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

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 Gods in Dwellings: Temples and Divine Presence in the Ancient Near East 4 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 Architectural and Spatial Theory 31 Built Environment Studies 31 Modern Analogs 34 How Do We Interpret Ancient Temples as Buildings? 38 Methodology 39 Order of Analysis 41 A Note on Spatial Terminology 42 2 Egyptian Temples 44 Structure 46 The “Standard” Temple Plan 46 Adornment 57 Use 61 Structural Communication 64 Ideology 68 3 Mesopotamian Temples 76 Structure 77 Other Notable Features: Decoration and Elevation 86 The Visibility of the Cult Image 95 Use 96 Structural Communication 99 Ideology 103 4 Hittite Temples 112 Structure 112 Location, Decoration, Furnishings, and Elevation 117 Use 122 Structural Communication 124 Ideology 126 5 Syro-Palestinian Temples 132 Structure 134 Location, Elevation, Decoration, and Temple Paraphernalia30 141 Use 145 Structural Communication 148 Relationship between Palace and Temple 151 Ideology 151 Relationship between Palace and Temple, King and God 156 6 Temples: Synthesis 158 Structure 158 Use 159 Structural Communication 160 Ideology 161 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 The Gods and Their Relation to Humanity and the World 180 Cult Images 185 Primary Ritual Texts 195 1. The Opening of the Mouth Ritual 195 Structure 198 Structural Interpretation 200 Use 202 Ideology 202 Ideology of Individual Elements 205 Enlivening as a Joint Effort 212 Origin of the Divine Statue 213 2. Daily Cult Ritual 214 Structure 216 Structural Interpretation 217 Use 219 Ideology 219 Ideology of Individual Elements 220 How Do the Opening of the Mouth and the Daily Cult Ritual Relate? 226 Relationship of the Deity to Its Statue(s) 226 Egyptian Ritual and the Additive Approach 231 Necessity of Divine Nourishment? 231 The Duration of Divine Presence 232 9 Divine Presence in Mesopotamian Temples 234 Perceptions of Deity 234 Cult Images 240 Excursus: Symbols 247 Anthropomorphic versus Symbolic Representation 255 Excursus: The Function of Divine Symbols 261 1. The Mouth-Washing (Mīs Pî) Ritual 266 Structure 268 Structural Interpretation 273 Use 275 Ideology 277 Ideology of Individual Elements 279 Excursus: A Comparison of Versions 283 Ritual Activation as a Joint Effort 295 2. Daily Cult Ritual 297 Relationship between Mouth Washing and the Gods’ Daily Care and Feeding 303 What Is the Relationship between the Statue and the Deity? 304 Necessity of Divine Nourishment? 308 10 Divine Presence in Hittite Temples 312 Perceptions of Deity 313 Relation to Humans and to the World 318 Cult Images 320 1. The Expansion of the Cult of the Deity of the Night 328 Structure 331 Structural Interpretation 333 Use 335 Ideology 336 Ideology of Individual Elements 338 Purification 347 2. Daily Cult Ritual 348 Conceptions of Divine Presence in the Temple(s) 349 Evocations 349 Relationship between Statue and Deity 351 Relationship between Statues 353 The Role of the Uliḫi and the ḫuwaši-Stones 355 Destruction and Deportation of Divine Images 356 Divine Nourishment 358 11 Divine Presence in Syro-Palestinian Temples 360 Perceptions of Deity 361 The Statue and Its Craftsmanship 367 Types of Statues 369 Ritual 379 Relationship between Statue and Deity 381 Deportation and Destruction of Divine Images 385 Divine Nourishment 387 12 Divine Presence: Synthesis 390 Afterword 400 References 402 Index of Names 442 Index of Ancient Sources 447 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. "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