The Animalistic Nebuchadnezzar and the Heroic Encounter: Daniel 4:30 Iconographically Revisited
This article reassesses the significance of the description of Nebuchadnezzar in animalistic terms in Dan 4:30 by turning to the common Achaemenid-era visual image of the Heroic Encounter. This visual motif was widespread throughout the empire and depicts a heroic figure controlling or engaging in c...
Published in: | Journal of Biblical literature |
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Main Author: | |
Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Scholar's Press
2020
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In: |
Journal of Biblical literature
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Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Azariah
/ Bible. Daniel 4,30
/ Nebuchadnezzar II Babylonia, King -562 BC
/ Animals
/ Iconography
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IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | This article reassesses the significance of the description of Nebuchadnezzar in animalistic terms in Dan 4:30 by turning to the common Achaemenid-era visual image of the Heroic Encounter. This visual motif was widespread throughout the empire and depicts a heroic figure controlling or engaging in combat with a variety of animals, including hybrid creatures. In light of this visual motif from the immediate sociohistorical context, Daniel’s image of an animalistic Nebuchadnezzar appears at once rooted in and resistant to aspects of Achaemenid imperial ideology as it suggests that the true hero who controls all is YHWH rather than any Persian king or deity. |
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ISSN: | 1934-3876 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Biblical literature
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/jbl.2020.0026 DOI: 10.15699/jbl.1393.2020.4 |