Ritual in Narrative: The Dynamics of Feasting, Mourning, and Retaliation Rites in the Ugaritic Tale of Aqhat

Ugaritic ritual texts are varied and, by nature, problematic. But another source for ritual understanding is found in the narrative writings of Ugarit--namely, its myths and legends. Ritual texts in myths were not simply textual inserts but an integral part of the narrative. This present study is devoted to the examination of the way that ritual functions within the context of these stories.