Date rape: the agricultural and astronomical background of the Sumerian sacred marriage and Genesis 38
The differentiated sexuality of the date palm and its artificial fertilization were the subject of many ancient Near Eastern myths. This paper argues that much of the Sumerian sacred marriage between Inanna and Dumuzi celebrated during the spring New Year is an anthropomorphization of the date palm&...
| Published in: | Scandinavian journal of the Old Testament |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
2002
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| In: |
Scandinavian journal of the Old Testament
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Sumerians
/ Hieros gamos
/ Date palm
/ Tamar Daughter-in-law of Judah
/ Bible. Genesis 38
B Sumerian language / Literature |
| IxTheo Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HB Old Testament TC Pre-Christian history ; Ancient Near East |
| Further subjects: | B
Bible. Genesis 38
B Tamar Daughter-in-law of Judah B Astronomy |
| Summary: | The differentiated sexuality of the date palm and its artificial fertilization were the subject of many ancient Near Eastern myths. This paper argues that much of the Sumerian sacred marriage between Inanna and Dumuzi celebrated during the spring New Year is an anthropomorphization of the date palm's artificial fertilization and vernal astronomical observations. The story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38 is also argued to have originated from the same source. |
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| ISSN: | 0901-8328 |
| Contains: | In: Scandinavian journal of the Old Testament
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