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| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia Jeremy A. Black, Anthony Green, 1992 Ancient Mesopotamia was a highly complex culture whose achievements included the invention of writing. This illustrated text offers a reference guide to Mesopotamian religion, mythology and magic between about 3000 BC and the advent of the Christian era. Gods, goddesses, demons, monsters, magic, myths, religious symbolism, rituals and the spiritual world are all discussed in alphabetical entries ranging from short accounts to extended essays. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia Jeremy A. Black, 1998 |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia Jeremy Black, Anthony Green, 1992-05-01 Ancient Mesopotamia was a rich, varied and highly complex culture whose achievements included the invention of writing and the development of sophisticated urban society. This book offers an introductory guide to the beliefs and customs of the ancient Mesopotamians, as revealed in their art and their writings between about 3000 B.C. and the advent of the Christian era. Gods, goddesses, demons, monsters, magic, myths, religious symbolism, ritual, and the spiritual world are all discussed in alphabetical entries ranging from short accounts to extended essays. Names are given in both their Sumerian and Akkadian forms, and all entries are fully cross-referenced. A useful introduction provides historical and geographical background and describes the sources of our knowledge about the religion, mythology and magic of the cradle of civilisation. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia Jeremy Black, 1992 |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia Jean Bottéro, 2004 A well written guide to Mesopotamian religion by one of the world's foremost Assyriologists. Bottero studies the public and private relationships between the people and the divine, their cosmology, hymns and prayers, rituals, myths and magic. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Triumph of the Symbol Tallay Ornan, 2005 This book analyzes the history of Mesopotamian imagery form the mid-second to mid-first millennium BCE. It demonstrates that in spite of rich textual evidence, which grants the Mesopotamian gods and goddesses an anthropmorphic form, there was a clear abstention in various media from visualizing the gods in such a form. True, divine human-shaped cultic images existed in Mesopotamian temples. But as a rule, non-anthropomorphic visual agents such as inanimate objects, animals or fantastic hybrids replaced these figures when they were portrayed outside of their sacred enclosures. This tendency reached its peak in first-millennium Babylonia and Assyria. The removal of the Mesopotamian human-shaped deity from pictorial renderings resembles the Biblical agenda not only in its avoidance of displaying a divine image but also in the implied dual perception of the divine: according to the Bible and the Assyro-Babylonian concept the divine was conceived as having a human form; yet in both cases anthropomorphism was also concealed or rejected, though to a different degree. In the present book, this dual approach toward the divine image is considered as a reflection of two associated rather than contradictory religious worldviews. The plausible consolidation of the relevant Biblical accounts just before the Babylonian Exile, or more probably within the Exile - in both cases during a period of strong Assyrian and Babylonian hegemony - points to a direct correspondence between comparable religious phenomena. It is suggested that far from their homeland and in the absence of a temple for their god, the Judahite deportees adopted and intensified the Mesopotamian avoidance of anthropomorphic picorial portrayals of deities. While the Babylonian representations remained confined to temples, the exiles would have turned a cultic reality - i.e., the nonwritten Babylonian custom - into a written, articulated law that explicity forbade the pictorial representation of God. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Demons in the Details Sara Ronis, 2025-04-15 The Babylonian Talmud is full of stories of demonic encounters, and it also includes many laws that attempt to regulate such encounters. In this book, Sara Ronis takes the reader on a journey across the rabbinic canon, exploring how late antique rabbis imagined, feared, and controlled demons. Ronis contextualizes the Talmud's thought within the rich cultural matrix of Sasanian Babylonia, placing rabbinic thinking in conversation with Sumerian, Akkadian, Ugaritic, Syriac Christian, Zoroastrian, and Second Temple Jewish texts about demons to delve into the interactive communal context in which the rabbis created boundaries between the human and the supernatural, and between themselves and other religious communities. Demons in the Details explores the wide range of ways that the rabbis participated in broader discussions about beliefs and practices with their neighbors, out of which they created a profoundly Jewish demonology. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Ancient Mesopotamia A. Leo Oppenheim, 2013-01-31 This splendid work of scholarship . . . sums up with economy and power all that the written record so far deciphered has to tell about the ancient and complementary civilizations of Babylon and Assyria.—Edward B. Garside, New York Times Book Review Ancient Mesopotamia—the area now called Iraq—has received less attention than ancient Egypt and other long-extinct and more spectacular civilizations. But numerous small clay tablets buried in the desert soil for thousands of years make it possible for us to know more about the people of ancient Mesopotamia than any other land in the early Near East. Professor Oppenheim, who studied these tablets for more than thirty years, used his intimate knowledge of long-dead languages to put together a distinctively personal picture of the Mesopotamians of some three thousand years ago. Following Oppenheim's death, Erica Reiner used the author's outline to complete the revisions he had begun. To any serious student of Mesopotamian civilization, this is one of the most valuable books ever written.—Leonard Cottrell, Book Week Leo Oppenheim has made a bold, brave, pioneering attempt to present a synthesis of the vast mass of philological and archaeological data that have accumulated over the past hundred years in the field of Assyriological research.—Samuel Noah Kramer, Archaeology A. Leo Oppenheim, one of the most distinguished Assyriologists of our time, was editor in charge of the Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute and John A. Wilson Professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Chicago. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Gods of Man: Gods of Nature - God of War Gary R. Varner, 2007-10-14 Today the majority of humankind worships a single God. Although this God is said to be all loving and wanting peace for his worshippers there is very little peace among the three religions based on common theology. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all foster hatred for one another, causing millions of deaths and untold suffering for hundreds of years.This book explores the mythic, historical, and archaeological record to illustrate the history of these conflicts. The Gods of Man also looks at how monotheism eventually dominated and destroyed the ancient and peaceful goddess traditions that had existed for thousands of years before. Is the God of today simply used to enforce government edicts, justify war and to control society?Gary R. Varner has written several articles and books on ancient religions, folklore and mythology. He is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Foundation for Mythological Studies. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart Enheduanna, Betty De Shong Meador, 2000 Around 2,300 BC Enheduanna was high priestess to the moon god Nanna at his temple in Ur, a position she held for almost forty years. This volume translates Enheduanna's three devotional poems to the goddess Inanna accompanied by an extensive commentary and discussion which places these highly personal and unique expressions within the context of Sumerian culture and religion. The author highlights the importance of the poems and the princess for our understanding of the place of women in Near Eastern society and religion. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods of Eden Andrew Collins, 2002-04-01 A groundbreaking historical documentation of the secret history of pre-Pharonic Egypt and the race of angels that built it. •By the author of From the Ashes of Angels and Gateway to Atlantis (more than 30,000 copies sold in the United Kingdom). •Unlocks the secrets of how the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx were built. •Explains the traces left by the race of Elder gods that founded ancient Egypt through ancient texts of the Hall of Records. •Proves the foundations of ancient astronomy 10,000 years ago. Hidden deep below Egypt's Giza plateau is perhaps the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Great Pyramid, one of the seven wonders of the world. Built using a technology unequaled even today, the ancient Egyptians claimed they inherited their advanced culture from a race of Elder gods who lived during a previous age known as Zep Tepi, the First Time. In his earlier companion book From the Ashes of Angels, renowned historical writer Andrew Collins provided historical and scientific evidence showing how these Elder gods, who were the flesh and blood members of a race of fallen angels, founded ancient Egypt. Now, in Gods of Eden, he describes the remarkable achievements of their culture. Assembling clues from archaeology, mythology, and religion, Collins shows us how this great society mastered acoustic technology and employed the use of sound to raise heavy objects into the air and pierce holes through solid rock. It was with this technology that they were able to construct gigantic structures that have marveled adventurers and archaeologists worldwide. With findings based on more than 20 years of research and scholarship, Collins reveals the fascinating historical destiny of this culture of fallen angels and the imprints and legacies they left behind at the genesis of civilization. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Conceptualising Divine Unions in the Greek and Near Eastern Worlds Eleni Pachoumi, 2022 This volume is an interdisciplinary investigation and contextualization of the various concepts of divine union in the private and public sphere of the Greek and Near Eastern worlds. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Visible Kingdom of God Esther Stein, 2018-03-30 As Noah and his family repopulated the earth, they passed on fascinating details of life before the Flood. These parallel the book of Genesis but diverge after Babel. Read these amazingly similar accounts from every part of the world. See how this informs your study of the Bible. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gods in the Desert Glenn S. Holland, 2009-07-16 Gods in the Desert explores the fascinating religious cultures of the ancient Near East. From the mysterious pyramids, tombs, and temples of Egypt to the powerful heroes, gods, and legends of Mesopotamia, Glenn Holland guides readers through the early religions that are the root of many of today's major faiths. Holland compares the religions of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine, including Israel and Judah, from the Neolithic era through the conquest of Alexander the Great. He provides a historical survey of each region, then discusses the gods, the rulers, the afterlife, and the worship rituals. This accessible overview makes clear how these religions converged and diverged, and are intimately connected to many of the religions we recognize today, sometimes in surprising ways. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Creatures in the Mist Gary R. Varner, 2007 Bringing together a medley of stories, myths, and folklore Gary Varner shares a fascination and respect for humankind's early and contemporary cultures and wonders at similarities across the board. Here, he focuses on Little People and giants, animals and were-creatures, and the odd, helpful or threatening ways imputed to our earthly companions including dogs and cats, bats and spiders, and the stories people have told each other about them since time immemorial. Gary Varner has performed a valuable service in these books. [Presenting] lore from about the world, a collector's hoard of traditions rich and strange, ... Varner shows there really are obvious and puzzling similarities between widely separated cultures. Gary Varner has pointed the way to some important cross-cultural readings in the ageless themes of stone and water. - Jeremy Harte, Curator of the Bourne Hall Museum, Surrey, England, in Northern Earth magazine, #103, 2005 Menhirs, Dolmen and Circles of Stone is an excellent guide to large-scale magical stones and stone magic. This book is a must for anyone interested in megalithic sites. Most highly recommended. -PanGaia Magazine, United States As with other books by the same author, this is a book based upon broad research into the subject, stretching across the world. What results is a fascinating weave of stories and images, descriptions of sites and associated tales, that leaves a sense of a thousand deities whispering in the air. Because it is so broad a sweep, the positive outcome is an overreaching perspective of the patterns and commonalities held between human communities - our ancestors - all around the world. The book is a sound overview and provocation toresearch more deeply ourselves, to find alternative visions, tales and interpretations, to find out more about the sacred currents, their depths and importance - both to our ancestors and to ourselves. The author's notations are comprehensive, allowing us easily to follow the clues. A valuable piece of work. -The Druid Network, England * Gary R. Varner is a lecturer and writer on folklore and early religions. He is author of several popular books comparing legends and beliefs around the world, including The Mythic Forest, the Green Man & the Spirit of Nature (Algora 2006); Menhirs, Dolmen and Circles of Stone: The Folklore and Magic of Sacred Stone (Algora 2005); and Sacred Wells: A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells. His approach incorporates details from ancient cultures and from Native American, UK and European, Asian, South Pacific and African folklore. Varner is a member of the American Folklore Society. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures Helaine Selin, 2008-03-12 Here, at last, is the massively updated and augmented second edition of this landmark encyclopedia. It contains approximately 1000 entries dealing in depth with the history of the scientific, technological and medical accomplishments of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. The entries consist of fully updated articles together with hundreds of entirely new topics. This unique reference work includes intercultural articles on broad topics such as mathematics and astronomy as well as thoughtful philosophical articles on concepts and ideas related to the study of non-Western Science, such as rationality, objectivity, and method. You’ll also find material on religion and science, East and West, and magic and science. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Judaism Dan Cohn-Sherbok, 2003-09-02 This all-encompassing textbook is an unrivalled guide to the history, belief and practice of Judaism, written by a scholar and rabbi who is also an experienced university teacher. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Intelligence, Creativity and Fantasy Mário S. Ming Kong, Maria do Rosário Monteiro, Maria João Pereira Neto, 2019-09-30 The texts presented in Proportion Harmonies and Identities (PHI) - INTELLIGENCE, CREATIVITY AND FANTASY were compiled with the intent to establish a multidisciplinary platform for the presentation, interaction and dissemination of research. The aim is also to foster the awareness and discussion on the topics of Harmony and Proportion with a focus on different visions relevant to Architecture, Arts and Humanities, Design, Engineering, Social and Natural Sciences, and their importance and benefits for the sense of both individual and community identity. The idea of modernity has been a significant motor for development since the Western Early Modern Age. Its theoretical and practical foundations have become the working tools of scientists, philosophers, and artists, who seek strategies and policies to accelerate the development process in different contexts. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition Debra Scoggins Ballentine, 2015-05-01 There are many ancient West Asian stories that narrate the victory of a warrior deity over an enemy, typically a sea-god or sea dragon, and his rise to divine kingship. In The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition, Debra Scoggins Ballentine analyzes this motif, arguing that it was used within ancient political and socio-religious discourses to bolster particular divine hierarchies, kings, institutions, and groups, as well as to attack others. Situating her study of the conflict topos within contemporary theorizations of myth by Bruce Lincoln, Russell McCutcheon, and Jonathan Z. Smith, Ballentine examines narratives of divine combat and instances of this conflict motif. Her study cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries as well as constructed time periods, focusing not only on the Hebrew Bible but also incorporating Mesopotamian, early Jewish, early Christian, and rabbinic texts, spanning a period of almost three millennia - from the eighteenth century BCE to the early middle ages CE. The Conflict Myth and the Biblical Tradition advances our understanding of the conflict topos in ancient west Asian and early Jewish and Christian literatures and of how mythological and religious ideas are used both to validate and render normative particular ideologies and socio-political arrangements, and to delegitimize and invalidate others. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Illustrated Dictionary Of Symbols In Eastern And Western Art James Hall, 2018-05-04 A Companion volume to James Hall’s perennial seller Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art. which deals with the subject matter of Christian and Western art, the present volume includes the art of Egypt, the ancient Near East, Christian and classical Europe, India and the Far East. Flail explores the language of symbols in art showing how paintings, drawings and sculpture express man shades of meaning from simple, everyday hopes and fears to the profoundest philosophical and religious aspirations. The book explains and interprets symbols from many cultures, and over 600 illustrations clarify and complement the text. There are numbered references throughout the text to the sacred Iitcra-1 ture, myths and legends in which the symbols had their origins. Details of English translations of the works are in the bibliography. The book includes an appendix of the transcription of Chinese, notes and references, bibliography, chronological tables and index. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Relations of Power in Early Neo-Assyrian State Ideology Mattias Karlsson, 2016-03-07 This volume examines the state ideology of Assyria in the Early Neo-Assyrian period (934-745 BCE) focusing on how power relations between the Mesopotamian deities, the Assyrian king, and foreign lands are described and depicted. It undertakes a close reading of delimited royal inscriptions and iconography making use of postcolonial and gender theory, and addresses such topics as royal deification, “religious imperialism”, ethnicity and empire, and gendered imagery. The important contribution of this study lies especially in its identification of patterns of ideological continuity and variation within the reigns of individual rulers, between various localities, and between the different rulers of this period, and in its discussion of the place of Early Neo-Assyrian state ideology in the overall development of Assyrian propaganda. It includes several indexed appendices, which list all primary sources, present all divine and royal epithets, and provide all of the “royal visual representations,” and incorporates numerous illustrations, such as maps, plans, and royal iconography. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: One True Story, One True God Mark S. Young, 2021-04-07 One True Story, One True God shows how God has moved through history with redemptive, missional intent and gives you a glimpse of how God will use you to further accomplish His plan. From Adam’s creation to Jesus's return, the book shows where we've been, where we are, and where we are going. By seeing the historical context of God's redemption plan, you'll have a fresh understanding of God's big story and where you fit in it. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Untold Story of Native Iraqis Amer Hanna-Fatuhi, 2012-04-16 The Untold Story of Native Iraqis Chaldean Mesopotamians 5300 BC – Present by: Amer Hanna-Fatuhi A groundbreaking work that further explores the true identity of the indigenous people of Iraq, Chaldean-Mesopotamians is presented in the compelling book titled The Untold Story of Native Iraqis written by author Amer Hanna-Fatuhi. Hanna-Fatuhi worked for two years and spent over a quarter of a century researching the history of the region. This book perfectly illuminates the antiquity of Babylon and the indigenous people of the region next to other well known and obscure ethnic groups. It allows for a more profound awareness of the Iraqi people’s individuality as well as the country’s social and political dynamics. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Religion, Ritual and Ritualistic Objects Albertina (Tineke) Nugteren, 2019-04-23 This is a volume about the life and power of ritual objects in their religious ritual settings. In this Special Issue, we see a wide range of contributions on material culture and ritual practices across religions. By focusing on the dynamic interrelations between objects, ritual, and belief, it explores how religion happens through symbolic materiality. The ritual objects presented in this volume include: masks worn in the Dogon dance; antique ecclesiastical silver objects carried around in festive processions and shown in shrines in the southern Andes; funerary photographs and films functioning as mnemonic objects for grieving children; a dented rock surface perceived to be the god’s footprint in the archaic place of pilgrimage, Gaya (India); a recovered manual of rituals (from Xiapu county) for Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, juxtaposed to a Manichaean painting from southern China; sacred stories and related sacred stones in the Alor–Pantar archipelago, Indonesia; lotus symbolism, indicating immortalizing plants in the mythic traditions of Egypt, the Levant, and Mesopotamia; lavishly illustrated variations of portrayals of Ravana, a Sinhalese god-king-demon; figurines made of cow dung sculptured by rural women in Rajasthan (India); and mythical artifacts called ‘Apples of Eden’ in a well-known interactive game series. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The History & Use of Amulets, Charms and Talismans Gary R. Varner, 2008-01-27 Amulets and charms have been used since mankind evolved from its distant origins millions of years ago. They have been used to protect and to harm, and in both the practice and avoidance of witchcraft and sorcery. They are made of wood and stone, clay, metal, plants and dead animals. They are carved into crude shapes and in the most exquisite forms. They may also be composed entirely of words, which are believed to have great power and magical properties. Used by pagans, Christians, Jews and followers of every faith and tradition known across the world, they are considered direct links to the gods and local spirits. All are links to the supernatural. Regardless if they are called amulets, charms or talismans, these objects are credited with providing cures, causing evil, and bringing health and prosperity. This book, using ethnographic studies, ancient records and folklore, will explore the history and use of amulets and will show that they continue to be an important part of our modern culture. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Gilgamesh Louise M. Pryke, 2019-03-15 Gilgamesh focuses on the eponymous hero of the world’s oldest epic and his legendary adventures. However, it also goes further and examines the significance of the story’s Ancient Near Eastern context, and what it tells us about notions of kingship, animality, and the natures of mortality and immortality. In this volume, Louise M. Pryke provides a unique perspective to consider many foundational aspects of Mesopotamian life, such as the significance of love and family, the conceptualisation of life and death, and the role of religious observance. The final chapter assesses the powerful influence of Gilgamesh on later works of ancient literature, from the Hebrew Bible, to the Odyssey, to The Tales of the Arabian Nights, and his reception through to the modern era. Gilgamesh is an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to understand this fascinating figure, and more broadly, the relevance of Near Eastern myth in the classical world and beyond. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Archaeology of the Bible Jean-Pierre Isbouts, 2016 From ancient holy sites, to buried relics and treasures, National Geographic uncovers the history and the archaeological discoveries from Scripture and the biblical world. Richly illustrated and written from an objective and nondenominational perspective, author Jean-Pierre Isbouts uses the latest scientific and archaeological discoveries to place biblical stories in the framework of human history. Chapters, beginning with the dawn of human civilization and ending with present day and the future of archaeology, chronicle hundreds of sites and artifacts found in Sumer, Babylon, the Second Temple, along the route of the Exodus, and in many other regions across the Middle East. Timelines bridge hundreds of years and several empires, maps give readers a visual sense of location, while hundreds of photos and illustrations of rare artifacts and ancient places add to the visual splendor. lt concludes with details of what remains to be found and the evolving dynamic of biblical faith in an increasingly scientific world in which archaeologists make daily breakthroughs. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction Amanda H. Podany, 2014 This book explores the lands of the ancient Near East from around 3200 BCE to 539 BCE. The earth-shaking changes that marked this era include such fundamental inventions as the wheel and the plow and intellectual feats such as the inventions of astronomy, law, and diplomacy. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: A Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses, Devils and Demons Manfred Lurker, 2015-04-29 Containing around 1,800 entries this Dictionary covers, in one volume, all the important deities and demons from around the world. The gods of ancient mythology appear alongside the gods of contemporary religion, and `lesser' mythologies and religions are also fully covered. The author provides an extensive network of cross-references, allowing the reader to draw cross-cultural comparisons. The Dictionary will be an invaluable source of information for anyone interested in comparative religion or the diversity of religious views throughout the world. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: When Writing Met Art Denise Schmandt-Besserat, 2009-02-17 An archaeologist and art historian examines the impact of literacy on visual art during the early urban period in the Near East. Denise Schmandt-Besserat opened a new chapter in the history of literacy when she demonstrated that the cuneiform script invented in the ancient Near East in the late fourth millennium BC—the world's oldest known system of writing—derived from an archaic counting device. Her discovery, was published in Before Writing: From Counting to Cuneiform and How Writing Came About, which was named by American Scientist as one of the “100 or so Books that shaped a Century of Science.” In When Writing Met Art, Schmandt-Besserat expands her history of writing into the visual realm. Using examples of ancient Near Eastern writing and masterpieces of art, she shows that between 3500 and 3000 BC the conventions of writing—everything from its linear organization to its semantic use of the form, size, order, and placement of signs—spread to the making of art, resulting in artworks that presented complex visual narratives in place of the repetitive motifs found on preliterate art objects. Schmandt-Besserat then demonstrates art's reciprocal impact on the development of writing. She shows how, beginning in 2700-2600 BC, the inclusion of inscriptions on funerary and votive art objects emancipated writing from its original accounting function. To fulfill its new role, writing evolved to replicate speech; this made it possible to compile, organize, and synthesize unlimited amounts of information. Schmandt-Besserat’s pioneering investigation documents a turning point in human history, when two of our most fundamental information media reciprocally multiplied their capacities to communicate. When writing met art, literate civilization was born. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Jason and the Argonauts through the Ages Jason Colavito, 2014-04-07 The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous in Greek myth, and its development from the oldest layers of Greek mythology down to the modern age encapsulates the dramatic changes in faith, power and culture that Western civilization has seen over the past three millennia. From the Bronze Age to the Classical Age, from the medieval world to today, the Jason story has been told and retold with new stories, details and meanings. This book explores the epic history of a colorful myth and probes the most ancient origins of the quest for the Golden Fleece--a quest that takes us to the very dawn of Greek religion and its close relationship with Near Eastern peoples and cultures. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Who Were the Babylonians? Bill T. Arnold, 2019-01-15 This engaging and informative introduction to the the Babylonians were important not only because of their many historical contacts with ancient Israel but because they and their predecessors, the Sumerians, established the philosophical and social infrastructure for most of Western Asia for nearly two millennia. Beginning and advanced students as well as biblical scholars and interested nonspecialists will read this introduction to the history and culture of the Babylonians with interest and profit. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity Edwin M. Yamauchi, Marvin R. Wilson, 2021-10-05 The Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical & Post-Biblical Antiquity is a unique reference work that provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 4000 BC to approximately AD 600. Also available as a 4-volume set (ISBN 9781619708617), this complete one-volume edition covers topics from A-Z. This dictionary casts light on the culture, technology, history, and politics of the periods of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, with contributions by many others, this unique reference work explains details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, and religious practices, with extensive bibliographic material for further exploration. There are 115 articles ranging from 5-20 pages long. Scholars, pastors, and students (and their teachers) will find this to be a useful resource for biblical study, exegesis, and sermon preparation. “This is not your standard Bible dictionary, but one that focuses on aspects of daily life in Bible times, addressing interesting and sometimes puzzling topics that are often overlooked in other encyclopedias. I highly recommend the Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity and will be giving it ‘shout-outs’ in my classes in the years to come.” —James K. Hoffmeier, Professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern Archaeology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School “This wonderful resource is much more than a dictionary. It is a compendium of substantive essays on numerous facets of daily life in the ancient world. I am frequently asked by pastors and students for recommendations on books that illuminate the manners, customs, and cultural practices of the biblical world. Now I have the ideal set of books to recommend.” —Clinton E. Arnold, Dean and Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Daily Life of Women Colleen Boyett, H. Micheal Tarver, Mildred Diane Gleason, 2020-12-07 Indispensable for the student or researcher studying women's history, this book draws upon a wide array of cultural settings and time periods in which women displayed agency by carrying out their daily economic, familial, artistic, and religious obligations. Since record keeping began, history has been written by a relatively few elite men. Insights into women's history are left to be gleaned by scholars who undertake careful readings of ancient literature, examine archaeological artifacts, and study popular culture, such as folktales, musical traditions, and art. For some historical periods and geographic regions, this is the only way to develop some sense of what daily life might have been like for women in a particular time and place. This reference explores the daily life of women across civilizations. The work is organized in sections on different civilizations from around the world, arranged chronologically. Within each society, the encyclopedia highlights the roles of women within five broad thematic categories: the arts, economics and work, family and community life, recreation and social customs, and religious life. Included are numerous sidebars containing additional information, document excerpts, images, and suggestions for further reading. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Astronomy Across Cultures Helaine Selin, 2012-12-06 Astronomy Across Cultures: A History of Non-Western Astronomy consists of essays dealing with the astronomical knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Polynesian, Egyptian and Tibetan astronomy, among others, the book includes essays on Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them and Astronomy and Prehistory, and Astronomy and Astrology. The essays address the connections between science and culture and relate astronomical practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay is well illustrated and contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both the history of science and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Yahweh among the Gods Michael Hundley, 2022-01-13 A redefinition of the ancient conceptions of god, the relationships between them, and the rhetoric used to exalt them. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Genesis, Isaiah, and Psalms Katharine Julia Dell, Graham I. Davies, Yee Von Koh, 2010 Studies of Genesis, Isaiah and Psalms, key biblical texts that represent the interests of the honorand, Professor John Emerton. The comparison of biblical texts with the ancient Near East and archaeological finds; intertextual work, literary historical approaches, texts and versions and scholarly interpretations from the past are all represented. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs John Hilber, Tremper Longman III, Duane Garrett, 2016-01-12 Many today find the Old Testament a closed book. The cultural issues seem insurmountable and we are easily baffled by that which seems obscure. Furthermore, without knowledge of the ancient culture we can easily impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. This series invites you to enter the Old Testament with a company of guides, experts that will give new insights into these cherished writings. Features include • Over 2000 photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams and charts provide a visual feast that breathes fresh life into the text. • Passage-by-passage commentary presents archaeological findings, historical explanations, geographic insights, notes on manners and customs, and more. • Analysis into the literature of the ancient Near East will open your eyes to new depths of understanding both familiar and unfamiliar passages. • Written by an international team of 30 specialists, all top scholars in background studies. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Ritual and Religion Timothy Insoll, 2011-10-28 The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Ritual and Religion provides a comprehensive overview by period and region of the relevant archaeological material in relation to theory, methodology, definition, and practice. Although, as the title indicates, the focus is upon archaeological investigations of ritual and religion, by necessity ideas and evidence from other disciplines are also included, among them anthropology, ethnography, religious studies, and history. The Handbook covers a global span - Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas - and reaches from the earliest prehistory (the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic) to modern times. In addition, chapters focus upon relevant themes, ranging from landscape to death, from taboo to water, from gender to rites of passage, from ritual to fasting and feasting. Written by over sixty specialists, renowned in their respective fields, the Handbook presents the very best in current scholarship, and will serve both as a comprehensive introduction to its subject and as a stimulus to further research. |
| gods demons and symbols of ancient mesopotamia: The Never-ending Feast Kaori O'Connor, 2015-02-26 Feast! Throughout human history, and in all parts of the world, feasts have been at the heart of life. The great museums of the world are full of the remains of countless ghostly feasts – dishes that once bore rich meats, pitchers used to pour choice wines, tall jars that held beer sipped through long straws of gold and lapis, immense cauldrons from which hundreds of people could be served. Why were feasts so important, and is there more to feasting than abundance and enjoyment? The Never-Ending Feast is a pioneering work that draws on anthropology, archaeology and history to look at the dynamics of feasting among the great societies of antiquity renowned for their magnificence and might. Reflecting new directions in academic study, the focus shifts beyond the medieval and early modern periods in Western Europe, eastwards to Mesopotamia, Assyria and Achaemenid Persia, early Greece, the Mongol Empire, Shang China and Heian Japan. The past speaks through texts and artefacts. We see how feasts were the primary arena for displays of hierarchy, status and power; a stage upon which loyalties and alliances were negotiated; the occasion for the mobilization and distribution of resources, a means of pleasing the gods, and the place where identities were created, consolidated – and destroyed. The Never-Ending Feast transforms our understanding of feasting past and present, revitalising the fields of anthropology, archaeology, history, museum studies, material culture and food studies, for all of which it is essential reading. |
What Is the Kingdom of God? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
God’s Kingdom is a real government established by Jehovah God. “The kingdom of God” is also called “the kingdom of heaven” in the Bible, since it rules from heaven.
Marriage—God’s View, What the Bible Says - JW.ORG
God is the originator of marriage. The Bible’s advice has helped many couples overcome problems and have a long, happy marriage.
God’s Kingdom | Bible Questions & Answers | JW.ORG
Answers to some of the most common questions about the Kingdom of God. The clear explanations found in God’s Word may surprise you.
Does God Have a Name? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
ESSENTIAL BIBLE TEACHINGS Does God Have a Name? God has many titles, including Almighty, Creator, and Lord. But God’s personal name is used some 7,000 times i
What Is God’s Kingdom? - JW.ORG
What is the Kingdom of God? Millions pray the Our Father prayer: ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.’ The Bible tells us what God’s Kingdom will do for us and when.
What Is God’s Name? - JW.ORG
God’s name is Jehovah. While titles may describe God’s position, authority, or power, it is only his name, Jehovah, that embodies all that he is and can become.
When Will God’s Kingdom Rule the Earth? - JW.ORG
Jesus’ followers wanted to know when God’s Kingdom would rule, so he gave a sign to watch for. Those events have been happening all at once since 1914.
What Will God’s Kingdom Do? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
End all war, remove the wicked, bring prosperity and meaningful work—this is only the beginning of what God’s government will do. Live in peace and paradise.
Why Should We Use God’s Name? - JW.ORG
Jun 1, 2012 · This article considers questions you may have raised and shows where you can read the answers in your Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses would be pleased to discuss these answers with y
God’s Kingdom Rules! | God’s Kingdom - JW.ORG
The Kingdom of God is a real, perfect government. Only under God’s loving rule will all people enjoy a happy, secure life.
What Is the Kingdom of God? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
God’s Kingdom is a real government established by Jehovah God. “The kingdom of God” is also called “the kingdom of heaven” in the Bible, since it rules from heaven.
Marriage—God’s View, What the Bible Says - JW.ORG
God is the originator of marriage. The Bible’s advice has helped many couples overcome problems and have a long, happy marriage.
God’s Kingdom | Bible Questions & Answers | JW.ORG
Answers to some of the most common questions about the Kingdom of God. The clear explanations found in God’s Word may surprise you.
Does God Have a Name? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
ESSENTIAL BIBLE TEACHINGS Does God Have a Name? God has many titles, including Almighty, Creator, and Lord. But God’s personal name is used some 7,000 times i
What Is God’s Kingdom? - JW.ORG
What is the Kingdom of God? Millions pray the Our Father prayer: ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.’ The Bible tells us what God’s Kingdom will do for us and when.
What Is God’s Name? - JW.ORG
God’s name is Jehovah. While titles may describe God’s position, authority, or power, it is only his name, Jehovah, that embodies all that he is and can become.
When Will God’s Kingdom Rule the Earth? - JW.ORG
Jesus’ followers wanted to know when God’s Kingdom would rule, so he gave a sign to watch for. Those events have been happening all at once since 1914.
What Will God’s Kingdom Do? | Bible Questions - JW.ORG
End all war, remove the wicked, bring prosperity and meaningful work—this is only the beginning of what God’s government will do. Live in peace and paradise.
Why Should We Use God’s Name? - JW.ORG
Jun 1, 2012 · This article considers questions you may have raised and shows where you can read the answers in your Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses would be pleased to discuss these …
God’s Kingdom Rules! | God’s Kingdom - JW.ORG
The Kingdom of God is a real, perfect government. Only under God’s loving rule will all people enjoy a happy, secure life.
