Purity and the forming of religious traditions in the ancient Mediterranean world and ancient Judaism / edited by Christian Frevel and Christophe Nihan.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Frevel, Christian, 1962-

Nihan, Christophe, 1972-

Series:

Dynamics in the History of Religions 3.

Dynamics in the history of religions, 1878-8106 ; v. 3

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Archaeology and religion.

Purity, Ritual--Judaism.

Purity, Ritual.

Rites and ceremonies.

Mediterranean Region--Religion.

Mediterranean Region.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (617 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Purity is a cultural construct that had a central role in the forming and the development of religious traditions in the ancient Mediterranean. This volume analyzes concepts, practices and images associated with purity in the main cultures of Antiquity, and discusses from a comparative perspective their parallel developments and transformations. The perspective adopted is both synchronic and diachronic; the comparative approach takes into account points of contact and mutual influences, but also includes major transcultural trends. A number of renowned specialists contribute a large variety of perspectives and approaches, combining archaeology, epigraphy and social history; in addition, particular attention is given to concepts of purity in ancient Israel and early Judaism as a ‘test-case’ of sorts. Through its extensive coverage, the volume contributes decisively to the present discussion about the forming of religious traditions in the ancient Mediterranean world.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction / Christian Frevel and Christophe Nihan

Purity in Ancient Mesopotamia: The Paleo-Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian Periods / Michaël Guichard and Lionel Marti

Conceptions of Purity in Egyptian Religion / Joachim Friedrich Quack

Concepts of Purity in Anatolian Religions / Manfred Hutter

Aspects of Purity in the Phoenician World / Hans-Peter Mathys

Purity and Pollution in Ancient Zoroastrianism / Albert F. de Jong

The Concept of Purity in Greek Sacred Laws / Noel Robertson

Concepts of Purity in Ancient Greece, with Particular Emphasis on Sacred Sites / Linda-Marie Günther

Greek and Comparatist Reflexions on Food Prohibitions / Philippe Borgeaud

Sacral Purity and Social Order in Ancient Rome / Bernhard Linke

Forms and Functions of Purity in Leviticus / Christophe Nihan

Purity Conceptions in the Book of Numbers in Context / Christian Frevel

Purity Conceptions in Deuteronomy / Udo Rüterswörden

The System of Holiness in Ezekiel’s Vision of the New Temple (Ezek 40–48) / Michael Konkel

The Relevance of Purity in Second Temple Judaism according to Ezra-Nehemiah / Benedikt Rausche

Purity Concepts in Jewish Traditions of the Hellenistic Period / Beate Ego

The Evolution of Purity at Qumran / Ian Werrett

Purity Conceptions in the Dead Sea Scrolls: ‘Ritual-Physical’ and ‘Moral’ Purity in a Diachronic Perspective / Gudrun Holtz

Pure Stone: Archaeological Evidence for Jewish Purity Practices in Late Second Temple Judaism (Miqwa’ot and Stone Vessels) / Jürgen K. Zangenberg

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Sources

Index of Subjects and Terms.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

1-283-85434-1

90-04-23229-X

OCLC:

820271590

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004232297 DOI