Abstract
In ancient Mesopotamia, the functions of the temple were manifold. It could operate as an administrative center, as a center of learning, as a place of jurisdiction, as a center for healing, and as an economic institution, as indicated in both textual and archaeological sources. All these functions involved numerous and diverse personnel and generated interaction with the surrounding world, thereby turning the temple into the center of urban life. Because the temple fulfilled all these functions in addition to housing the divinity, it acquired agency in its own right. Thus, temple, city, and divinity could merge into concerted action. It is this aspect of the temple that lies at the center of the following considerations.
Highlights
In ancient Mesopotamia, the functions of the temple were manifold. It could operate as an administrative center, as reflected in the name of the Nabû Temple in Assur
Temple, city, and divinity could merge into conconcerted action
The belligerence of the temple conveyed by the metaphor of a raging lion in battle with a wild bull evokes the imagery of the cylinder seals of the time, which frequently depict conflicts between the two animals, thereby reflecting those arising from competition over natural resources—water, in particular—between the city states of Sumer
Summary
In the Archaic period (3200-2900 BCE), the logographic writing of the names of cities. The belligerence of the temple conveyed by the metaphor of a raging lion in battle with a wild bull evokes the imagery of the cylinder seals of the time, which frequently depict conflicts between the two animals, thereby reflecting those arising from competition over natural resources—water, in particular—between the city states of Sumer This antagonistic quality is denoted by the materiality and physical appearance of the temple, which always dominated the urban skyline thanks to its sheer monumentality, elevation on a platform, or pairing with a ziggurat. Its combative nature was further intensified by its gates, which were protected by guardian figures that ranged from lions to genies in the shape of winged bulls throughout the first millennium BCE This rather unusual aspect of the temple—from the western perspective—is further reflected in the belief that removal of parts of the temple could lead to negative consequences for the one responsible, as the scholar Bel-ushezib explains in a letter to Esarhaddon. The insight that we modern scholars can gain from such information is that the temple in its material form was regarded as an extension of the divinity’s body and acting on its behalf, as Irene Winter has observed on the relationship between king and palace (Winter 2010, p. 258)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
