El (Ilu) vs Yam (Yammu)

The aged king and father of the gods at Ugarit, 'Bull El', 'Father of Years', who presides over the divine assembly from his dwelling at the source of the two rivers and whose permission every younger god seeks.

El's name is simply the common Semitic word for "god". At Ugarit he is the head of the pantheon, the "Father of Years" and "Creator of Creatures", with a grey beard that other gods praise for its wisdom. He dwells far from the other gods "at the source of the two rivers, in the midst of the springs of the two deeps", in a tent or pavilion, and the assembly of the gods meets on his mountain. His consort is Athirat, and the gods are collectively "the sons of El".

The Sea as a god, 'Prince Sea, Judge River', El's favourite, who demands that Baal be handed over as his captive and is struck down by Baal's clubs.

Yam, whose name simply means "sea", is always paired in poetic parallelism with "River": he is "Prince Sea" and "Judge River". He is "beloved of El", and in the fragmentary first tablet of the Baal Cycle El proclaims his name and gives him a house built by Kothar-wa-Khasis (KTU 1.1-1.2). His power over the waters is also a claim to kingship among the gods.