The ceremonial and symbolic significance of donkeys in the biblical world

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

منو

" The ceremonial and symbolic significance of donkeys in the biblical world "
Kenneth C. Way N. S. Fox

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Language of Document	:	English
Record Number	:	55521
Doc. No	:	TL25475
Call number	:	‭3268001‬
Main Entry	:	Kenneth C. Way
Title & Author	:	The ceremonial and symbolic significance of donkeys in the biblical world\ Kenneth C. Way
College	:	Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (Ohio)
Date	:	2006
Degree	:	Ph.D.
student score	:	2006
Page No	:	329
Abstract	:	The purpose of this dissertation is to explicate the role of donkeys in the symbolism and ceremonies of the biblical world. This requires an analysis of the relevant archaeological and textual materials from the ancient Near East as well as a fresh look at the biblical passages that may (or may not) depict donkeys in a similar manner. It will be demonstrated that donkeys held a special status in the beliefs and rituals of the ancient Near East and especially Canaan-Israel. The focus on "ceremonial and symbolic significance" encompasses socio-religious thoughts and practices which are reflected in ancient texts and material culture relating to the donkey. Ceremonial possibilities may include matters of sacrifice, treaty ratification, consumption, death, burial, "scapegoat" rituals and foundation deposits. Symbolic possibilities may include matters of characterization, association, function, behavior or iconographic depiction. The need for such a study on donkeys is very apparent in the fields of biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies. There is not a single monograph or article that attempts to treat this subject comprehensively. The history of scholarship can only be traced with attention to very specific issues. Semitic philologists have discussed the meaning of a particular Amorite phrase, and Near Eastern archaeologists have discussed the phenomenon of equid burials from the Middle Bronze Age. But up to the present, neither philologists nor archaeologists have attempted to pull together all the ceremonial and symbolic data on donkeys from burials, ancient Near Eastern texts and the Hebrew Bible. The present dissertation is therefore an attempt to fill this void. Chapter 1 introduces the subject-matter and the research methods. It also shows how the subject relates to other scholarship. Chapter 2 is devoted to the interpretation of ancient texts from Egypt, the Levant, Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Chapter 3 is devoted to the interpretation of equid burials at various sites in Egypt, Israel-Palestine, Syria and Iraq. Chapter 4 is devoted to the interpretation of biblical data related to the donkey. Chapter 5 synthesizes the observations that are made in chapters 1-4 in order to elucidate the unique role of donkeys in the biblical world.
Subject	:	Philosophy, religion and theology; Social sciences; Language, literature and linguistics; Biblical world; Ceremonial; Donkeys; Symbolic; Ancient languages; Bible; Archaeology; 0289:Ancient languages; 0324:Archaeology; 0321:Bible
Added Entry	:	N. S. Fox
Added Entry	:	Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (Ohio)