Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia
Translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan
260 pages
|
1 halftone
|
6 x 9
|
© 2001
One of the world's foremost experts on Assyriology, Jean Bottéro has studied the religion of ancient Mesopotamia for more than fifty years. Building on these many years of research, Bottéro here presents the definitive account of one of the world's oldest known religions. He shows how ancient Mesopotamian religion was practiced both in the public and private spheres, how it developed over the three millennia of its active existence, and how it profoundly influenced Western civilization, including the Hebrew Bible.
"A welcome addition to the growing number of popular works on Mesopotamian culture. . . . Bottéro uses his half-century of expertise to draw upon textual and iconographic information concerning Mesopotamian hymns, prayers, incantations, and rituals, and provides a discussion of the pantheon of the gods, their ranks, the origin and nature of the gods, temple worship, magic, divination, and sorcery."—Mark W. Chavalas, Religious Studies Review
"The book is written with charm, elegance, enthusiasm, and infectious love for the subject--making it extremely engaging and a pleasure to read. If A. Leo Oppenheim concluded that a religion of ancient Mesopotamia should not be written, Jean Bottéro's book is an eloquent argument why it should."
"This effort is notable because of its commitment to offer the voice of the Mesopotamians themselves, and thereby let readers imagine the religious world of their cultural founders...[T]his work should become a valuable introduction to Mesopotamia for students of all levels and for general readers."—Choice
"Almost every related field has been touched by [Bottéro's] research: divination, hermeneutics, mythology, religious literature. . . [The reader] will acquire from this book a complete and accurate portrait of the religious thought of the Mesopotamian civilization which other works of the same kind seldom provide."
Contents
Preface
Translator's Note
1. Religion and Religions
2. Mesopotamia and Its History
Prehistory
History
Historical Overview
3. The Sources: What We Can Expect from Them
4. Religious Sentiment
Sources
Reverence
Henotheism?
5. Religious Representations
The Gods
The Mythology of the Divine
The Mythology of the World
The Mythology of Man
6. Religious Behavior
The Theocentric Cult
The "Sacramental" Cult
7. Influence and Survivals
Influence
Survivals
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Translator's Note
1. Religion and Religions
2. Mesopotamia and Its History
Prehistory
History
Historical Overview
3. The Sources: What We Can Expect from Them
4. Religious Sentiment
Sources
Reverence
Henotheism?
5. Religious Representations
The Gods
The Mythology of the Divine
The Mythology of the World
The Mythology of Man
6. Religious Behavior
The Theocentric Cult
The "Sacramental" Cult
7. Influence and Survivals
Influence
Survivals
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu
Google preview here
History: Ancient and Classical History
You may purchase this title at these fine bookstores. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.
