Gods in Dwellings: Temples and Divine Presence in the Ancient Near East (Writings from the Ancient World Supplements)

Gods in Dwellings examines the major temples and the gods who inhabit them in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Hittite Anatolia, and Syria-Palestine, exploring the common themes in each region and offering a wide interpretive lens through which to view them. Gods In Dwellings Is The First Book Devoted Exclusively To Temples And Perceptions Of The Divine Presence That Inhabits Them In Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Hittite Anatolia, And Syria-palestine. It Is Thus Concerned With Official Religion And With Exploring The Interface Between Human And Divine In The Major Temples Of The Ancient Near East. Hundley Identifies Common Ancient Near Eastern Temple Systems And, More Particularly, Examines Such Issues As What A Temple Structure Communicates, How It Was Understood To Function, And Its Ideology; How The Divine Presence Is Installed In A Temple, Often In The Form Of A Cult Image; The Relationship Between Deity And Image(s); How A Deity's Presence In The Temple, Particularly In The Cults Statue, Is Related To His Or Her Divine Essence And Presence Elsewhere; And How Humanity Serves The Deity In Order To Ensure Continued Presence. This Volume Collects And Synthesizes A Vast Amount Of Data, Draws On The Insights Of Multiple Related Disciplines (e.g., Architectural And Spatial Theory, Ritual Theory, Theories Of Language, Art History, Archaeology, Sociocultural Anthropology, And Comparative Studies ) And Offers A Single Interpretive Lens Through Which To View It. - Back Cover. Part 1. Temples In The Ancient Near East. Temples In The Ancient Near East : An Introduction -- Egyptian Temples -- Mesopotamian Temples -- Hittite Temples -- Syro-palestinian Temples -- Temples : Synthesis -- Part 2. Divine Presence In Ancient Near Eastern Temples. Introduction To Divine Presence In Ancient Near Eastern Temples -- Divine Presence In Egyptian Temples -- Divine Presence In Mesopotamian Temples -- Divine Presence In Hittite Temples -- Divine Presence In Syro-palestinian Temples -- Divine Presence : Synthesis. Michael B. Hundley. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 375-413) And Index. In This Book Devoted Exclusively To Temples And Perceptions Of The Divine Presences That Inhabit Them, Michael B. Hundley Focuses On The Official Religions Of The Ancient Near East And Explores The Interface Between The Human And The Divine Within Temple Environs. Hundley Identifies Common Ancient Near Eastern Temple Systems And Examines Issues That Include What Temple Structures Communicate, How Temples Were Understood To Function, Temple Ideology, The Installation Of Divine Presence In A Temple, The Connection Between Presence And Physical Representation, And Human Service To The Deity. Drawing On Architectural And Spatial Theory, Ritual Theory, Theories Of Language, Art History, Archaeology, Sociocultural Anthropology, And Comparative Studies, Hundley Offers A Single Interpretive Lens Through Which To View Temple Worship. Features: A Close Examination Of Temples In Egypt, Mesopotamia, Hittite Anatolia, And Syria-palestine An Interdisciplinary Treatment Of Architecture, Language, Ritual, And Art A Dual Focus On How A Deity's Divine Presence Connects To Space And Art And How Human Service To The Deity Maintains The Deity's Active Presence "Exhaustive coverage of ancient Near Eastern worship for personal research and classroom use! In this book devoted exclusively to temples and perceptions of the divine presences that inhabit them, Michael B. Hundley focuses on the official religions of the ancient Near East and explores the interface between the human and the divine within temple environs. Hundley identifies common ancient Near Eastern temple systems and examines issues that include: what temple structures communicate, how temples were understood to function, temple ideology, the installation of divine presence in a temple, the connection between presence and physical representation, and human service to the deity. Drawing on architectural and spatial theory, ritual theory, theories of language, art history, archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and comparative studies, Hundley offers a single interpretive lens through which to view temple worship." -- Provided by publisher Contents 6 Preface 8 List of Figures 14 Abbreviations 22 Part 1—Temples in the Ancient Near East 28 1. Temples in the Ancient Near East: An Introduction 30 2. Egyptian Temples 44 3. Mesopotamian Temples 76 4. Hittite Temples 112 5. Syro-Palestinian Temples 132 6. Temples: Synthesis 158 Part 2—Divine Presence in Ancient Near Eastern Temples 164 7. Introduction to Divine Presence in Ancient Near Eastern Temples 166 8. Divine Presence in Egyptian Temples 180 9. Divine Presence in Mesopotamian Temples 234 10. Divine Presence in Hittite Temples 312 11. Divine Presence in Syro-Palestinian Temples 360 12. Divine Presence: Synthesis 390 Afterword 400 References 402 Index of Names 442 Index of Ancient Sources 447