Nachash and Asherah: Serpent symbolism and death, life, and healing in the Ancient Near East
Spremljeno u:
| Izdano u: | ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (1999) |
|---|---|
| Glavni autor: | |
| Izdano: |
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
|
| Teme: | |
| Online pristup: | Citation/Abstract Full Text - PDF |
| Oznake: |
Bez oznaka, Budi prvi tko označuje ovaj zapis!
|
MARC
| LEADER | 00000nab a2200000uu 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 304541732 | ||
| 003 | UK-CbPIL | ||
| 020 | |a 978-0-599-31074-2 | ||
| 035 | |a 304541732 | ||
| 045 | 0 | |b d19990101 | |
| 084 | |a 66569 |2 nlm | ||
| 100 | 1 | |a Wilson, Leslie Simon | |
| 245 | 1 | |a Nachash and Asherah: Serpent symbolism and death, life, and healing in the Ancient Near East | |
| 260 | |b ProQuest Dissertations & Theses |c 1999 | ||
| 513 | |a Dissertation/Thesis | ||
| 520 | 3 | |a The serpent has been the subject of a number of studies, both generic and culture specific. This study investigates the Semitic root nhš , which signifies both the serpent and the practice of magic or divination. It is demonstrated that nhš has a connotation of libation offering rather that of generic magic or divination. The philological origins of nhš vis-à-vis its role in the Eden drama are examined. The major comparative focus is the Hebrew Bible where these attributes come together in late 8th and early 7th centuries BCE and are graphically represented in the story of Numbers 21:6ff. This is the first comparative study of the origins of the serpent symbol from its first attestation in Dravidian South India through Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East including Egypt, Classical Greece and as far west as ancient Carthage. The role of the serpent as the agent of life, death and healing is demonstrated in the various cultures both individually and in combination. The Dravidian figure of snakes entwined in trees speaks to the attribute of life and fertility, as does the Egyptian Shaï or agathós daímón. The enigmatic though ubiquitous presence of Asherah in the Bible is discussed in detail. The ophidian characteristics of the goddess Asherah in the relevant Near Eastern cult systems are affirmed both from existing and newly discovered inscriptional and iconic material. From both Phoenicia, Carthage, and to some extent Mesopotamia, we learn of the rite of human sacrifice as an accepted practice and thus the serpent as agent of death. As a by-product, the high rank of Asherah as consort of the Hebrew god Yahweh is established. We learn that the Mesopotamian gods of the underworld also possessed healing powers. This is a theme that is taken up by both the graphic and stylized icon of the caduceus, whose development and history are detailed. Contemporary syncretistic developments are analyzed to show the ways in which deities and rituals crossed geographic and political borders. The conclusion reached is that the traditional interpretation of the serpent was biased towards religion and politics while ignoring the realities of contemporary practices. | |
| 653 | |a Middle Eastern literature | ||
| 653 | |a Biblical studies | ||
| 773 | 0 | |t ProQuest Dissertations and Theses |g (1999) | |
| 786 | 0 | |d ProQuest |t ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global | |
| 856 | 4 | 1 | |3 Citation/Abstract |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/304541732/abstract/embedded/L8HZQI7Z43R0LA5T?source=fedsrch |
| 856 | 4 | 0 | |3 Full Text - PDF |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/304541732/fulltextPDF/embedded/L8HZQI7Z43R0LA5T?source=fedsrch |