Baetylus (also
Bethel, or
Betyl, from
Semitic 'bet el' meaning 'house of God') is a word denoting a
sacred stone, which was supposedly endowed with life. According to ancient sources, these objects of worship were
meteorites, which were dedicated to the gods or revered as symbols of the gods themselves. An example is also mentioned at
Bethel in
Genesis 28:11-19.