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Author Cooley, Jeffrey L

Title Poetic astronomy in the ancient Near East : the reflexes of celestial science in ancient Mesopotamian, Ugaritic, and Israelite narrative / Jeffrey L. Cooley
Published Winona Lake, Indiana : Eisenbrauns, 2013

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Description 1 online resource
Series History, Archaeology, and the Culture of the Levant ; v. 5
History, Archaeology, and the Culture of the Levant
Contents Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- The Study of Ancient Near Eastern Celestial Science and Literature -- 1.1�Introduction -- 1.2.�Pan-Babylonianism -- 1.3.�Understanding Mesopotamian Astronomy -- 1.4.�The Problem in Assyriology -- 1.5.�The Problem in Biblical Studies -- 1.6.�The Problem in Ugaritology -- 1.7.�Bridging the Gap -- 1.8.�Celestial Science in Ancient Near Eastern Literature -- Appendix 1.1: Definitions of Important Terms Used in This Study -- Celestial Science in Mesopotamia -- 2.1.�Introduction
2.2.�Pre�Old Babylonian Celestial Sciences2.3.�Celestial Divination Material -- 2.4.�Celestial Divination Supportive Material: Didactic and Practical Tools -- 2.5.�Celestial Divination Interpretive Material -- 2.6.�Miscellaneous Celestial-Science Material -- 2.7.�Summary History of Mesopotamian Astronomy -- Celestial Science in Mesopotamian Literature -- 3.1.�Introduction -- 3.2.�Divination -- 3.3.�Catasterisms and Other Celestial Aetia -- 3.4.�Miscellaneous -- 3.5.�Conclusion -- Celestial Science at Ugarit and in Ugaritic Literature
4.1.�The Celestial Sciences at Ugarit4.2.�The Celestial Sciences in Ugaritic Literature -- Appendix 4.1: Interpretations of the Baal Cycle -- Appendix 4.2: Gaster�s Interpretation of the Aqhat Text -- Appendix 4.3: Interpretations of KTU 1.23 -- Celestial Science in Ancient Israel -- 5.1.�Introduction -- 5.2.�Celestial Terminology in the Hebrew Bible -- 5.3.�Astral Religion -- 5.4.�Celestial Divination -- 5.5.�The Calendars of the Hebrew Bible -- 5.6.�Celestial Science in Ancient Israel: Conclusion
Celestial Science in Ancient Israelite Literature6.1.�Introduction: The Criteria for Identifying Celestial References in the Hebrew Bible -- 6.2.�Celestial Agents, Astral Religion, and Calendar -- 6.3.�Joshua 10 -- 6.4.�Judges 5 -- 6.5.�The Shadow on the Steps of Ahaz -- 6.6.�Genesis 1:14�18 -- 6.7.�The Stars in Job -- 6.8.�Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index of Authors -- Index of Scripture -- Index of Ancient Near Eastern Names and Sources
Summary Modern science historians have typically treated the sciences of the ancient Near East as separate from historical and cultural considerations. At the same time, biblical scholars, dominated by theological concerns, have historically understood the Israelite god as separate from the natural world. Cooley's study, bringing to bear contemporary models of science history on the one hand and biblical studies on the other hand, seeks to bridge a gap created by 20th-century scholarship in our understanding of ancient Near Eastern cultures by investigating the ways in which ancient authors incorporated their cultures' celestial speculation in narrative.In the literature of ancient Iraq, celestial divination is displayed quite prominently in important works such as Enuma Eliš and Erra and Išum. In ancient Ugarit as well, the sky was observed for devotional reasons, and astral deities play important roles in stories such as the Baal Cycle and Shahar and Shalim. Even though the veneration of astral deities was rejected by biblical authors, in the literature of ancient Israel the Sun, Moon, and stars are often depicted as active, conscious agents. In texts such as Genesis 1, Joshua 10, Judges 5, and Job 38, these celestial characters, these "sons of God," are living, dynamic members of Yahweh's royal entourage, willfully performing courtly, martial, and calendrical roles for their sovereign.The synthesis offered by this book, the first of its kind since the demise of the pan-Babylonianist school more than a century ago, is about ancient science in ancient Near Eastern literature
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and indexes
Notes English
Print version record
SUBJECT Bible. Old Testament -- Criticism, interpretation, etc
Bible. Old Testament fast
Subject Astronomy, Ancient -- Middle East
Astronomy, Ancient, in literature.
Astronomy -- Middle East -- History
SCIENCE -- Astronomy.
Astronomy
Astronomy, Ancient
Astronomy, Ancient, in literature
SUBJECT Middle East -- History. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85090506
Subject Middle East
Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc.
History
Form Electronic book
ISBN 1575066939
9781575066936