Space and Time in the Religious Life of the Near East

by Wyatt, Nicolas

• ISBN13: 9781841272887
• ISBN10: 1841272884
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-17
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

Space and time are basic features of the world-view, even the theology, of many religions, ancient and modern. How did the world begin, and how will it end? What is the importance of religious architecture in symbolizing sacred space? Where and how do we locate the self? The divine world? Wyatt's textbook treats ancient Near Eastern religions from a perspective that allows us to access how religion shapes and orders the world of human thought and experience. The book is designed especially for classroom use, each chapter provided with suggested reading, copious quotations from ancient texts and summaries. The subject matter is treated by topic, not according to individal religions, so that the reader understands the essential points of similarity and difference between religious systems and how they model their universe.

Table of Contents

Preface	19	(2)
Acknowledgments	21	(2)
Abbreviations	23	(2)
Introduction	25	(8)
Orientation and the Location of the Self	33	(20)
Introduction	33	(9)
Tables of the Vocabulary of Orientation	42	(1)
Ugaritic	42	(1)
Hebrew	43	(1)
Arabic	44	(1)
Akkadian	45	(1)
Sumerian	46	(1)
Greek	47	(1)
Latin	48	(1)
Egyptian	49	(2)
Sanskrit	51	(2)
Mythic Shapings of the World	53	(42)
Introduction	53	(4)
Egypt: local Cosmogony Traditions	57	(6)
Heliopolis: Sex	57	(1)
Memphis: (Sex and) Giving Birth	58	(1)
Hermopolis: an Egg i)	58	(1)
Hermopolis: an Egg ii)	58	(1)
Hermopolis: an Egg iii)	59	(1)
Thebes: Various Elements Including `Making'	59	(1)
Memphis: Speech	60	(1)
An Egyptian Creation Tradition from el-Berseh (ca 2000 BCE): Making	61	(2)
Mesopotamia: local Cosmogony Traditions	63	(3)
Babylon: the Conflict of Marduk and Tiamat	63	(1)
Marduk Constructs the World: Division of the Vanquished Deity	64	(2)
Creation and the Status of Human Beings	66	(6)
A Sumerian Tradition from Nippur	66	(2)
A further Sumerian Tradition from Nippur	68	(1)
The Theogony of Dunnu	69	(2)
Marduk (Ea) creates Mankind	71	(1)
Creation in Israelite and Judahite Thought	72	(2)
The `Priestly Account'	72	(1)
An Exilic Version of the Creation, from a Lament	73	(1)
The Creation of Man in Israelite and Judahite Thought	74	(2)
The `Priestly Account'	74	(1)
The `Yahwist's Account' of Creation	75	(1)
Conceptions of the Universe	76	(4)
Multiple Levels in the Universe in Mesopotamia	76	(1)
The Threefold Structure of the Israelite Universe i)	76	(1)
The Threefold Structure of the Israelite Universe ii)	77	(1)
Barriers in the Underworld in Egypt	77	(1)
The Realm of Death in Mesopotamian Thought: the Descent of Ishtar	78	(2)
The Cartographic Imagination	80	(8)
The Babylonian Map of the World	81	(1)
Further Aspects of Egyptian Cosmology i): The Idea of the Celestial Nile	82	(1)
Further Aspects of Egyptian Cosmology ii): The Four Pillars of Heaven	83	(1)
Further Aspects of Egyptian Cosmology iii): Ra's Crossing of the Celestial Nile	83	(1)
Further Aspects of Egyptian Cosmology iv): The Osirian Destiny of the King	84	(1)
Further Aspects of Egyptian Cosmology v): The Idea of the Infernal and Celestial Nile	84	(1)
Greek Images of the Surrounding Sea i): Homer and Hesiod	85	(1)
Greek Images of the Surrounding Sea ii): Hesiod	85	(1)
Greek Images of the Surrounding Sea iii): the Homeric Hymns	85	(1)
Greek Images of the Surrounding Sea iv): Herodotus	86	(1)
Greek Images of the Surrounding Sea v): Pindar	86	(1)
The Cosmic Ocean in Biblical Tradition: Passages mentioning Yam Suf	86	(1)
Marduk and the Kingship of the Gods i)	87	(1)
Marduk and the Kingship of the Gods ii)	87	(1)
Miscellaneous Elements	88	(7)
Calendars i): The Egyptian Calendar	88	(2)
Calendars ii): Some other Near Eastern Calendars	90	(1)
Calendars iii): The Gezer Calendar	91	(1)
Deities of the World Structure	91	(1)
The Number Seven i): Sun, Moon and the Planets	92	(1)
The Number Seven ii): in Time and Space	93	(2)
Space, Time and Water I: Water and the Beginning of the World	95	(26)
Introduction	95	(4)
Myths of the Primaeval Battle	99	(14)
Amorite Version From Eshnunna i)	99	(1)
Amorite Version From Eshnunna ii)	99	(1)
Amorite Version From Mari	100	(1)
Ugaritic Version: Baal Fights Yam	100	(2)
Israelite Version: Yahweh Fights Leviathan	102	(1)
An Echo of the Battle Motif from the Genesis Creation Story	103	(1)
An Allusion to the Myth in an Oracle of Isaiah	104	(1)
Daniel and the Dragon	104	(1)
Excursus (§§3(9-12)): Christian Versions	105	(1)
Christian Version i): Jesus Stills the Storm	105	(1)
Christian Version ii): Jesus Walks on the Sea	106	(1)
Christian Version iii): Michael Fights the Dragon	106	(2)
Christian Version iv): George and the Dragon	108	(1)
Hittite Version: the Storm-god and Illuyankas	109	(1)
Greek Version i) Zeus destroys Typhoeus (Typhon)	109	(2)
Greek Version ii) Strabo's Account of Perseus and Andromeda	111	(1)
Greek Version iii) Apollodorus' Account of Perseus and Andromeda	112	(1)
Some Passages Describing the Idea of the World-encircling Ocean	113	(1)
The Ends of the Earth	113	(8)
The Limit to Earthly Kingship in Ugaritic Thought	114	(1)
The Term `epes in Hebrew	114	(1)
The Scope of the Kings's Rule: Sargon's Conquest as far as the `Upper Sea'	115	(1)
Naram-Sin's Conquest as far as the `Upper Sea'	116	(1)
The Campaign of Yahdun-Lim of Mari	117	(1)
Ruling from Sea to Sea: Hammurabi of Babylon	117	(1)
Esarhaddon of Assyria as Universal Ruler	117	(1)
The Aspiration to Cosmic Rule in the Psalms	118	(1)
The Israelite Aspiration: the Divine Promise at the King's Enthronement	118	(1)
Historiographical Allusions in the Bible	119	(1)
Yahweh covenants with Abram	119	(1)
Divine Instructions in Deuteronomy	119	(1)
Moses' Words to Joshua on the Eve of the Conquest of Palestine	119	(2)
Space, Time and Water II: Water and the End of the World	121	(26)
Introduction	121	(3)
Reenactment of the Primordial Conflict, now Projected into the Future	124	(2)
Recapitulation in Biblical Prophetic Thought	124	(1)
An Ugaritic Figure and its Biblical Transformation	125	(1)
Mot's words to Baal	125	(1)
A Biblical Adaptation of the Ugaritic Motif	125	(1)
Some Examples of Flood Stories	126	(14)
An Egyptian Account: Atum addresses the Deceased	126	(1)
Mesopotamian Accounts i): Ziusudra	127	(1)
Mesopotamian Accounts ii): Atrahasis	128	(1)
Mesopotamian Accounts iii): Utnapishtim	129	(3)
Mesopotamian Accounts iv): Xisuthros (Sisithrus)	132	(1)
Jewish Accounts i): The Genesis Account of Noah's Flood	133	(2)
Jewish Accounts ii): From the Book of Jubilees	135	(1)
Jewish Accounts iii): The Patriarchs at Sea	136	(1)
Greek Accounts i): Apollodorus' Account of Deucalion and Pyrrha	137	(1)
Greek Accounts ii): Lucian's Account of Deucalion and Pyrrha	137	(1)
Latin Accounts in Ovid i): Deucalion and Pyrrha	138	(1)
Latin Accounts in Ovid ii): Cerambus	139	(1)
Conceptions of and Attitudes to Mortality	140	(7)
Realism in Egypt: Pessimism in the Face of Death	140	(1)
The Mesopotamian View of Death: Utnapishtim's Words to Gilgamesh	141	(1)
The Mesopotamian Conception of the Underworld	141	(1)
Dying in Ugarit i): Death as a Divine Power - the Appetite of Mot	142	(1)
Dying in Ugarit ii): a Description of Mot's Gaping Jaws	142	(1)
Dying in Ugarit iii): Aqhat's Response to Anat's Offer of Everlasting Life	142	(1)
Dying in Ugarit iv): The End of the World, and Entrance to the Underworld	143	(1)
The End of the World in Israelite Thought i): Hymn to Yahweh	143	(1)
The End of the World in Israelite Thought ii): The Two Deeps	144	(1)
The Underworld in Israelite Thought i): The Conception of the Underworld in Job	144	(1)
The Underworld in Israelite Thought ii): Job's Discomfort	144	(1)
Death is Ultimate Separation from Yahweh	145	(1)
Jonah's Hymn in the Belly of the Fish	146	(1)
The Mountain at the Centre of the World	147	(12)
Introduction	147	(3)
Structures - the Making of Sacred Space	150	(6)
The Ben Stone in Egypt i): Thebes	150	(1)
The Ben Stone in Egypt ii): Heliopolis	151	(1)
The Ben Stone in Egypt iii): Hermopolis	151	(1)
Paradise in Sumerian thought - Dilmun	151	(1)
Ugaritic Conceptions of the Cosmic Mountain i): Saphon as the Divine Dwelling	152	(1)
Ugaritic Conceptions of the Cosmic Mountain ii): The Entrance to the Underworld under the Mountain	153	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain i): Creation in Job	154	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain ii): The Usurpation of the Divine Throne by the King of Babylon	154	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain iii): The King of Tyre Speaks	155	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain iv): The King of Tyre is Taunted by Ezekiel	155	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain v): Yahweh's Declaration at the King's Enthronement	156	(1)
Israelite Passages on the Mountain vi): A Hymn Concerning Mount Zion	156	(1)
The Mountain as Unifying Principle in Tradition	156	(3)
Noah-Moriah	156	(1)
Abraham-Moriah	157	(1)
Temple-Moriah	157	(1)
Moriah = Zion = Eden	157	(2)
The Temple at the Centre of the World	159	(24)
Introduction	159	(4)
Egypt	163	(1)
The Dedication of a Temple at Abydos	163	(1)
The West Semitic Conception: El Dwelling at the Centre of the World	164	(1)
Kothar Travels for an Audience with El	164	(1)
El Replies to Anat	165	(1)
The Omphalos Motif in Israel and Judah	165	(1)
Gaal Sees the Troops of Abimelech Approaching	165	(1)
An Allusion by Ezekiel	166	(1)
Tree Imagery	166	(6)
The Tree in Egypt: a Spell from the Book of the Dead	166	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible i): the Garden of Eden	167	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible ii): the Asherah	168	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible iii): the Menorah	169	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible iv): Nebuchadnezzar's Dream	169	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible v): The Tree as Symbol of the Messiah	170	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible vi): A Royal Vision of Zechariah	171	(1)
The Tree in the Hebrew Bible vii): A Second Royal Vision of Zechariah	172	(1)
The image of the River	172	(1)
The Rivers of Paradise in Genesis	172	(1)
The Cosmic Tent	173	(3)
An Ugaritian Example	173	(1)
Israelite Examples i): a Joban Account	173	(1)
Israelite Examples ii): from Deutero-Isaiah	174	(1)
Israelite Examples iii): from Deutero-Isaiah	174	(1)
Israelite Examples iv): from Deutero-Isaiah	174	(1)
Israelite Examples v): from Deutero-Isaiah	175	(1)
Israelite Examples vi): from Deutero-Isaiah	175	(1)
Israelite Examples vii): from Deutero-Isaiah	175	(1)
Israelite Examples viii): Psalm 104	175	(1)
Israelite Examples ix): A Theophany Account	176	(1)
Israelite Examples x): a Prayer for a Theophany	176	(1)
Temples, their Location between and Junction of Heaven and Earth	176	(7)
The Temple's Foundations in the Earth i): Egyptian Tradition	176	(1)
The Temple's Foundations in the Earth ii): Assyrian Tradition	177	(1)
The Temple's Foundations in the Earth iii): A Late Jewish Tradition	178	(1)
The Temple's Summit in Heaven i): Some Mesopotamian Temple Names	178	(1)
The Temple's Summit in Heaven i): The Story of the Tower of Babel	179	(1)
The Temple's Contact with the Ocean i): the Temple Receptacle at Hierapolis	180	(1)
The Temple's Contact with the Ocean ii): the Temple Receptacle in Jerusalem	181	(1)
Jerusalem: the Entry into the Underworld and the Cosmic Ocean	181	(2)
Boundaries and How to Cross Them: Aspects of the Cult	183	(26)
Introduction	183	(4)
The Egyptian Concept of the Horizon	187	(5)
From the Catechism of Ra	188	(1)
Hymn to Harakhte from the Book of the Dead	188	(1)
From the Myth of the Secret Name of Ra	188	(1)
Inscriptions Concerning the Temple of Ptah	188	(1)
A New Shrine in Hermopolis	189	(1)
Karnak Inscription of Tuthmosis III	189	(1)
Inscription at Medinat Habu	189	(1)
Inscription of the Edfu Shrine of Horus	190	(1)
The Death of the King in the Old Kingdom	191	(1)
The Death of Amenemhet I	191	(1)
Boundary Stela Inscription at Akhetaten	191	(1)
Heavenly Journeys	192	(17)
An Egyptian Account: the Ascent of Tuthmosis III	193	(2)
A Mespotamian Account i): the Ascent of Enmeduranki	195	(1)
A Mespotamian Account ii): the Journey of Etana	196	(1)
A Mespotamian Account iii): the Summons of Adapa	197	(1)
An Ugaritic Account i): the Enthronement of Athtar	198	(1)
An Ugaritic Account ii): King Keret and the Language of Ritual	199	(1)
A Jewish Account i): Isaiah's Inaugural Vision	200	(1)
A Jewish Account ii): the Ascent of Enoch in Genesis	201	(1)
A Jewish Account iii): Enoch in Pseudepigraphical Tradition i)	201	(1)
A Jewish Account iv): Enoch in Pseudepigraphical Tradition ii)	202	(2)
A Jewish Account v): Jacob's Stairway to Heaven	204	(1)
A Jewish Account vi): Moses on the Mountain	205	(2)
A Jewish Account vii): The Enthronement of the King in Judah	207	(1)
A Jewish Account viii): the Enthronement of Solomon	207	(2)
Myth and the Past	209	(24)
Introduction	209	(4)
Egypt: Myths of Horus and Seth	213	(8)
Allusions in the Pyramid Texts	214	(1)
The Contendings of Horus and Seth	215	(3)
The Memphite Version	218	(1)
Appropriating the Myth	219	(1)
The Myth in the Cult: Ra and Apepi	219	(2)
Divine Anger in Egyptian Myth	221	(3)
Hathor and the Destruction of Mankind	221	(3)
Mesopotamian Myth	224	(2)
Myth in the Cult: Temple Reconstruction	224	(2)
Myth and Medicine	226	(2)
Mesopotamia: Incantation for Toothache	226	(1)
Ugarit: How to Treat Intoxication	227	(1)
Israel's Foundation Myth	228	(5)
The Passover Celebration	229	(1)
Unleavened Bread	229	(1)
Passover and Redemption of the Firstborn	230	(1)
Another Israelite `Credo'	231	(2)
Myth and the Future	233	(20)
Introduction	233	(3)
The Loss of Immortality	236	(8)
Gilgamesh and the Snake	236	(2)
The Story of Adapa	238	(3)
From the Story of Aqhat	241	(2)
Eve and the Snake (the `Fall')	243	(1)
The Restoration of Hope	244	(3)
Aspirations to the Renewal of Paradise	244	(2)
The Man from the Sea	246	(1)
Hope in Egypt	247	(6)
Osiris as the Source of Future Felicity	247	(2)
The Fields of Offerings	249	(4)
Ritual and the Past	253	(18)
Introduction	253	(5)
Regular Cult	258	(5)
The Daily Cult of Amun in the Karnak Temple	258	(2)
The Daily Cult of Anu and other Deities in the Uruk Temple	260	(1)
Sacrifices at Ugarit	261	(1)
Cult in Jerusalem	262	(1)
Festival Cult	263	(2)
Elements of the Akitu Festival	264	(1)
Guilt, Sacrifice and Atonement	265	(6)
The Experience of Guilt in Mesopotamia i)	265	(1)
The Experience of Guilt in Mesopotamia ii)	266	(1)
Two Texts from Ebla	266	(1)
An Inscription on a Model Lung from Ugarit	267	(1)
A Liturgy for a Rite of Atonement for the People of Ugarit	267	(2)
The Day of Atonement in Israel	269	(2)
Ritual and the Future	271	(30)
Introduction	271	(5)
Prophecy	276	(9)
Prophecies from Mari i): Oracle to Zimri-Lim of Mari	276	(1)
Prophecies from Mari ii): Oracle to Zimri-Lim	276	(1)
Prophecies from Mari iii): Oracle to Zimri-Lim	277	(1)
Prophecies from Mari iv): Oracle to Zimri-Lim	277	(1)
Prophecy from Babylon: Royal Oracle of Marduk	278	(1)
Prophecies from Assyria i): Esarhaddon's Request for an Oracle	278	(1)
Prophecies from Assyria ii): Oracle of the Gods to Esarhaddon	279	(1)
Prophecies from Assyria iii): Esarhaddon's Victory granted by Ashur	279	(1)
Prophecy in Egypt i): Oracle of Amun to Hatshepsut	280	(1)
Prophecy in Egypt ii): Tuthmosis IV consults the Oracle of Amun	280	(1)
Prophecy in Israel and Judah i): the Oracle of Micaiah ben Imlah	281	(1)
Prophecy in Israel and Judah ii): an Oracle of Isaiah	282	(1)
Prophecy in Israel and Judah iii): an Oracle of Amos	283	(1)
Prophecy in Israel and Judah iv): an Oracle of Jeremiah	283	(1)
Consulting the Oracle by Mechanical Means: Urim and Tummim	284	(1)
Consulting the Oracle by Necromancy: the `Witch of Endor'	284	(1)
Vows	285	(4)
A Vow in Ugarit: King Keret's Vow	286	(1)
A Vow in Damascus: Votive stela of Barhadad	286	(1)
A Vow in Cyprus: Votive Image of Yatonbaal	286	(1)
Hittite Vows: Vows of Queen Puduhepa	287	(1)
Vows in Egypt i): Votive Stela of Neb-Ra	287	(1)
Vows in Israel i): Hannah's Vow	288	(1)
Vows in Israel ii): Jephthah's Vow	288	(1)
Vows in Israel iii): Jacob's Vow	289	(1)
Curses	289	(5)
Curses from Egypt i): The Curses of Nenki, Meni, and Seti	289	(1)
Curses from Egypt ii): Egyptian Execration Texts	290	(1)
Curses in Ugarit and Israel i): Testament and Curse of Arhalbu of Ugarit	291	(1)
Curses in Ugarit and Israel ii): Danel curses the Land	291	(1)
Curses in Ugarit and Israel iii): David curses Mount Gilboa	292	(1)
Curses in Ugarit and Israel iv): Curses against Sins committed in Secret in Israel	292	(1)
Curses from Treaties i): Suppiluliumas I of Hatti and Kurtiwaza of Mittanni	293	(1)
Curses from Treaties ii): Shaushgamuwa of Amurru and Ammithtamru II of Ugarit	293	(1)
Curses from Treaties iii): Ashurnirari V of Assyria and Mati-Ilu of Arpad	294	(1)
Omens	294	(3)
Cultic Procedures controlled by the Priest i): Hepatoscopy (Livers)	295	(1)
Cultic Procedures controlled by the Priest ii): Lecanomancy (Oil)	295	(1)
Cultic Procedures Controlled by the Priest iii): Aleuromancy (Flour)	295	(1)
Cultic Procedures Controlled by the Priest iv): Libanomancy (Smoke)	295	(1)
Meteorological and Celestial Occurrences i): Reading the Weather	296	(1)
Meteorological and Celestial Occurrences ii): Atmospheric Effects	296	(1)
Meteorological and Celestial Occurrences iii): A Solar Eclipse at Ugarit	296	(1)
Animal Movements: Some Mesopotamian Omens	297	(1)
Eschatology: Rituals of Death in Egypt	297	(4)
A Shabti Spell	297	(1)
Transformation into a Snake	298	(1)
Transformation into a Crocodile	298	(1)
Transformation into a Phoenix	298	(3)
Myth, History, and the Flow of Time	301	(22)
Introduction	301	(5)
Egyptian Historiography	306	(3)
The Narmer Palette	306	(1)
The Palermo Stone	307	(1)
The Abjuration Stela of Tutankhamun	308	(1)
The Coronation of King Haremhab	308	(1)
Mesopotamian Historiography	309	(3)
The Assyrian King-list	309	(1)
The Destruction of Babylon i): Sennacherib's Account	310	(1)
The Destruction of Babylon ii): Esarhaddon's Account	311	(1)
The Destruction of Babylon iii): Esarhaddon's Second Account	312	(1)
The Destruction of Babylon iv): From the Babylonian Chronicle	312	(1)
West Semitic Historiography, from Moab and Israel	312	(4)
The Moabite Stone	313	(1)
Israelite Genealogy	313	(1)
Israel against Moab	314	(2)
David's Census	316	(1)
The Deuteronomistic Account	316	(1)
The Chronicler's Account	316	(1)
The Past and the Future	316	(7)
From Babylonian Annals i): An Astronomical Diary	317	(1)
From Babylonian Annals ii): a Seleucid King-list	317	(1)
From the Deuteronomic History	318	(1)
Prophecy	318	(1)
Fulfilment	318	(1)
The Programme	319	(1)
The End of Israel	320	(1)
The Prophet's Duty and the Apocalyptic Scheme	320	(3)
Epilogue	323	(10)
The Extent of Time and the Concept of World Ages	323	(6)
Historical Process	329
Figures
Babylonian Map of the World	81	(226)
Narmer palette	307	(26)
References and Selected Reading	333	(22)
Indices	355