Reading the human body : physiognomics and astrology in the Dead Sea scrolls and Hellenistic-early Roman period Judaism / by Mladen Popovic.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Popović, Mladen.

Series:

Studies on the texts of the desert of Judah ; v. 67.

Studies on the texts of the desert of Judah, 0169-9962 ; v. 67

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Dead Sea scrolls--4Q--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Dead Sea scrolls.

Physiognomy--Religious aspects--Judaism.

Physiognomy.

Jewish astrology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (366 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Physiognomics and astrology in the Dead Sea scrolls and Hellenistic-early Roman period Judaism

Place of Publication:

Leiden : Brill, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This study deals with physiognomic and astrological texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls that represent one of the earliest examples of ancient Jewish science. For the first time the Hebrew physiognomic-astrological list 4Q186 (4QZodiacal Physiognomy) and the Aramaic physiognomic list 4Q561 (4QPhysiognomy ar) are comprehensively studied in relation to both physiognomic and astrological writings from Babylonian and Greco-Roman traditions. New reconstructions and interpretations of these learned lists are offered that result in a fresh view of their sense, function, and status within both the Qumran community and Second Temple Judaism at large, showing that Jewish culture in Palestine participated in the cultural exchange of learned knowledge between Babylonian and Greco-Roman cultures.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / M. Popović

Introduction / M. Popović

Chapter One. Reading 4QZodiacal Physiognomy (4q186) And 4QPhysiognomy Ar (4q561): Texts, Genre, And Structure / M. Popović

Chapter Two. To Read Strange Matters From The Human Body: Physiognomics In Babylonian And Greco-Roman Culture And Literature / M. Popović

Chapter Three. \'In The Foot Of Taurus\': Astrological Notions In 4QZodiacal Physiognomy (4q186) / M. Popović

Chapter Four. \'There Is A Spirit For Him...\': Human Or Zodiacal Spirits In 4QZodiacal Physiognomy (4q186) / M. Popović

Chapter Five. Functions And Contexts Of Physiognomic And Astrological Learning In The Dead Sea Scrolls And Second Temple Period Judaism / M. Popović

Appendix I. Notes And Comments On Readings In 4QZodiacal Physiognomy (4q186) And 4QPhysiognomy Ar (4q561) / M. Popović

Appendix II. Physiognomic Consciousness In The Dead Sea Scrolls And Second Temple Period Literature / M. Popović

Figure 1: 4QZodiacal Physiognomy (4q186) Fragments 2, 4 – 7 / M. Popović

Plate I: Recent Photograph (B-45417) Of Iaa #109 / M. Popović

Bibliography / M. Popović

Index Of Modern Authors / M. Popović

Index Of Ancient Sources / M. Popović.

Notes:

Originally presented as author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Groningen, 2006.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

1-281-92136-X

9786611921361

90-474-2046-2

OCLC:

646789661

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004157170.i-346 DOI