Ancient Near East

Les animaux fantastiques sont omniprésents dans nos sociétés contemporaines. Dragons, licornes, sphinx et phénix peuplent les oeuvres de fiction et notre imaginaire, peut-être même notre quotidien.  Ce sont, pour la plupart, des créatures mythiques apparues à la fin de la préhistoire. Leur rôle et leurs fonctions ont évolué au cours des millénaires. Il existe cependant des constantes dans leur représentations, comme leur rapport étroit au sacré et à la mort, leur appartenance au monde des marges. C'est sans doute ce qui explique que les animaux fantastiques continuent de nous fasciner : ils nous attirent et nous terrorisent ; ils interrogent notre rapport au monde, à la nature et à notre propre animalité. Cet essai retrace, à travers six mille ans d'histoire, l'apparition, l'évolution et l'actualité des plus emblématiques d'entre eux. Certains animaux fantastiques sont en effet omniprésents dans la culture populaire alors qu'ils sont apparus à la fin du Néolithique. Quelles fonctions remplissent-ils ? Pourquoi avons-nous aujourd'hui encore besoin d'eux ? D'où vient cette longévité dans la fascination qu'ils exercent ?

Many archaeological studies, especially those on obsidian artefacts and their origins, have been conducted in the western half of Iran. An exception is the province of Kurdistan as previous studies have mainly taken place in the surrounding provinces. However, the diversity of prehistoric cultures in the surrounding areas increases the importance of studying sites within the province of Kurdistan. In this paper, the results from studies of Late Chalcolithic obsidian artefacts from the site of Tepe Gheshlagh in eastern Kurdistan are reported. Geochemical studies of the obsidian show that they belong to the Nemrut Dag and Meydan Dag sources located north of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. These obsidians seem to have been exchanged through Mesopotamia by paths that connect the Zagros to Tepe Gheshlagh.

Rezensionsartikel zu F. Sedlmeier/H. U. Steymans (Hg.), Bundestheologie bei Hosea?, BZAW 522, 2022.will be publ. in ZAR 29, 2023: Im frühen 21. Jahrhundert sollten die Forschungsperspektiven das 19. Jahrhundert in der Alttestamentlichen Wissenschaft endgültig zur Forschungsgeschichte geronnen sein. Doch ist die Forschungsgeschichte zur biblischen Bundestheologie und ihren Ursprüngen ein signifikantes Beispiel dafür, dass sich Forschungsperspektiven und-thesen in der Abfolge von Pendel-und Kreisbewegungen befinden, sodass sich, folgt man diesen Bewegungen, die Frage stellt, welche Gestalt eines Mehrwerts in der Forschungsgeschichte bei diesen Pendel-und Kreisbewegungen jeweils erzielt wurde 2. Eine Spätdatierung der Bundestheologie verhalf J. Wellhausen mit der Beobachtung eines "Bundesschweigens" der Propheten des 8. Jh. zum Durchbruch. Als Konsequenz aus der Datierung bzw. Spätdatierung von Deuteronomium und Priesterschrift widersprach er der Verbindung der Bundestheologie mit einer frühen mosaischen Theokratie. Vielmehr sei das Gottesverhältnis in Israels Frühzeit vor den Propheten "von Haus aus ein natürliches; kein zum Nachdenken geeignetes Zwischen trennte ihn (sc. JHWH) von seinem Volk" 3. Erst die Propheten des 8. Jh. sollen das "natürliche Band" zerschnitten haben. "(z)u oberst war ihnen (sc. den Propheten) Jahve der Gott der Gerechtigkeit, Gott Israels erst in zweiter Linie und nur insofern, als Israel seinen Gerechtigkeitsansprüchen entsprach, die er ihm aus Gnade offenbart hatte" 4. Damit sei eine Umkehrung der Funktion von Tora verbunden, "die ursprünglich wie all sein Tun unter den Begriff des Helfens, nämlich des Rechtschaffens, des Wegzeigens, der Lösung verwickelter Fragen, gefallen war" und die "jetzt aufgefasst (wurde) als der Inbegriff seiner Forderung, von deren Erfüllung seine Beziehung zu Israel alleine abhing" 5. Damit sei der Boden bereitet für die Entstehung der Bundestheologie, die im Deuteronomium den Weg prophetischer Gewissensreligion in die;

-- M-296 seal, C-86 seal impression, orthography, skandha ‘branching top of a tree’-- Blacksmith, smithy, copper smelter trading company
skandhá 'trunk of tree, mass (esp. of an army)' MBh., skándhas- n. 'branching top of a tree' RV. (CDIAL 13627) Rebus: ಸ್ಕನ್ದ skanda. leaping; flowing; Kārttikēya, the son of Śiva and god of war (ಗುಹ, ಸ್ವಾಮಿಕಾರ್ತ್ತಿಕ Nn. 144); a minister, etc. (ಪ್ರಧಾನರ್, ಪ್ರಧನಾಪುರುಷರ್ 144); a prince, a king; a clever or learned man. ସ୍କନ୍ଦ— Skanda ‘Kārttikeya, king’
-- This is an addendum to: Blacksmith, smithy, copper smelter trading company https://tinyurl.com/yc83cnke

Drawing of seal impression C-86. kuṭi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhī 'warehouse, factory, smelter' + loa 'ficus glomerata' rebus: loh 'copper,metal' + melaka 'meeting' rebus: melaka 'company'; thus, loh melaka 'copper company'. ମେଳକ ପଡ଼ି ବା-Meḻaka pardibā 'match of bride, bridegroom kundali' ಮೇಲಕ mēlaka. meeting, an assembly, a company. Elaboration of Meluhha semantics on M-296 seal

Both the Old and the New Testaments use the concept of fragrance. The Hebrew רֵיחַ and the Greek ὀσμή and εὐωδία are especially employed in the description of aroma in the intensive relationship. The present study will examine the use of fragrance in the relationship between man and woman. Special attention will be paid to the intensity and the kind of aroma used, and to what stage of the relationship the fragrance plays as an important role. A second attention will be given to surveying whether fragrance is employed in prostitute relationships.

Tunceli il sınırları içerisinde yürütülen Demir Çağ ve Hellenistik Dönem Projesi. Tunceli il sınırları içerisinde yürütülen Demir Çağ ve Helenistik dönemleri Tunceli Yüzey Araştırması Projesi, Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı'nın izni ile 2016 yılında küçük bir ekip tarafından başlatılmıştır. Tunceli yöresinin Demir Çağı'na ve Hellenistik dönemine ait kültürel özeliklerinin detaylı bir biçimde ortaya konabilmesi için projenin süresi beş yıl olarak planlanmıştır.

In a recent and excellent paper by Nicholas Reeves, the Egyptologist reaches a conclusion with which I cannot agree. However, in "The Phantom Temple of Ankhkheperure in Thebes", he brings up a problem that has begged closer examination for a long time.

The volume collects paper on the history, economy, history of studies, literature, archaeology, metrology, and other topics related to the Third Dynasty of Ur (XXI cent. BCE). This is the largest and most recent overview on this dynasty and the related period (Neo-Sumerian) of Mesopotamian history.

This article describes the historical background of the need of the kings of Hatti to serve the Stormgod of Nerik since the rise of the Kingdom of Hattusha. It also contains a discussion regarding the location of  a few mountains and places related to the cult of Nerik near the city of Nerik, i.e. near Oymaaǧaç.

Հատված  "Հայկ և Բել - Տիեզերքի ու ժամանակների սկիզբը" գիտա-հանրամատչելի աշխատությունից, որում աստղագիտական, երկրաբանական, ժայռապատկերների, սեպագիր աղբյուրների, բանահյուսության տվյալների համեմատական քննությամբ հանգում ենք այն եզրակացության, որ վաղ նոր քարի դարում Հայոց մեջ Հայ/Վահագն Աստծո շուրջ ձևավորված մի դիցական սյուժեի հիման վրա շատ ավելի ուշ ձևավորվում է Հայկի ու Բելի կռվի էպիկական սյուժեն։

Lines 282-306 in the work Inana's Descent to the Netherworld are the opening lines of the section situated between two literary units: the recounting of Inana's journey to the netherworld and the recounting of Dumuzi's descent to the netherworld. These lines are characterized by various textual differences, as well as multiple repetitions of the phrase "Inana ascended from the netherworld," in both the temporal and indicative clauses. By examining each one of the repetitive phrases and its adjacent paragraph, the article traces the gradual development of that passage from one sentence into a paragraph of ca. 30 lines.

This article explores the role played by a Hittite official during the Old Hittite Period. We also evaluate an old hypothesis according to which the term LÚ u ri(y)anni could match the Akkadogram LÚ ABUBĪTUM, a term employed in Hittite sources to indicate a similar office.

Royal Elamite inscriptions offer valuable insights into a range of themes related to ancient Iran. However, to date, no Elamite creation myth has been recovered. Nonetheless, there exist indirect references in the inscriptions and rock reliefs that can be used to reconstruct such an account. This study aims to partially reconstruct the Elamite genesis by examining the linguistic and iconographical clues. It is important to note, however, that this primary investigation provides only limited insights into the creation myth in ancient Elam.

Jewish identity has always been a highly disputed topic. Such a dispute increased with the first archaeological discovery of the so-called Iron Age “proto-Israelites” and the recent debates about the relationship between being a Jew and an Israeli citizen in the modern state of Israel. Notwithstanding a three thousand years old history, the name “Israel” continues to be used. Adopting a diachronic approach to the biblical text, this book retraces the history of the different eth- nonyms related to the “chosen people” (“Israel”, “Jews/Judeans”, and “Hebrews”). Encompassing archaeological, epigraphic and literary evidence, it reassesses the role played by Jewish tradition in the development of concepts such as “peoplehood” and “group identity”, which, through the Christian heritage, resulted in the modern con- cept of Nation-State. The Bible, the Book, is thus not only a source for the orientalist but can also be a useful tradition that may help us to a better understanding of our societies and the relationships they maintain with each other.

Ambrogio Lorenzetti's interest in classical antiquity was first documented within his lifetime. A chronicle of 1337, probably authored by Agnolo di Tura, states that Ambrogio decorated the outside walls of a Sienese palace with frescoes depicting "Roman stories. In the following century, Ghiberti corroborated the painter's classical predilection by reporting that he had seen a drawing of a statue by Lysippus from the hand of Ambrogio. In recent years, George Rowley has isolated specific types of classical art, citing them as the probable sources for figures in Ambrogio's paintings. Among them are a Roman coin which shows Security personified, seen by Rowley as the likely prototype for Ambrogio's figure of Peace because of its seated pose with head leaning against hand, elbow jutting out, and body diagonalized;a terra-cotta mask of a satyr, seen by Rowley as the likely prototype for the mask which Ambrogio's figure of Dialectic holds because of the curly bear...

This Open Access volume reveals how violent pasts were constructed by ancient Mediterranean societies, the ideologies they served, and the socio-political processes and institutions they facilitated. Combining case studies from Anatolia, Egypt, Greece, Israel/Judah, and Rome, it moves beyond essentialist dichotomies such as “victors” and “vanquished” to offer a new paradigm for studying representations of past violence across diverse media, from funerary texts to literary works, chronicles, monumental reliefs, and other material artefacts such as ruins. It thus paves the way for a new comparative approach to the study of collective violence in the ancient world.

Abstract
This study is dedicated to the problem of definition of "standing stones" and their
types in ancient Armenia. These stones are considered in the professional literature as
burial monuments (erected in memory of famous persons or events), boundary stones or
road guides, altars, places of judgment or purification. The article focuses on criteria for
the definition and typology of Armenian "standing stones", according to their formal and
contextual features. The emergence of the perception of "standing stones" can be
attributed to the early agricultural societies, although their clear existence is visible
between the Bronze and Iron Ages. These monuments still play an important role in the
world outlook of local communities.
Key words – Armenian Highland, Bronze and Iron Ages, "standing stone", menhir,
obelisk, monument, transitional form

I am very glad to share that the grant agreement between the  European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) and the University of Cyprus has now been signed. I am very grateful to the European Research Council for the award of a prestigious starting grant. This is almost 1.5M EUR to work on "Group Minds in Ancient Narrative". I am overjoyed that this project will be hosted by the Department of Classics and Philosophy of the Φιλοσοφική Σχολή I Faculty of Letters of the Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου | University Of Cyprus, in my home country!
Excellent candidates interested in a #phdposition or #postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cyprus email me your CV (chrysanthou.s.chrysanthos@ucy.ac.cy). Job announcement will follow soon with more details.

Boehmer’s Die Entwicklung der Glyptik während der Akkad-Zeit (1965), although nearly 60 years old, is still the major work on the cylinder seals of the Akkadian Period (2334–2150 BCE). It examines different themes and motifs depicted on the cylinder seals during this period. One of the figures which Boehmer discusses is the ‘kriegerischer Gott’, or martial god.  Boehmer records this ‘kriegerischer Gott’ as being depicted on only eight cylinder seals. Despite this limited number of examples, the figure exhibits a unique iconography, which suggests a unique, specific personage. Furthermore, he is depicted on the seal of the scribe Adda (BM 89115), one of the most well-known seals from Mesopotamia, in which he is depicted alongside Utu/Šamaš, Inana/Ištar, Enki/Ea and Isiumud/Usmu. Because the ‘kriegerischer Gott’ is depicted together with these great deities of the Akkadian pantheon, each with their own unique iconography, it suggests that he may likewise be a figure of some importance. Boehmer devotes only one page to his discussion on the ‘kriegerischer Gott’. A more detailed investigation into Boehmer’s ‘kriegerischer Gott’ is, therefore, required. This contribution will, therefore, re-examine this figure by analysing his iconography, the unique attributes which he has, the scenes in which he is depicted, and the figures with which he is associated. The possible identity of the ‘kriegerischer Gott’ will also be addressed.
Available online at: https://www.mdpi.com/2489844

La culture Kura-Araxe s’est épanouie dans le sud du Caucase et les régions voisines au cours des 4e et 3e millénaires. De façon plus marquée que dans les périodes précédentes, cette époque a connu une concentration de populations sur les hautes terres de la région, qui couvrent un vaste territoire. Les données paléoécologiques suggèrent que les forêts à feuilles caduques ont atteint leur extension maximale à cette époque, par suite de changements de températures et dans les précipitations. Dans cet article, les conditions environnementales qui ont prévalu pendant la culture Kura-Araxe sont reconstituées à partir des données paléoécologiques de la région, en replaçant les différents modes de peuplement dans leur contexte et en donnant un aperçu des interactions homme-environnement pendant cette période de mutation environnementale et sociétale.

Genesis 1-2 stands as a unique testament to the Judeo-Christian understanding of creation, life, and the divine... And yet, the opening chapters of Genesis 1-2 are also the most misunderstood of the entire Bible. They were written in an alphanumeric arrangement but were intended to be read in a linear order. Chariot finally reveals the hidden story of creation.

Este artículo propone un estudio del culto a la fertilidad y de las funciones de las (mujeres) sagradas (qedoshot) de Asherah, así como de los (varones) sagrados (qedoshim) que formaban parte de este entorno de culto, a la vista de la religión popular y estatal en el Antiguo Israel. Para ello, es necesario comentar brevemente la dinámica entre la religión popular y estatal en el Antiguo Israel y las evidencias arqueológicas y textuales del culto a la Diosa Asherah, para después poder hablar del culto a la fertilidad y de las mujeres sagradas al servicio de la Diosa.

Roots of Mullukkurumar is unveiling
the forgotten past of the Mullukkurmar tribes of
Wayanad. Mullukkurumars are considered as one of the
oldest tribal community of Wayanad. This thesis will give
a clear idea about the place from where the ancestors
of Mullukkurumar started their epic journey .