojo harnassing one of her uncles tornados and making a triumphant escape while Ishat howled in frustration. It was a lovely thought, but first she had to get to Jojo before Ishat did. Quickly, she grabbed her basket and sped down the mountain to Jojo's house.

Sources:
Caananite Gods Mentioned in the Bible
The Ugaritic Myth of Ba'al
Mesopotamian and Other Near Eastern Deities
El (from Mythical Folk)
The Tragic Fertility of Canaan