
No Graven Image?
Israelite Aniconism in Its Ancient Near Eastern Context
Tryggve N. D. Mettinger(Author)
Eisenbrauns (Publisher)
Published on 1. May 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
252 pages
978-1-57506-821-3 (ISBN)
Description
This is the first in-depth study of the Israelite prohibition of images in the light of comparative material from the surrounding cultures. The author proposes a distinction between tolerant de facto aniconism and programmatic aniconism and argues that there was a development from West Semitic de facto aniconism (cults focussed on aniconic stelae) to programmatic aniconism (Israelite iconoclasm and the prohibition in the decalogue). Aniconism as such is found to be a conventional practice in several West Semitic cultures; the development into programmatic aniconism is, however, an Israelite phenomenon.
There were two main forms of aniconism in the ancient Near East: material aniconism (aniconic symbols such as stelae, masseboth) and empty-space aniconism (empty thrones). Various cultures in the ancient Near East yield important comparative material. The emphasis is on West Semitic cults with open-air cult places (high places, bamoth), which had sacrificial slaughter and a sacral meal shared by the participants and their god (represented by an aniconic stele), in contrast with Mesopotamian temples, with the care and feeding of the gods (represented by a cultic image). The author deals with the following cultural areas: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria, Phoenicia, Arabia, the Nabatean domain, and Palestine.
There were two main forms of aniconism in the ancient Near East: material aniconism (aniconic symbols such as stelae, masseboth) and empty-space aniconism (empty thrones). Various cultures in the ancient Near East yield important comparative material. The emphasis is on West Semitic cults with open-air cult places (high places, bamoth), which had sacrificial slaughter and a sacral meal shared by the participants and their god (represented by an aniconic stele), in contrast with Mesopotamian temples, with the care and feeding of the gods (represented by a cultic image). The author deals with the following cultural areas: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria, Phoenicia, Arabia, the Nabatean domain, and Palestine.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pennsylvania State University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
386 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-57506-821-3 (9781575068213)
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Schweitzer Classification