The Cults of Uruk and Babylon: The Temple Ritual Texts As Evidence for Hellenistic Cult Practises (Cuneiform Monographs, 25)

This volume deals with temple ritual texts from ancient Mesopotamia, in particular from the cities Uruk and Babylon. Key question is whether they are a reliable source of information on the cult practices in Uruk and Babylon during the Hellenistic period. In the book an extensive description is presented of the festivals, rituals, ceremonies and offerings in Hellenistic Mesopotamia. The appendix consists of a selection of the most important temple ritual texts, which are presented in transliteration, translation and with philological comments. Four plates with so far unpublished text fragments are also included. The evidence clearly shows how important the public cults were in Hellenistic times, at least until the first century B.C., and how active the Mesopotamians were in matters of religion and cult during this period. Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Preface 8 Table of Contents 10 Selective Bibliography and Abbreviations 12 Months 17 I. Introduction 18 I.1. Hellenistic Babylonia 18 I.2. The texts 20 I.3. The cult 29 II. Ceremonies, rituals and festivals 40 II.1. Introduction 40 II.2. Daily ceremonies 42 II.2.1. The cultic day 42 II.2.2. dīk bīti 44 II.2.3. pīt bābi 53 II.3. Monthly ceremonies 57 II.3.1. Unspecified monthly ceremonies 58 II.3.2. eššēšu 62 II.3.3. lubuštu 68 II.3.4. bajjātu 73 II.3.5. nubattu 75 II.3.6. šalām bīti 76 II.4. Annual ceremonies 78 II.4.1. Unspecified annual ceremonies 79 II.4.2. Annual clothing ceremonies 82 II.4.3. Processions 84 II.4.4. Divine marriage ceremonies 87 II.4.5. The New Year festival 88 II.4.5.1. Uruk 89 II.4.5.2. Babylon 95 II.4.6. The brazier festivals 104 II.4.7. The cultic calendars 105 II.5. The kettledrum ritual 109 II.5.1. The kettledrum 109 II.5.2. The ritual of the covering of the kettledrum 111 II.5.3. Who performed the kettledrum ritual? 116 II.6. The building ritual 117 II.6.1. The first version 118 II.6.2. The second version 120 II.6.3. Who performed the building ritual? 124 II.6.4. Building programmes in Uruk and Babylon 124 II.7. The eclipse of the moon ritual 126 II.7.1. The first version 128 II.7.2. The second version 130 II.7.3. The third version 131 II.7.4. The fourth version 132 II.8. Other festivals 134 II.8.1. A temple festival in Esabad 134 II.8.2. A palm festival 135 II.8.3. Aḫarû-ritual 136 II.8.4. A Greek festival 136 II.8.5. Festivals for Ištar of Babylon and Ištar of Uruk 137 II.8.6. TU 41: a nocturnal festival in the Rēš-temple 139 II.8.7. Ruler cults 141 III. The divine meal 146 III.1. Introduction 146 III.2. Cultic meals 147 III.2.1. Terminology 147 III.2.2. TU 38 149 III.3. The offering site 155 III.4. The offering preparations 157 III.4.1. paššūru and paṭīru 157 III.4.2. tabnītu 159 III.4.3. mubannû 159 III.4.4. riksu 161 III.5. Fumigation 162 III.5.1. sarāqu and šakānu 163 III.5.2. Fumigation materials 163 III.6. Consecration, purification and washing 164 III.6.1. Consecration 164 III.6.2. Purification 165 III.6.3. Washing 168 III.7. Offerings and libations 171 III.7.1. The presentation of the offerings 172 III.7.2. Food and drink offerings 175 III.7.3. Burnt offering 182 IV. Conclusion 184 Appendix 186 Text concordance 338 Selective word indices 346 Plates 354 Summary 360 CUNEIFORM MONOGRAPHS 361 Introduction: 1.1. Hellenistic Babylonia -- 1.2. The Texts -- 1.3. The Cult -- Ii. Ceremonies, Rituals And Festivals: Ii.1. Introduction -- Ii. 2. Daily Ceremonies -- Ii.2.1. The Cultic Day -- Ii.2.2. Dik Biti -- Ii.2.3. Pit Babi -- Ii.3. Monthly Ceremonies -- Ii.3.1. Unspecified Monthly Ceremonies -- Ii.3.2. Essesu -- Ii.3.3 Lubustu -- Ii.3.4. Bajjatu -- Ii.3.5. Nubattu -- Ii.3.6. Salam Biti -- Ii.4. Annual Ceremonies -- Ii.4.1. Unspecified Annual -- Ii.4.2. Annual Clothing Ceremonies -- Ii.4.3. Processions -- Ii.4.4. Divine Marriage Ceremonies -- Ii.4.5. The New Year Festival -- Ii.4.5.1. Uruk -- Ii.4.5.2. Babylon -- Ii.4.6. The Brazier Festivals -- Ii.4.7. The Cultic Calendars -- Ii.5. The Kettledrum Ritual -- Ii.5.1. The Kettledrum -- Ii.5.2. The Ritual Of The Covering Of The Kettledrum -- Ii.5.3. Who Performed The Kettledrum Ritual? -- Ii.6. The Building Ritual -- Ii.6.1. The First Version -- Ii.6.2. The Second Version -- Ii.6.3. Who Performed The Building Ritual? --^ Ii.6.4. Building Programs In Uruk And Babylon -- Ii.7. The Eclipse Of The Moon Ritual -- Ii.7.1. The First Version -- Ii.7.2. The Second Version -- Ii.7.3. The Third Version -- Ii.7.4. The Fourth Version -- Ii.8. Other Festivals -- Ii.8.1. A Temple Festival In Esabad -- Ii.8.2. A Palm Festival -- Ii.8.3. A Haru-ritual -- Ii.8.4. A Greek Festival -- Ii.8.5. Festivals For Istar Of Babylon And Istar Of Uruk -- Ii.8.6. Tu 41: A Nocturnal Festival In The Res-temple -- Ii.8.7. Ruler Cults -- Iii. The Divine Meal -- Iii.1. Introduction -- Cultic Meals -- Iii.2.1. Terminology -- Iii.2.2. Tu 38 -- Iii.3. The Offering Site -- Iii.4. The Offering Preparations -- Iii.4.1. Passuru And Patiru -- Iii.4.2. Tabnitu -- Iii.4.3. Mubannu -- Iii.4.4. Riksu -- Iii.5. Fumigation -- Iii.5.1. Saraqu And Sakanu -- Iii.5.2. Fumigation Materials -- Iii.6. Consecration, Purification And Washing -- Iii.6.1. Consecration -- Purification -- Washing -- Iii.7. Offerings And Libations --^ Iii.7.1. The Presentation Of The Offerings -- Iii.7.2. Food And Drink Offerings -- Iii.7.3. Burnt Offering -- Conclusion -- Appendix -- Text Concordance -- Selective Word Indices -- Plates -- Summery. Marc J.h. Linssen. Originally Presented As The Author's Thesis (doctoral--vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), 2002. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Xi-xv) And Index.