Dagon (god)

Dagon or Dagan (cuneiform: 𒀭𒁕𒃶), generally pronounced Dāgōn, the Mesopotamian half-man and half-fish god oft seen as the 'father of the gods'. A god of prosperity and sanctioner of divine rule.

Because Dagon's wife's name is Shalash, the linguistic connection to Shala leads some to wonder if she (and by extension Dagon) was seen as controlling the weather; which would be extremely relevant to those who already oft mention the great Deluge and hope to be protected from another occurrence of it.

Similarities

The similarities to the legends told by Berossus of Oannes and Odacon, the Musari (lit. trans.: "creatures of the waters"), the Abydenus (lit. trans.: "dweller of the abyss") "having.. the shape of a fish blended with that of a man" can not be overlooked. Alexander Polyhistor's expansion on Berossus' account records that "a representation of him is recorded unto this day" to a detail exact as the attire of the priests of Dagon: for "the whole body was like that of a fish; and had under a fish's head another head, and also feet below, similar to those of a man, subjoined to the fish's tail."

The Appolodorus citation counts five appearances (which if they can be trusted) were all in the times before the Great Flood. But if Alexander Hislop's linguistic connection of Al-PAR-us to Nimrod's son Ninyas is correct, then these apperances would be after the Great Flood.

Similarly the demi-gods known as Apkallu are also sometimes depicted as a half-fish and half-man; these are seen as having come before the Great Flood or 'Deluge'. For comparison, there were eight on the ark, of whom the bible says that in all the land only Noah was righteous.