Ancient Mesopotamian Animal Omens: Structure and Patterns of Meaning
The article addresses a Babylonian collection of omens regarding animals and their behavior. These omens are part of a large series of terrestrial omens that is known as Šumma ālu (ina mēlê šakin) "If a city (is set on a height)." The main argument of this article is that these animal omen...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
University of Chicago Press
2022
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In: |
Near Eastern archaeology
Year: 2022, Volume: 85, Issue: 4, Pages: 270-278 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Omen (Popular belief)
/ Mesopotamia
/ Animals
/ Behavior
/ Text
/ Babylonia
/ Bestiary
/ Society
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IxTheo Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HB Old Testament |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | The article addresses a Babylonian collection of omens regarding animals and their behavior. These omens are part of a large series of terrestrial omens that is known as Šumma ālu (ina mēlê šakin) "If a city (is set on a height)." The main argument of this article is that these animal omens should not be seen as straightforward reflections of actual animal behavior, but are conceived as a culturally constructed bestiarium, that is, as a mirror of human society. This will be demonstrated through a series of case studies. |
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ISSN: | 2325-5404 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Near Eastern archaeology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1086/722366 |