Ancient Greek and Semitic languages resorted to a large range of words
to name the divine. Gods and goddesses were called by a variety of names
and combinations of onomastic attributes. This broad lexicon of names
is characterised by plurality and a tendency to build on different
sequences of names; therefore, the
Mapping Ancient Polytheisms
project focuses on the process of naming the divine in order to better
understand the ancient divine in terms of a plurality in the making. A
fundamental rule for reading ancient divine names is to grasp them in
their context ? time and place, a ritual, the form of the discourse, a
cultural milieu?: a deity is usually named according to a specific
situation. From Artemis Eulochia to al-Lat, al-'Uzza and Manat, from
Melqart to "my rock" in the biblical book of Psalms, this volume
journeys between the sanctuary on Mount Gerizim and late antique magical
practices, revisiting rituals, hymnic poetry, oaths of orators and
philosophical prayers. While targeting different names in different
contexts, the contributors draft theoretical propositions towards a
dynamic approach of naming the divine in antiquity.
This book is published open access. It can be downloaded
here.
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