Gods, Goddesses, and Images of God: In Ancient Israel
Keel and Uehlinger's unique study brings the massive Palestinian archaeological evidence of 8,500 amulets and inscriptions to bear on these questions. Vindicating the use of symbols and visual remains to investigate ancient religion, the authors employ iconographic evidence from around 1750 B.C.E. through the Persian period (c. 333 B.C.E.) to reconstruct the emergence and development of the Yahweh cult in relation to its immediate neighbors and competitors. They also fully explore whether...
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Keel and Uehlinger's unique study brings the massive Palestinian archaeological evidence of 8,500 amulets and inscriptions to bear on these questions. Vindicating the use of symbols and visual remains to investigate ancient religion, the authors employ iconographic evidence from around 1750 B.C.E. through the Persian period (c. 333 B.C.E.) to reconstruct the emergence and development of the Yahweh cult in relation to its immediate neighbors and competitors. They also fully explore whether female characteristics were present in the early Yahweh figure and how they might have evolved in Israelite religion. Keel and Uehlinger's major study marks the maturation of iconographical studies and affords an exciting glimpse into the vibrant religious life of ancient Canaan and Israel.
Preface to the English EditionPreface to the German EditionIStarting Point1IIPoints of Departure7IIIEquality of the Sexes: Middle Bronze Age IIB19IVEgyptian Colonialism and the Prevalence of Political and Warrior Deities: Late Bronze Age49VThe Hidden God, Victorious Gods, and the Blessing of Fertility: Iron Age I109VIAnthropomorphic Deities Recede and Are Replaced by Their Attribute Animals and Entities: Iron Age IIA133VIIBaal, El, Yahweh, and "His Asherah" in the Context of Egyptian Solar and Royal Imagery: Iron Age IIB177VIIIThe Astralization of the Heavenly Powers, the Revival of the Goddess, and the Orthodox Reaction: Iron Age IIC283IXAn Era Ends: Iron Age III373XSummary and Conclusion393Chronological Table for Palestinian/Israelite Archaeology in the Second and First Millennia410Source Index of Illustrations411Abbreviations418Bibliography422Index of Ancient Sources456Index of Subjects460The Authors466
