Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East Writings from the Ancient World

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East Writings from the Ancient World Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East Writings from the Ancient World Theodore J. Lewis, General Editor Associate Editors Billie Jean Collins Jerrold S. Cooper Edward L. Greenstein Jo Ann Hackett Richard Jasnow Ronald J. Leprohon C. L. Seow Niek Veldhuis Number 12 Prophets and Prophecy of the Ancient Near East by Martti Nissinen Edited by Peter Machinist PROPHETS AND PROPHECY IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST by Martti Nissinen with contributions by C. L. Seow and Robert K. Ritner Edited by Peter Machinist Society of Biblical Literature Atlanta Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East Copyright © 2003 Society of Biblical Literature All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office, Society of Biblical Literature, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Nissinen, Martti. Prophets and prophecy in the ancient Near East / by Martti Nissinen with contributions by C. L. Seow and Robert K. Ritner ; edited by Peter Machinist. p. cm. — (Writings from the ancient world ; no. 12) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-58983-027-X (paper binding : alk. paper) 1. Prophets—Middle East—History. 2. Prophecy—History. 3. Middle East—Literatures. I. Ritner, Robert Kriech, 1953– II. Seow, C. L. (Choon Leong) III. Machinist, Peter. IV. Title. V. Series: Writings from the ancient world ; no. 12. BF1762 .N58 2003b 133.3'0939'4—dc21 2003007002 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper Contents Series Editor’s Foreword................................................................................xi Abbreviations................................................................................................xiii Explanation of Signs ....................................................................................xv Chronological Tables ..................................................................................xvi Maps..............................................................................................................xix Acknowledgments........................................................................................xxi Introduction ..........................................................................................1 Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy ..............................................................1 The Study of Prophecy in Transition......................................................2 The Nature of the Sources ......................................................................4 The Prophets ............................................................................................5 Texts Included and Excluded..................................................................8 Conventions of Transcription and Translation ....................................10 Translations I. Mari Letters ..............................................................................13 1. Nur-Sîn to Zimri-Lim (A. 1121+)..............................................17 2. Nur-Sîn to Zimri-Lim (A. 1968)................................................21 3. La<ûm to Yasma∆-Addu (A. 3760) ..........................................23 4. An åpilum of ⁄ama¡ to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 194) ..................24 5. Addu-Duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 195) ..................................26 6. ⁄ama¡-naßir to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 196) ................................26 7. Inib-¡ina to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 197) ......................................28 8. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 198) ..............................................29 9. Sammetar to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 199) ....................................30 10. Ahum to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 200) ..........................................33 11. Ba∆di-Lim to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 201)....................................34 12. Kanisan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 202)........................................34 13. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 203) ..............................................35 14. Inib-¡ina to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 204) ......................................36 15. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 205) ..............................................37 16. [Yaqqim-Addu?] to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 206) ..........................38 17. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 207) ............................................39 18. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 208) ............................................42 vi Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East 19. Mukanni¡um to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 209) ..............................44 20. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 210) ................................45 21. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 211) ............................................45 22. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 212) ............................................46 23. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 213) ............................................47 24. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 214) ............................................48 25. Lanasûm to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 215) ......................................49 26. Tebi-geri¡u to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 216) ..................................50 27. Itur-Asdu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 217) ....................................51 28. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 218) ..............................................52 29. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 219) ..............................................53 30. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 220) ................................54 31. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 221) ................................55 32. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 221bis) ............................56 33. U¡are¡-hetil to Dari¡-libur (ARM 26 222) ................................57 34. La<ûm (?) to Yasma∆-Addu (?) (ARM 26 223) ........................58 35. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 227)....................................59 36. Report of Ayala (ARM 26 229) ................................................60 37. Zunana to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 232) ........................................61 38. Itur-Asdu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 233) ....................................62 39. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 234) ................................65 40. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 235) ................................66 41. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 236) ............................................66 42. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 237)....................................67 43. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 238)....................................69 44. ⁄imatum to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 239) ......................................70 45. Timlû to Addu-duri (ARM 26 240) ..........................................71 46. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 243) ..............................................72 47. Yarim-Addu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 371) ................................73 48. Yasim-El to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 414) ......................................74 49. Zakira-Ôammû to Zimri-Lim (ARM 27 32)..............................76 50. Manatan to Zimri-Lim (M. 9451)..............................................77 II. Other Documents from Mari ..................................................79 51. Ritual of I¡tar, Text 2 (A. 3165) ..............................................80 52. Ritual of I¡tar, Text 3 (A. 1249+) ............................................82 53. Assignment of a Donkey (A. 3796) ........................................83 54. Outlay of Garment (ARM 9 22) ..............................................84 55. Outlay of Garment (ARM 21 333) ..........................................84 56. Outlay of Garment (ARM 22 167) ..........................................86 57. Extract from a Decree of Expenditures (A. 4676) ................86 58. Outlay of Garment (ARM 22 326) ..........................................87 59. Outlay of Garment (ARM 23 446) ..........................................87 Contents vii 60. Donation of Lances (ARM 25 15) ............................................88 61. Donation of Silver Rings (ARM 25 142)..................................88 62. Outlay of Silver (M. 11436)......................................................89 63. Deed of Donation (T. 82) ........................................................90 64. Epic of Zimri-Lim......................................................................90 65. Report of Criminal Acts (M. 9717) ..........................................91 III. E¡nunna Oracles ......................................................................93 66. Oracle of Kititum to Ibalpiel (FLP 1674) ................................94 67. Oracle of Kititum to Ibalpiel (FLP 2064) ................................95 IV. Nineveh Oracles ......................................................................97 68–77. First Collection of Prophecies (SAA 9 1)..................101 68. Issar-la ta¡iya† to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.1)............................102 69. Sinqi¡a-amur to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.2)..............................103 70. Remut-Allati to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.3) ..............................104 71. Bayâ to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.4) ..........................................104 72. Ilussa-amur to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.5) ................................106 73. NN to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.6)..............................................106 74. Issar-bel-da<<ini to Esarhaddon
Recommended publications
  • Interregional Interaction and Dilmun Power
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 4-7-2014 Interregional Interaction and Dilmun Power in the Bronze Age: A Characterization Study of Ceramics from Bronze Age Sites in Kuwait Hasan Ashkanani University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Ashkanani, Hasan, "Interregional Interaction and Dilmun Power in the Bronze Age: A Characterization Study of Ceramics from Bronze Age Sites in Kuwait" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4980 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Interregional Interaction and Dilmun Power in the Bronze Age: A Characterization Study of Ceramics from Bronze Age Sites in Kuwait by Hasan J. Ashkanani A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Robert H. Tykot, Ph.D. Thomas J. Pluckhahn, Ph.D. E. Christian Wells, Ph.D. Jonathan M. Kenoyer, Ph.D. Jeffrey Ryan, Ph.D. Date of Approval April 7, 2014 Keywords: Failaka Island, chemical analysis, pXRF, petrographic thin section, Arabian Gulf Copyright © 2014, Hasan J. Ashkanani DEDICATION I dedicate my dissertation work to the awaited savior, Imam Mohammad Ibn Al-Hasan, who appreciates knowledge and rejects all forms of ignorance.
    [Show full text]
  • Hanigalbat and the Land Hani
    Arnhem (nl) 2015 – 3 Anatolia in the bronze age. © Joost Blasweiler student Leiden University - [email protected] Hanigal9bat and the land Hana. From the annals of Hattusili I we know that in his 3rd year the Hurrian enemy attacked his kingdom. Thanks to the text of Hattusili I (“ruler of Kussara and (who) reign the city of Hattusa”) we can be certain that c. 60 years after the abandonment of the city of Kanesh, Hurrian armies extensively entered the kingdom of Hatti. Remarkable is that Hattusili mentioned that it was not a king or a kingdom who had attacked, but had used an expression “the Hurrian enemy”. Which might point that formerly attacks, raids or wars with Hurrians armies were known by Hattusili king of Kussara. And therefore the threatening expression had arisen in Hittite: “the Hurrian enemy”. Translation of Gary Beckman 2008, The Ancient Near East, editor Mark W. Chavalas, 220. The cuneiform texts of the annal are bilingual: Babylonian and Nesili (Hittite). Note: 16. Babylonian text: ‘the enemy from Ḫanikalbat entered my land’. The Babylonian text of the bilingual is more specific: “the enemy of Ḫanigal9 bat”. Therefore the scholar N.B. Jankowska1 thought that apparently the Hurrian kingdom Hanigalbat had existed probably from an earlier date before the reign of Hattusili i.e. before c. 1650 BC. Normally with the term Mittani one is pointing to the mighty Hurrian kingdom of the 15th century BC 2. Ignace J. Gelb reported 3 on “the dragomans of the Habigalbatian soldiers/workers” in an Old Babylonian tablet of Amisaduqa, who was a contemporary with Hattusili I.
    [Show full text]
  • "Ancient Terqa and Its Temple of Ninkarrak: the Excavations of The
    ANCIENT TERQA AND ITS TEMPLE OF NINKARRAK: THE EXCAVATIONS OF THE FIFTH AND SIXTH SEASONS Renata M. Liggett Assistant Director, Joint Expedition to Terqa Doctoral Student, Near Eastern Languages & Cultures-UCLA Introduction The historical record of an ancient region can be traced archaeologically by artifactual, archival, linguistic, artistic, architectural and ceramic records. In the developments of the past few years at, for instance, Tell Mardikh in northern Syria, a single resource, such as a grammatical element or mention of a fdreign ruler, can provide the basis or a clue for a new interpretation of the material. The excavations at Terqa are intended to incorporate all manner of data into a reconstruction of the historical record of the Mid-Euphrates region. This article provides a brief overview of the recent archaeological discoveries, which, applied to the many facets of research surrounding the ancient city of Terqa and its environs, will produce a solid understanding of a particular region at various crucial times in the history of ancient Syria. Ongoing contributions to this goal include philological research, particularly involving onomastics and applied computer technology, sphragistic (cylinder seal) analysis by an encoded com- puter data base, particularly of the Old Babylonian and Khana periods, chronological assessment of ceramic types, partly by atomic absorption sourcing techniques, and a continuing development of an advanced methodology, especially stratigraphic analysis, again applying computer technology. Associated projects also include innovations in archaeological equipment, tested on-site at Terqa, such as an instrument for overhead aerial photography. Most recently, an important orgspic geochemical study conducted on ancient samples of asphalt from Terqa /~aturq,Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Spis Tresci A
    ŚWIAToWIT • IX (L)/A • 201 1 SyLWIA BETChER The “G ODDeSS WiTh A VASe ” fROM MARi AnD PROPORTiOnS in The ART Of The AnCienT neAR eAST In the course of excavations at the palace in Mari the fragments had been put together, a sculpture emerged (present-day Tell hariri), the ancient city in the territory of to the researchers, which they called “The Goddess with Syria, French archaeologists discovered a fragment of a vase” ( la déesse au vase [jaillissant] ) ( fig. 2 ). André a sculpture portraying a woman ( PARRoT 1958: 109; 1959: Parrot, comparing it with another, slightly earlier sculpture 5–9, figs. 4–8) ( fig. 1 ). Most fragments were located in discovered at the palace, which portrays a governor named one room (no. 64), situated between one of the courtyards Ishtup-ilum, and no doubt being impressed by the charm and the throne hall, and today referred to as a shrine. The of the former, wrote: …ici, la nymphe avec son charme head of the statue was discovered somehow farther off, aristocratique; là, la face brutale, sinon bestiale, d’un in the courtyard (no. 106) in front of the shrine. After gouverneur .1 Fig. 1. “Goddess with a vase” in the place of discovery ( PARRoT 1959: figs. 4, 5). Ryc. 1. „Bogini z Wazą” w miejscu odkrycia. 1 PARRoT 1959: 11. Interestingly, the Ishtup-ilum statue was char - the style: the statue (…) shows an almost brutal simplification of acterised in a similar way by h. Frankfort (1970: 116). however, forms. this is a provincial trait . he related the severity of the depiction not to the person, but to 81 SyLWIA BETChER a The total height of the sculpture is 1.42 m (PARRoT 1959: 11; cf.
    [Show full text]
  • Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue and Price List of Stereopticons
    —. ; I, £3,v; and Descriptive , Illustrated ;w j CATALOGUE AND PRICE LIST- t&fs — r~* yv4 • .'../-.it *.•:.< : .. 4^. ; • ’• • • wjv* r,.^ N •’«* - . of . - VJ r .. « 7 **: „ S ; \ 1 ’ ; «•»'•: V. .c; ^ . \sK? *• .* Stereopticons . * ' «». .. • ” J- r . .. itzsg' Lantern Slides 1 -f ~ Accessories for Projection Stereopticon and Film Exchange W. B. MOORE, Manager. j. :rnu J ; 104 to no Franlclin Street ‘ Washington . (Cor. CHICAGO INDEX TO LANTERNS, ETC. FOR INDEX TO SLIDES SEE INDEX AT CLOSE OF CATALOGUE. Page Acetylene Dissolver 28 Champion Lantern 3g to 42 “ Gas 60 Check Valve S3 •* 1 • .• Gas Burner.... ; 19 Chemicals, Oxygen 74, 81 ** < .' I j Gas Generator.. ; 61 to 66 Chirograph 136 “ Gas Generator, Perfection to 66 64 Chlorate of Potash, tee Oxygen Chemicals 74 Adapter from to sire lenses, see Chromatrope.... 164 Miscellaneous....... 174 Cloak, How Made 151 Advertising Slides, Blank, see Miscellaneous.. 174 ** Slides 38010,387 " Slides 144 Color Slides or Tinters .^140 “ Slides, Ink for Writing, see Colored Films 297 Miscellaneous, 174 Coloring Films 134 “ Posters * *...153 " Slides Alcohol Vapor Mantle Light 20A v 147 Combined Check or Safety Valve 83 Alternating.Carbons, Special... 139 Comic and Mysterious Films 155 Allen Universal Focusing Lens 124, 125 Comparison of Portable Gas Outfits 93, 94 America, Wonders cf Description, 148 “Condensing Lens 128 Amet's Oro-Carbi Light 86 to 92, 94 " Lens Mounting 128 •Ancient Costumes ....! 131 Connections, Electric Lamp and Rheostat... 96, 97 Approximate Length of Focus 123 " Electric Stage 139 Arc Lamp 13 to 16 Costumes 130 to 152, 380 to 3S7 ** Lamp and Rheostat, How to Connect 96 Cover Glasses, see Miscellaneous ,....174 Arnold's Improved Calcium Light Outfit.
    [Show full text]
  • 2210 Bc 2200 Bc 2190 Bc 2180 Bc 2170 Bc 2160 Bc 2150 Bc 2140 Bc 2130 Bc 2120 Bc 2110 Bc 2100 Bc 2090 Bc
    2210 BC 2200 BC 2190 BC 2180 BC 2170 BC 2160 BC 2150 BC 2140 BC 2130 BC 2120 BC 2110 BC 2100 BC 2090 BC Fertile Crescent Igigi (2) Ur-Nammu Shulgi 2192-2190BC Dudu (20) Shar-kali-sharri Shu-Turul (14) 3rd Kingdom of 2112-2095BC (17) 2094-2047BC (47) 2189-2169BC 2217-2193BC (24) 2168-2154BC Ur 2112-2004BC Kingdom Of Akkad 2234-2154BC ( ) (2) Nanijum, Imi, Elulu Imta (3) 2117-2115BC 2190-2189BC (1) Ibranum (1) 2180-2177BC Inimabakesh (5) Ibate (3) Kurum (1) 2127-2124BC 2113-2112BC Inkishu (6) Shulme (6) 2153-2148BC Iarlagab (15) 2121-2120BC Puzur-Sin (7) Iarlaganda ( )(7) Kingdom Of Gutium 2177-2171BC 2165-2159BC 2142-2127BC 2110-2103BC 2103-2096BC (7) 2096-2089BC 2180-2089BC Nikillagah (6) Elulumesh (5) Igeshaush (6) 2171-2165BC 2159-2153BC 2148-2142BC Iarlagash (3) Irarum (2) Hablum (2) 2124-2121BC 2115-2113BC 2112-2110BC ( ) (3) Cainan 2610-2150BC (460 years) 2120-2117BC Shelah 2480-2047BC (403 years) Eber 2450-2020BC (430 years) Peleg 2416-2177BC (209 years) Reu 2386-2147BC (207 years) Serug 2354-2124BC (200 years) Nahor 2324-2176BC (199 years) Terah 2295-2090BC (205 years) Abraham 2165-1990BC (175) Genesis (Moses) 1)Neferkare, 2)Neferkare Neby, Neferkamin Anu (2) 3)Djedkare Shemay, 4)Neferkare 2169-2167BC 1)Meryhathor, 2)Neferkare, 3)Wahkare Achthoes III, 4)Marykare, 5)............. (All Dates Unknown) Khendu, 5)Meryenhor, 6)Neferkamin, Kakare Ibi (4) 7)Nykare, 8)Neferkare Tereru, 2167-2163 9)Neferkahor Neferkare (2) 10TH Dynasty (90) 2130-2040BC Merenre Antyemsaf II (All Dates Unknown) 2163-2161BC 1)Meryibre Achthoes I, 2)............., 3)Neferkare, 2184-2183BC (1) 4)Meryibre Achthoes II, 5)Setut, 6)............., Menkare Nitocris Neferkauhor (1) Wadjkare Pepysonbe 7)Mery-........, 8)Shed-........, 9)............., 2183-2181BC (2) 2161-2160BC Inyotef II (-1) 2173-2169BC (4) 10)............., 11)............., 12)User......
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Fragility: Setting the Terms
    McDONALD INSTITUTE CONVERSATIONS The Evolution of Fragility: Setting the Terms Edited by Norman Yoffee The Evolution of Fragility: Setting the Terms McDONALD INSTITUTE CONVERSATIONS The Evolution of Fragility: Setting the Terms Edited by Norman Yoffee with contributions from Tom D. Dillehay, Li Min, Patricia A. McAnany, Ellen Morris, Timothy R. Pauketat, Cameron A. Petrie, Peter Robertshaw, Andrea Seri, Miriam T. Stark, Steven A. Wernke & Norman Yoffee Published by: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge, UK CB2 3ER (0)(1223) 339327 [email protected] www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, 2019 © 2019 McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The Evolution of Fragility: Setting the Terms is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 (International) Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ISBN: 978-1-902937-88-5 Cover design by Dora Kemp and Ben Plumridge. Typesetting and layout by Ben Plumridge. Cover image: Ta Prohm temple, Angkor. Photo: Dr Charlotte Minh Ha Pham. Used by permission. Edited for the Institute by James Barrett (Series Editor). Contents Contributors vii Figures viii Tables ix Acknowledgements x Chapter 1 Introducing the Conference: There Are No Innocent Terms 1 Norman Yoffee Mapping the chapters 3 The challenges of fragility 6 Chapter 2 Fragility of Vulnerable Social Institutions in Andean States 9 Tom D. Dillehay & Steven A. Wernke Vulnerability and the fragile state
    [Show full text]
  • Amarna Period Down to the Opening of Sety I's Reign
    oi.uchicago.edu STUDIES IN ANCIENT ORIENTAL CIVILIZATION * NO.42 THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Thomas A. Holland * Editor with the assistance of Thomas G. Urban oi.uchicago.edu oi.uchicago.edu Internet publication of this work was made possible with the generous support of Misty and Lewis Gruber THE ROAD TO KADESH A HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE BATTLE RELIEFS OF KING SETY I AT KARNAK SECOND EDITION REVISED WILLIAM J. MURNANE THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDIES IN ANCIENT ORIENTAL CIVILIZATION . NO.42 CHICAGO * ILLINOIS oi.uchicago.edu Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-63725 ISBN: 0-918986-67-2 ISSN: 0081-7554 The Oriental Institute, Chicago © 1985, 1990 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. Published 1990. Printed in the United States of America. oi.uchicago.edu TABLE OF CONTENTS List of M aps ................................ ................................. ................................. vi Preface to the Second Edition ................................................................................................. vii Preface to the First Edition ................................................................................................. ix List of Bibliographic Abbreviations ..................................... ....................... xi Chapter 1. Egypt's Relations with Hatti From the Amarna Period Down to the Opening of Sety I's Reign ...................................................................... ......................... 1 The Clash of Empires
    [Show full text]
  • A Sketch of North Syrian Economic Relations in the Middle Bronze
    A SKETCH OF NORTH SYRIAN ECONOMICRELATIONS IN THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE * BY JACK M. SASSON (The University of North Carolina) Northern Syria of the Middle Bronze Age, as known chiefly from the archives of Mari and Alalah VII, slowly graduatedfrom moments of relative chaos (ca. 2I00-I850) to an age of political stability (ca. I850-I625). Under the able leadership of the Yamhadian dynasty, a feudal system of relationship created one entity out of the whole region.') The evidence at our disposal allows us even to imagine a political and economic Pax Yamhadianawhich, beginning before the fall of Mari, lasted until the rise of the Hittite State and the attacks of Hattusilis I (ca. 625). *) The word 'sketch' in the title is chosen for reasons of necessity. Except for brief illuminations from the 'Cappadocian' texts and those from Egypt, heavy reliance had to be placed on the Mari and Alalah VII documents, and then only when they show evidence of foreign interconnection. The archaeology of Middle Bronze (IIa) Syria, in which the Mari age unfolds, has not been very helpful, simply because not enough North Syrian sites of that age have been excavated. The reports from the 'Amuq region (phase L), 'Atsanah (levels XVI-VIII), testify to a wide- spread use of a painted ware rounded of form, narrow necked, buff, with simple geometric designs (cross-hatching in triangles) within bands (cf. Iraq, I5 (I953), 57-65; Chronologiesin Old WorldArchaeology, p. I72). The material from Ugarit of that age being yet mostly unpublished, one looks forwardto the reports of excavation at Tilmen-Hiiyik, which is probably the site of ancient Ibla (for now, see Orientalia 33 (1964) 503-507; AJA 68 (1964), I55-56; 70 (966), I47).
    [Show full text]
  • Marten Stol WOMEN in the ANCIENT NEAR EAST
    Marten Stol WOMEN IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST Marten Stol Women in the Ancient Near East Marten Stol Women in the Ancient Near East Translated by Helen and Mervyn Richardson ISBN 978-1-61451-323-0 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-1-61451-263-9 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-1-5015-0021-3 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivs 3.0 License. For details go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/3.0/ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A CIP catalog record for this book has been applied for at the Library of Congress. Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. Original edition: Vrouwen van Babylon. Prinsessen, priesteressen, prostituees in de bakermat van de cultuur. Uitgeverij Kok, Utrecht (2012). Translated by Helen and Mervyn Richardson © 2016 Walter de Gruyter Inc., Boston/Berlin Cover Image: Marten Stol Typesetting: Dörlemann Satz GmbH & Co. KG, Lemförde Printing and binding: cpi books GmbH, Leck ♾ Printed on acid-free paper Printed in Germany www.degruyter.com Table of Contents Introduction 1 Map 5 1 Her outward appearance 7 1.1 Phases of life 7 1.2 The girl 10 1.3 The virgin 13 1.4 Women’s clothing 17 1.5 Cosmetics and beauty 47 1.6 The language of women 56 1.7 Women’s names 58 2 Marriage 60 2.1 Preparations 62 2.2 Age for marrying 66 2.3 Regulations 67 2.4 The betrothal 72 2.5 The wedding 93 2.6
    [Show full text]
  • 131024-The Investiture Panel at Mari-Long
    The Investiture Panel at Mari and Rituals of Divine Kingship in the Ancient Near East DRAFT: 24 October 2013 Jeffrey M. Bradshaw and Ronan James Head (Expanded version of an article in Studies in the Bible and Antiquity, vol. 4, 2012, pp. 1-42) When kingship first emerged in the ancient Near East, it was, as far as we can tell, immediately associated with the sacred.1 According to Sumerian chronicles,2 the gods meeting in heavenly council determined to give the kingship to men. The gods acted as celestial guarantors of the king’s power, enabling him to assume the position of “big man” in society—as the Sumerian word for “king” (LUGAL, literally “big man”) signifies. There were certainly other factors that led to royal power—hereditary right and military conquest among them—but these were also seen as extensions of divine will. The famous stela containing the laws of Hammurabi, king of Babylon (r. 1792-1750 BC), is a representative example. In the preface to the laws, the king recounts how the gods named him to his office and endowed him with the power and wisdom necessary to govern. As an illustration symbolizing the actual bestowal of kingship, the stela shows the sun god Shamash handing the emblems of royal power to Hammurabi. Figure 1. The god Shamash gives the emblems of royal power to Hammurabi3 This article will explore the ancient Near Eastern rituals that endowed kings with this power, specifically the rites suggested by the Investiture Panel at the palace of Mari. Because contemporary evidence at Mari relating to an interpretation of the Panel and the functions of various rooms of the palace is limited, it will be necessary to rely in part on a careful comparative analysis of religious texts, images, and architecture throughout the ancient Near East, including the Old Testament.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tell El-Amarna Tablets in the British Museum with Autotype
    ; THE TELL EL-AMMM TABLETS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM WITH .f^XJTOTYFB E-^OSHyniLES PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES SOLD AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND BY LONGMANS & Co., 39, Patbenobtbr Row; B. QUARITCH, 15, Piccadilly; ASHBR & Co., 13, Bedford Stebbt, Covbnt Garden; KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER, & Co., Patbrnostbr House, Charing Cross Road; AND OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, Amen Corner, London. 1892 HAKRISOlSr AND SONS, Pbintees in Obdinakx to Hee Majesty, St. Mabtin's Lane, London. This edition of the Tell el-Amarna Cuneiform Tablets in the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities of the British Museum is the work of Dr. C. Bezold. The Introduction and Summary have been written jointly by Dr. Bezold and Dr. E. A. Wallis Budge, Acting Assistant-Keeper of the Department. E. MAUNDE THOMPSON, Principal Librarian and Secretary. British Museum, 16th February, 1892. CONTENTS, — INTRODUCTION The collection oF Cuneiform Tablets recently found at Tell ^i^di^g °f t^e Tell el-Amarna . • 1 P , 1 el-Araarna in Upper Egypt, consisted of about three hundred tablets. and twenty documents, or portions of documents. The British Museum possesses eighty-two, which were purchased for the Trustees by Mr. E. A. Wallis Budge in 1888 ; the Berlin Museum has one hundred and sixty, a large number being fragments ; the Glzeh Museum has sixty ; and a few are in the hands of private persons. The discovery is said to have been accidentally made by a peasant woman when searching for antiquities in the loose sand and broken stones at the foot of the mountains behind the village, in which there are several interesting rock hewn tombs.
    [Show full text]