Religions of the Ancient Near East

A 2011 history of religious life in the Ancient Near East from the beginnings of agriculture to Alexander the Great's invasion.

Daniel C. Snell (Author)

9780521683364, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 November 2010

192 pages, 5 b/w illus. 3 maps 1 table
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.1 cm, 0.27 kg

"In sum, Daniel Snell’s book is a first-rate work. Geared primarily to students and non-specialists….. it offers a clear summary of our current understanding of the religions of the Ancient Near East." --BMCR

This 2011 book is a history of religious life in the Ancient Near East from the beginnings of agriculture to Alexander the Great's invasion in the 300s BCE. Daniel C. Snell traces key developments in the history, daily life and religious beliefs of the people of Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel and Iran. His research investigates the influence of those ideas on the West, with particular emphasis on how religious ideas from this historical and cultural milieu still influence the way modern cultures and religions view the world. Designed to be accessible to students and readers with no prior knowledge of the period, the book uses fictional vignettes to add interest to its material, which is based on careful study of archaeological remains and preserved texts. The book will provide a thoughtful summary of the Ancient Near East and includes a comprehensive bibliography to guide readers in further study of related topics.

1. Defining time and space
2. Early inklings
3. Gods, gods, gods
4. Cities, states, and god
5. The lure of Egypt, 4000–1400 BCE
6. The gods of Egypt
7. The Akhenaten dream, 1350–1300 BCE
8. Practice in Egypt
9. The international age, 1400–1000 BCE
10. Gods and people
11. The Lord is one - Israel in its environment
12. The turning
13. The good god and the bad god
14. The lands of Baal
15. Greece, Etruria, Rome and conveying traditions
16. The dead hand of the past and the living God
17. Experiencing Mesopotamian religion.

Subject Areas: Religion: general [HRA], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]