Your rays cover the earth like a net: Literary and iconographic portrayals of the sun-god in ancient...

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

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" Your rays cover the earth like a net: Literary and iconographic portrayals of the sun-god in ancient Mesopotamia "
Brian Albert Smith S. Greengus

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Language of Document	:	English
Record Number	:	54798
Doc. No	:	TL24752
Call number	:	‭3263750‬
Main Entry	:	Brian Albert Smith
Title & Author	:	Your rays cover the earth like a net: Literary and iconographic portrayals of the sun-god in ancient Mesopotamia\ Brian Albert Smith
College	:	Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (Ohio)
Date	:	2007
Degree	:	Ph.D.
student score	:	2007
Page No	:	256
Abstract	:	The sun-god of ancient Mesopotamia, Utu/Šamaš, was widely represented in both literature and iconography. In order to better understand the theology of this deity in ancient Sumer and Babylon, these two representational forms should be studied together. This dissertation asks how the sun-god was portrayed in text and visual art from the Akkadian through the Old Babylonian periods. This examination of the iconography of the sun-god reveals a variety of anthropomorphic settings, as well as symbols and associated elements. These all contribute to the graphic representation of a sun-god theology. Hymns, prayers, law codes and mythic texts also present a variety of images concerning the sun-god, many of which correspond to his iconography. The associations of the sun-god with justice are explored in both literature and iconography, and his connection to justice is expanded to his daily and nighttime activities. The myths in which the sun-god appears both confirm and expand the theology of the deity found in iconography and other texts. The study also addresses the relationship between text and art and finds that while in many instances the two forms work together, it is likely that each served different purposes and a one-to-one correspondence should not be expected. It is best to understand both as representing a multi-faceted belief system surrounding the ancient Near Eastern god of justice.
Subject	:	Philosophy, religion and theology; Social sciences; Language, literature and linguistics; God; Iconographic; Literary; Mesopotamia; Sun-god; Middle Eastern literature; Religious history; Ancient civilizations; 0579:Ancient civilizations; 0320:Religious history; 0315:Middle Eastern literature
Added Entry	:	S. Greengus
Added Entry	:	Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (Ohio)