Desire, discord, and death : approaches to ancient Near Eastern myth / by Neal Walls.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walls, Neal H., 1962-

Series:

ASOR books ; v. 8.

ASOR books ; v. 8

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mythology, Middle Eastern.

Middle Eastern literature--History and criticism.

Middle Eastern literature.

Death in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (218 p.)

Place of Publication:

Boston : American Schools of Oriental Research, c2001.

Summary:

The three essays presented in this volume reveal the symbolic complexity and poetic visions of ancient Near Eastern mythology. The author explores the interrelated themes of erotic desire, divine conflict, and death's realm in selected ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian mythological narratives using contemporary methods of literary analysis. Topics include the construction of desire in the Gilgamesh epic, a psychoanalytic approach to 'The Contendings of Horus and Seth', and gender and the exercise of power in the stormy romance of Nergal and Ereshkigal. Walls' fresh treatment of these three important myths brings them to life for the specialist and mythology buff alike.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

INTRODUCTION Hidden Riches in Secret Places

Methods and Approaches

CHAPTER 1 The Allure of Gilgamesh: The Construction of Desire in the Gilgamesh Epic

INTRODUCTION

The Construction of Desire: Queering Gilgamesh

THE EROTIC GILGAMESH

The Prostitute and the Primal Man: Inciting Desire

The Gaze of Ishtar: Denying Desire

Heroic Love: Requiting Desire

The Death of Desire

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 2 On the Cou c h with Horus and Seth: A F r e u d i a n A n a l y s i s ( O r , T h e C a s e o f P h a r a o h ' s M o m m y )

Oedipus in Ancient Egypt

A CONTENTIOUS COURT: TWO EPISODES

The Insult and the Enigma

Island Intrigue

THE THREE CONTESTS

Under the Water

In the Bed

On the Boat

CHAPTER 3 Desire in Death's Realm: Sex, Power, and Violence in "Nergal and Ereshkigal

Giving Death its Due

CRUCIBLE OF DESIRE

Ereshkigal's Wiles

A GODDESS SCORNED

Ereshkigal's Complaint

TO REIGN IN HELL

Nergal's Return

Gender and Power

CONCLUSION: DESIRE AND DEATH

References

Subject Index

Text Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-204) and indexes.

OCLC:

70766426