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Überlegungen zu den symbolischen Rollen der Steine in Mesopotamien

  • Krisztián Simkó EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: December 1, 2014
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Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to illustrate the various ways stones were perceived by the peoples of Ancient Mesopotamia. It will be argued that Mesopotamian peoples, who were not yet influenced by the achievements of modern natural sciences, regarded this material like any other part of the phenomenal world from a perspective that can be labelled as symbolic thinking. In order to elucidate this way of thinking, the first section will deal with its otherness vis-à-vis modern understanding, for which Eliade’s monograph is of great help. In the second section two notions that are the results of symbolic thinking will be discussed. First, it will be shown that stones were regarded in Mesopotamia as living entities, and second, using the example of hematite, the belief that stones had particular immanent powers will be presented. The Sumerian epic called Lugale stands in the centre of the discussion, while other informative passages regarding the symbolic roles of stones are taken into consideration.

Danksagung

Ich bedanke mich herzlich bei Professor G.J. Selz für seine zum Nachdenken anregenden Bemerkungen zu dem Beitrag (für den Inhalt meines Aufsatzes bleibe ich aber allein verantwortlich).

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Hinweis

Die Abkürzungen folgen dem Verzeichnis des Reallexikons der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie; die sich nicht in jenem Verzeichnis befindenden Abkürzungen sind wie folgt: DL = Theophrastos, De Lapidibus; NH = Plinius, Naturalis historia.


Published Online: 2014-12-1
Published in Print: 2014-6-1

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